It's Earth Day - what better time to consider ways to go green(er) in your own landscape? Here are six simple steps to get started.
Plant a tree. Trees help purify the air, give wildlife a home, and planting them isn't as difficult as you might think. Read CSU’s Tree Planting Steps to ensure your tree is planted correctly.
Start a compost pile. Composting takes your kitchen scraps and yard waste and converts them to nutrient-rich food for your soil. You'll add less trash to the landfill and make your plants happy. CSU’s Composting Yard Waste has lots of information for successful composting.
Switch to a reel mower. Switching to a non-gas-powered reel mower not only saves you money, but also means less toxic gasses going into the air. Plus, it's great exercise! Even if you only use the reel mower every other time you mow, you'll be making a positive impact on the environment and the air quality in your neighborhood.
Reduce the grass in your lawn. Non-grass lawns can be made up of easy-care ground cover plants, wildflowers, stone, pavers and/or other materials. The result? Less work, less watering, and less mowing.
Use one fewer chemical-based product. If you're used to using chemical-based fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides, challenge yourself to replace one of those methods with a more natural strategy. A comprehensive resource is CSU’s Homeowner’s Guide: Alternative Pesticide Management for the Lawn and Garden.
Go organic on a smaller scale. If the idea of growing an entire organic garden is a little too much to bite off all at once, get your feet wet by trying organic gardening methods in a container garden first.
What small step will you take toward a greener garden and earth this spring?
This article was excerpted from: Ten Ways to Green Your Garden for Earth Day