8 Simple Tips To Go Green & Natural in Your Yard & Garden
I have some simple ideas and suggestions to help you in going green in your yard and garden. This will help the environment, your health and your family’s health and well-being. We all want beautiful gardens and yards but, sometimes if seems like such an endless, costly, and overwhelming chore. These tips will save you money, time, energy, and most importantly they will help save our planet.
1. Leave those grass clippings in your yard. They will decompose and return valuable nutrients to the soil.
2. Use only the least-toxic pesticide or even better use natural products and organic insect control:
- Food grade diametheous earth D.E. as a crop dust on any yard or garden plants right up to harvest. There is no chemical activity, so it is completely safe. It will kill hard-bodied insects, and it also kills soft-bodied larvae with no harm to you or the environment.
- Organic Neem –3 products in 1, insecticide, fungicide, and miticide. For use on flowers, trees, ornamentals, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Kills insects and mites by suffocation and repels many pests. May be used up until the day of harvest on vegetables. Shields to prevent the germination and penetration of fungal spores on leaf surfaces. Pint concentrate bottle.
3. Use non hazardous components to ward off pests such as planting:
Marigolds in or around your garden to repel pests such as deer, rabbits, and add beauty all in one– French Marigold are known for their ability to repel whiteflies, tomato worms, among other insects, and will add beauty to your garden without the toxic dangers of chemical pesticides.
grow rue or white-flowered geraniums to repel Japanese Beetles- growing alliums (chives, garlic, onions) will repel common pests in your garden such as ants, aphids, & fleas beetles (Rabbits detest the smell of garlic – this is a great way so to keep those cute little critters from eating your garden)
- Sprinkle a layer of chili powder around your plants and even on the leaves to deter many types of pests from animals to ants, is completely natural and wouldn’t harm your plants. You might consider buying it in bulk which can often find at Mexican grocery stores, since it can be blown away easily and will wash away when it rains.
4. Use your leaves in the fall of the year to help fertilize your yard and to protect your perennial plants from the winter weather. If you have too many leaves and need to dispose of them put them in a compost heap instead of burning them or throwing them away or take them to a yard debris recyclers.
5. Use recycled wood chips as mulch to keep weeds down and it will also help to retain the moisture and prevent soil erosion. We always use recycled mulch chips from our local municipally that are free — so save those dollars — most of us are feeling the pinch of our economical times.
6. Avoid using leaf blowers and other dust-producing equipment especially if someone in your household has asthma or allergies.
7. Plant perennials flowers instead of annuals in your garden or around your house (this also will help your budget) The fall is the time to plant bulbs for spring so look for great sales on over stocked bulbs from companies such as Breck’s, who need to clear their inventory for the season.
8. If you have outdoor lightning around you garden or lawn make sure it is solar powered. You can buy solar lighting for a very reasonable price –make sure you check for sales and check for end of season discounts.
Even if you only use a few of these ideas then it will be one more small step to living a greener and natural lifestyle, helping your family live a healthier and happier life. By using alternative solutions, instead of polluting our planet that is already over whelmed with toxins and disease we in turn give our children a chance for a healthier world. We leave our ecological footprint for a better and brighter future.
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Quote of the Day: “Reducing our levels of consumption will not be a sacrifice but a bonus if we simply redefine the meaning of the word ‘success!” ~ David Wann
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Thank you, Very helpful. will try the neem, and marigolds.
Thank you for reading my article, and commenting. I think you will be pleased with the Neem. Glad to help. Best Regards
Marla – great article. We've been working hard for over 3 years to build an organic property/lawn, but success isn't easy. It's really starting to pay off though, so your readers shouldn't be discouraged if it takes a while to see desired results.
Also, I'll point out that organic has nearly no meaning when it comes to garden products. One major manufacturer of "organic" fertilizer will not respond to inquiries as to where they get their chicken feathers and other ingredients, almost surely indicating that they are not really organic or GMO free.
Thank you Ken for reading my article, appreciate your positive comments and your input. Unfortunately on many organic products with exception of 100% USDA Foods, there is not a lot quality control and there are some many fraudulent products used just for marketing purposes as you pointed out. It is very important that you find out exactly what you are buying by reading labels and contacting manufacturers. If they are truly organic then they will answer your calls and give you legitimate answers. Thanks again for your input and taking the time to comment.