Growing an Environmentally Friendly Garden
If you are interested in growing a garden, you are probably concerned about keeping the planet healthy too. There are lots of simple things you can do to make sure your garden is environmentally friendly. Follow these few simple steps to keep your garden earth-friendly and family-safe.
Avoid using any kind of chemicals in your garden. So many herbicides and pesticides are laden with harmful chemicals. Even seemingly safe things like fertilizers and plant foods can contain hidden chemicals. Make an effort to ward off bugs and other pest without using harsh chemicals. Find ways to feed your plants that do not include adding harmful chemicals to the soil.
Make good use of mulch and other ground cover to keep the soil moist. You can reduce the need to water so frequently by using an insulating ground cover to keep the water from evaporating from the soil so quickly. Cover your garden plot with mulch or some other ground cover that keeps the moisture in and yet allows the soil and plants to get proper air circulation.
Select plants that are native to your area. You will have an easier time raising plants that are comfortable in your soil and weather conditions. This will reduce the need to amend the soil and to water so often. Give yourself a better chance of a bountiful yield by growing things that already have a proven track record in your locale.
Collect water in rain barrels. Reduce the load on the environment, and on your wallet, by collecting and reusing the free water that falls on your yard from the sky. Rather than letting all the water just run off, put some rain barrels under your gutters and let them fill up with rain water. Then you will always have an abundant supply of water for irrigating and for watering your plants.
Start a compost pile. As you cook your meals, collect your food scraps. When you weed your garden, gather all the yard waste. Add these organic items to your compost pile, and you will soon have a steady supply of mulch and food for your garden. Using your own compost to feed your garden assures you that you are adding plant food that is chemical-free and safe for your family and for the planet.
Reduce the amount of carbon emissions you produce from cutting your grass. This can be accomplished in a couple of different ways. First of all, you can reduce the lawn area in your yard. Planting your garden is a first step. You can also opt for some mixed landscape features such as stone paths, patios, shrubs and ground cover. These changes reduce the amount of grass you have to mow on a regular basis. Another way you can reduce your carbon emissions from grass cutting is to switch to a push mower. This uses no fossil fuels, and it will be easier to do now that your lawn is so much smaller.
Making all of these simple changes can help you to reduce the impact your garden has on the environment. You will still enjoy the fruits of your labor, and the planet will be much cleaner also. You can feel a sense of satisfaction in knowing that the food from your garden is safer for your family and you are making the earth a cleaner place to live.