A garden is a lovely accent to your outdoor space. It can add value and charm to your home, whether your goal is to add curb appeal for attracting buyers or simply for enjoying it yourself. Even if you don’t have a lawn or garden area, you can green up your outdoor space with potted plants and baskets on a balcony or patio.
When making your garden plans this spring, consider taking an eco-friendly approach. The following tips can help you add more green to your garden and your wallet:
- Choose native plants and grasses. Plants that naturally thrive in a region won’t need chemical fertilizers to grow. Ask your local garden shop or nursery for help selecting hearty plants.
- Go for organic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. These products are widely available and won’t pollute the air or contaminate water and food sources.
- Banish bugs the natural way. Introduce predatory insects such as ladybugs to help control the plant-eating bug population. Also, hang bird feeders and nesting boxes to attract birds – they will eat snails and other pests too.
- Start a compost pile. Throw in food scraps, coffee grounds, shredded white paper, grass clippings and other organic materials. Adding compost to soil acts as a fertilizer and reduces waste.
- Harvest rainwater. It’s better for plants, reduces pollution from runoff and doesn’t cost a thing. Use barrels or tanks to collect and store water from gutters.
- Plant a rain garden if you have an area where storm water floods or erodes the soil. Native perennial plants designed to absorb rainwater runoff can divert water problems and reduce pollution that flows into storm drains and waterways.
- Share the fruits of your labor – fragrant flowers, homegrown produce, clean air and a healthy environment – with your friends and neighbors!
