Good Monday to you! Hope you all had a fantastic weekend and (if you celebrate it) a wonderful Easter! We spent the weekend out in our yard, soaking up some sunshine and getting down and dirty…planting and re-landscaping 😉 This reminded me of the first time we bought a house and started to think about all of the lawn maintenance – mowing, edging, planting plants, maybe having a garden, watering the plants/garden/grass, fertilizing the soil, and the list goes on. And it all seemed overwhelming, not because of all of the work, but the amount of energy, waste, and pollutants we would be creating. So we got smart about it. We researched, we asked our friends in the landscaping business, and we took a good look into the nature surrounding us. The results were great – a low energy bill, little extra water use, and no yucky chemicals. Here’s how you can keep your hard green, without spending too much green or turning green.
Top 5 Ways to green your yard
1) Water smarter: If you have an irrigation system, use it! But use it well. Water early in the morning or late in the evening, when the sun is NOT at its strongest. If you water midday, the sun burns off most of the water before it can absorb into the ground, leaving you with nothing more than burnt grass and a heavy water bill. If you use sprinklers, same thing. Water in the morning or night and set a timer to remind you when you rotate. And remember to not overwater.
2) Cut less: Hate mowing? Me too. I hate the blades, the noise, and the frequency of having to mow. So how do you mow more efficiently and eco-friendly? Invest in a push-mower for a tiny yard or an electric mower (you plug it in similar to a vacuum) for a regular sized yard. Both of these are quiet and energy efficient. Also, cut at a higher blade. If you keep the grass a little longer, it will prevent it from burning when the midsummer heat hits strong, and it will help save water as well.
3) Native Plants: Rather than pick out plants that you think look great, take into consideration plants that also grow naturally in your area. They will be more likely to thrive with less water and fertilizer, saving you and Mama Earth some resources.
4) Compost and natural fertilizer: rather than use a chemical laden fertilizer, pot for compost, or natural, organic fertilizers. Compost can be made from yard waste, some food waste, and even some paper waste. These combine and break down to help fertilize the soil when you plant. If needed, you can also use an all organic soil/fertilizer as well as natural manure (such as chicken) to help plants grow.
5) Less grass, more food: If you want to really cut back on your eco-waste, try planting functional plants, such as an herb or vegetable garden, as part of your landscape. This will not only make your yard functional, but you’ll be saving gas and money at the grocery store, in addition to not mowing your yard nearly as often and maybe even saving on water.
There you have it. Give one or all a try and have a Happy Spring! Tune in later this week where we talk about the evil word “dieting” and how to overcome it. Also, be on the lookout for a sneak peek of the newsletter coming at you on Facebook this week. And if you haven’t yet, sign up for the newsletter, “like” on Facebook, subscribe on YouTube, and “follow’ on Pinterest to stay up to date on all things healthy.
Peace and love,
Jessi
