Not only is going green in the garden better for your wallet, it is a great idea if you are worried about pesticides, GMO foods or if you are trying to help the planet by eating locally. Plus, it is a fun and educational experience for kids and adults alike! Not to put too much of a hippy-dippy spin on things, but my daughter and I love the feel of dirt in our hands, feeling like we are "one with nature" and bonding in the process. It is something special we share.
1. Compost
Kitchen scraps, coffee grinds, grass clippings… composting will reduce your garbage and produce an excellent fertilizer to mix in with your garden soil.
2. Use a Rain Barrel
Capture rain water in a rain barrel, a great clean source you can use to water all of your potted plants and gardens, even a small lawn.
3. Attract Helpful Critters
Build a bird and bug paradise to attract these critters to your garden. Local birds and many critters (like spiders and bees) are helpful in controlling the pest population naturally, as well as helping to pollinate your fruit trees and flowers.
4. Grow Native Plants
Native plants are naturally more pest and disease resistant. They grow well with less maintenance and are very often instrumental in attracting beneficial creatures of all sorts. Find out what plants are native to your area and scatter your favorites throughout the garden. They also tend to use less water!
5. Mulch With Natural Mulches
Mulch is an easy way to retain moisture in the soil, which will help you to conserve water usage. It’s also a handy way to combat weeds and when you use natural mulch, it will breakdown into the soil and fertilize the area over time. It is also known to discourage several types of garden pests.
6. Use a Push Mower
Cut down your power or gas usage and get some exercise with a push lawn mower. Sometimes called a reel mower, these do an excellent job on your lawn and are powered by none other than you. It is also a handy way to get your teen to get some exercise!
7. Try Companion Planting
Companion plants are those that pair well together, forming a natural barrier against pests and weeds. It is also helpful to know what types of plants should not be grown together.
8. Use All Natural Bug Spray
Find a good organic insecticidal soap or mix up something yourself using natural liquid soap, horticultural oils and water. Add to a spritzer and spray onto infected foliage.
9. Use Natural Pot Materials
Using things like paper, stone or clay for your pots is a great way to make a green container garden.
10. Try Square Foot Gardening
When paired with companion gardening, this is touted by many avid gardeners as the most efficient way to grow your own.
 |
| Composting doesn't have to be a big commitment. Even a small bucket of well-tended compost can make a big impact in a garden, and cut down on kitchen waste. (Photo credit: Kitty meets Goat) |
1. Compost
Kitchen scraps, coffee grinds, grass clippings… composting will reduce your garbage and produce an excellent fertilizer to mix in with your garden soil.
2. Use a Rain Barrel
Capture rain water in a rain barrel, a great clean source you can use to water all of your potted plants and gardens, even a small lawn.
3. Attract Helpful Critters
Build a bird and bug paradise to attract these critters to your garden. Local birds and many critters (like spiders and bees) are helpful in controlling the pest population naturally, as well as helping to pollinate your fruit trees and flowers.
4. Grow Native Plants
Native plants are naturally more pest and disease resistant. They grow well with less maintenance and are very often instrumental in attracting beneficial creatures of all sorts. Find out what plants are native to your area and scatter your favorites throughout the garden. They also tend to use less water!
5. Mulch With Natural Mulches
Mulch is an easy way to retain moisture in the soil, which will help you to conserve water usage. It’s also a handy way to combat weeds and when you use natural mulch, it will breakdown into the soil and fertilize the area over time. It is also known to discourage several types of garden pests.
6. Use a Push Mower
Cut down your power or gas usage and get some exercise with a push lawn mower. Sometimes called a reel mower, these do an excellent job on your lawn and are powered by none other than you. It is also a handy way to get your teen to get some exercise!
7. Try Companion Planting
Companion plants are those that pair well together, forming a natural barrier against pests and weeds. It is also helpful to know what types of plants should not be grown together.
8. Use All Natural Bug Spray
Find a good organic insecticidal soap or mix up something yourself using natural liquid soap, horticultural oils and water. Add to a spritzer and spray onto infected foliage.
9. Use Natural Pot Materials
Using things like paper, stone or clay for your pots is a great way to make a green container garden.
10. Try Square Foot Gardening
When paired with companion gardening, this is touted by many avid gardeners as the most efficient way to grow your own.
This work by Little Mom on the Prairie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
No comments:
Post a Comment