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Green Gardening Made Easy
Thursday, May 01, 2008
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Gardening is one of my favorite things, and not just because I grew up with the last name Gardner! My husband owns a landscaping business, so I am lucky to have an expert on hand who knows how to keep our yard looking fantastic. We started making gardening a family activity when my son brought home a seedling in a cup from school. He was fascinated with watching the seed sprout and grow, and his enthusiasm inspired us to try our hand at growing other flowers and plants.
There are lots of easy things you can incorporate into your yard care routine that will benefit the environment and also improve the beauty and hardiness of your lawn and other plants. All plants need water, but in many areas of the country there are restrictions on how often you can water the lawn because of water shortages, and doing all we can to conserve water is an important aspect of protecting the environment. Turf grass is one of the thirstiest plants, so an easy way to reduce your water needs is to minimize the amount of grass in your yard and create beds of more drought-tolerant shrubbery or flowers instead. It’s also smart to choose a grass species that is native to your geographic area. Native species have adapted to the climatic conditions and will thrive with less water and pampering than other species might need.
Automatic sprinkler systems are another great way to conserve water. They can be set on a timer so that your plants receive the precise amount of water they need without over watering. Consider purchasing a rain sensor for your sprinkler system so that you never have to worry about your sprinklers running in a rainstorm. The sensors automatically interrupt the timer and cancel the normal watering session in case of rain.
Another simple way to help your lawn grow healthy and thick is to adjust your mower’s cutting height to its highest setting. Allowing the blades to grow a bit taller means they will have more surface area, which enhances the process of photosynthesis and creates deeper root growth. This means the grass has better access to water and nutrients, making it more tolerant of drought. Taller blades also conserves moisture by shading the soil.
Nothing tastes better than a fresh, ripe tomato right off the vine, or fresh herbs picked just before being added to your favorite recipe. Having access to fresh vegetables can be as simple as a few containers scattered around the patio to a large garden full of all your favorites. Instead of using chemical fertilizers that can harm the environment (not to mention your family and your pets), why not consider making compost? There are many easy-to-use compost bins on the market that can turn your grass clippings, dead leaves, kitchen scraps and other organic matter into nutrient-rich compost in just a few short weeks. Compost is beneficial even if you don’t have a vegetable garden – you can use it around all your outdoor plants and even spread it on your lawn in place of chemical fertilizers. An added bonus is that earthworms are attracted to compost, and the more earthworms in your yard, the better. They improve soil conditions and their castings are another source of fertilizer for your plants.
If you have an insect problem, there are environmentally-friendly ways to eliminate the bugs. Instead of spraying toxic chemicals, why not invest in an order of ladybugs? They are a gardener’s best friend, because they eat the bad bugs that want to eat your plants. Ladybugs are available in gardening catalogs and on the web. See the sidebar for more information on introducing them into your garden.
I hope that these tips will encourage you and your family to enjoy the sense of satisfaction that comes from watching things grow in your own yard and garden.
- Sonia
Sonia Gardner Rudisill is a lifestyle trend authority, entrepreneur, and former model. She is the daughter of Donald A. Gardner and grew up observing and helping out with her father’s residential design business. During her modeling career she spent many years living in New York and in Europe, where she learned about design from well-known fashion and home décor designers. She currently serves as Style Consultant to the Donald A. Gardner companies as well as operating her own sports nutrition business.
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