"Greenscaping": Create an Environmentally Friendly Lawn & Garden

Greenscaping is a great way to improve the health and appearance of your lawn and garden. When done properly it also saves time and money. Simple changes such as eliminating unnecessary watering and choosing plants that require less care, will go a long way toward making your yard the most eco-friendly on the block.

Your local True Value store has the products and expert advice to help you achieve an environmentally friendly lawn and garden. Here are some great suggestions to get your "greenscaping" started:

Plant Trees
Build A Rain Garden
Create A Compost Bin
Minimize Watering
Plant Low Water Plants
Use Organic Products
Install Solar Lighting

Plant Trees

Trees improve our environment every day by moderating climate, improving air quality, conserving water and harboring wildlife. The more you can plant around your home, the better. Not only do trees provide summer shade and shield against harsh winds, but they also improve air quality by releasing oxygen into the air and absorbing harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. Trees also reduce storm runoff and inhibit flooding.

Helpful Tip:

Plant deciduous trees on the south side of your home to provide maximum shade during the summer. Plant evergreen trees on the north side to protect it from prevailing winds during the winter.

Build A Rain Garden

Rain gardens are areas of ground planted with native grasses and wildflowers that self-irrigate by soaking up runoff from buildings and rooftops. These nontraditional gardens absorb 30% more water than the average lawn and are a beautiful addition to your yard. Additionally rain gardens help provide an enticing habitat for birds and prevent pollutants from entering lakes and streams.

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To create a rain garden, determine what grasses and wildflowers are appropriate for your geographic area. Select an area that will catch the most runoff from your roof. Alternatively, place your rain garden in flat or low areas of your lawn so it absorbs the rainwater that normally settles there. Dig a ground space anywhere from 3"-10" deep with a shovel. Build in a high sun area and make sure the base of the garden is kept perfectly level.

Helpful Tip:

Place your rain garden away from the house to avoid leakage into the basement and at least 25' from existing septic systems.

Create A Compost Bin

Composting is one of the most environmentally friendly processes you can implement for your lawn and garden. By recycling organic waste you can improve soil texture, suppress weed growth, inject rich nutrients, decrease erosion and increase soil's ability to absorb air and water. Additionally, making and using your own compost can save money and reduce pollution by reducing the need for commercial soil additives.

To create a compost bin in your yard, choose a level spot about 3x5 square feet in size near a water source, but away from direct sunlight. Clear the spot of sod and grass using a sod cutter and set up a compost bin with chicken wire or concrete blocks. Add compost material such as leaves, stalks, flowers, grass, vegetable scraps and coffee grounds from the kitchen (avoid using meat, dairy products or oils as they can attract pests). Turn your compost regularly with a pitchfork to distribute air and moisture and add water during dry spells. Typical composts are ready to use in three to six months. When the pile becomes dark, crumbly and uniform, spread it in garden beds, under shrubs, or use it as potting soil.

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Minimize Watering

With typical foliage, only the top 8"-10" of soil needs to be watered. To control the amount of water you use, install a seeper hose to produce a slow stream of water. You can also use cans for efficient water distribution. Punch holes in the bottoms of juice or coffee cans with a hammer and nail. Push the cans 6"-12" into the soil, right side up, and fill them with water. The water will gradually seep from the bottom into the soil directly surrounding plant roots. This method will greatly reduce evaporation and unnecessary wetting of surrounding soil.

Plant Low Water Plants

Not all plants require constant watering. Perennials such as mums or trilliums require less water than annual bedding plants. Due to their self-maintaining properties, colorful native plants are a great choice as well.

If you have many plants in containers outside, consider transplanting them to the ground where they'll demand less water. Or add hydrophilic polymer crystals that absorb water and release it slowly to plants over several days. Additionally, buy drought-resistant turfgrass instead of traditional sod or seed to save even more on watering.

Use Organic Products

Check your local True Value store for "green" products like organic pesticide, fungicide, fertilizer and plant food. The benefits of these products are numerous. Organic products aren't just safe for the environment; they can actually stimulate higher growth rates and enhanced root growth. Organic products also help suppress plant-borne diseases and keep helpful microbes in your soil healthy.

Install Solar Lighting

Installing solar lighting is an economical, energy efficient way to highlight your home's exterior architectural features. No special skills or tools are needed; most systems can be installed in under an hour using only a screwdriver. There's no wiring to worry about and low voltage systems offer safety around children and pets, too.

Success! You've built a more efficient, environmentally friendly lawn and garden that will provide lasting benefits. To find out what else you can do to make your lawn and garden better for the environment, head to your neighborhood True Value store.

For more projects, go to TrueValue.com. >

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