Yard Tip

How "green" is your garden?

Here's something to think about. The types of plants you choose to grow, the fertilizers you add, the way you water your garden and the chemicals you use to treat plant problems or kill plant pests have obvious influences on how eco-friendly your yard is.

With summer fast approaching, be attentive to how you water your yard. Don't water during the heat of the day; water early in the morning instead.

Be eco-conscious of the plants you choose for your garden. Experts say that it's better to use native plants, which are plants that grow well in your area. Native plants require less maintenance, less watering and less help from fertilizers because they are naturally made to grow where you live.

Outside? Quick tips on Lawns.

1. Set your mower blades to high. The minimum height for grass is two and a half inches. Anything shorter is hard to maintain, encourages weeds and disease and requires more intervention. Longer grass also protects the roots, offering more shade and preventing water evaporation.
2. Keep your lawn mover blades sharp. Dull blades will tear the grass, damaging the plant, making it require more water than healthy plants.
3. In a drought, don’t waste water on a lawn beginning to turn brown, it will revive after normal rainfall resumes.

Organic Gardening, it's easy, change.

1. Digging adds to good drainage and air circulation in the soil.
2. Compost, made from rotted organic material, is the best all around soil conditioner available.
3. Digging discourages harmful root feeding insects work compost and other organic material into the soil.