I thought in the spirit of the Live Earth Concert tommorrow a few Earth Friendly Tips would be appropriate.
10 Earth Friendly Tips
- Plant a Shade Tree on the southwest side of your house. When it matures, it will reduce your home's need for air conditioning.
- Maintain your lawn at a height of 2.5" to 3", and you'll use have less weeds therefore less need for weed control. Shorter lawns invite more weeds . Longer grass also shades the soil and lessens the amount of water needed.
- Kill weeds in sidewalks, driveways and between pavers using all natural, full strength white vinegar instead of a chemical herbicide.
- Put rain barrels beneath your downspouts and use the water for your containers and gardens.
- Add mulch to your landscape and garden beds to reduce water usage.
- Use a water timer to avoid over or under watering.
- Buy solar powered outdoor lighting, birdbaths and fountains to lessen electricity usage.
- Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation to deliver water to a plant's root zone.
- Build or buy bat houses for natural insect control. Bats eat many times more insects than birds.
- Install a tall evergreen hedge on the north side of your home to cut heating bills up to 34% in windswept regions and 10% in sheltered areas.
Material borrowed with thanks from Bachman's Garden Centre in Minnesota.
Have a great day,
Kennedy at Knippel Garden Centre