Eco-Gardening: The Non-Toxic Way
Backyard Habitat
Gardening in an Environmentally Friendly Way
How you manage your garden or landscape can have an effect on the health of the soil, air, water and habitat for native wildlife - as well as the human community. Following are some sustainable gardening techniques that you can use to help conserve resources.
Mulching
Mulch helps keep water in the soil and available to the plant, rather than evaporating into the air. This can help you reduce your watering time. Also, as mulch breaks down, it provides nutrients to the soil. This can help reduce the need for fertilizer.
Reducing Lawn Areas
Lawns often require chemicals and if you used a gas-powered lawnmower, the engines in these machines are often very polluting. Since lawns are often made of only a few types of plants, they do not provide a lot of value for wildlife who benefit in ecosystems with diverse plants.
Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is an approach to landscaping that minimizes outdoor water use while maintaining soil integrity through the use of native, drought-tolerant plants.
Rain Barrels
Rain barrels are used to collect rainwater for use during dry months. Besides helping the environment, an obvious reason for harvesting rainwater is to save money. Depending on the size of your house and the amount of rainfall in your area, you can collect a substantial amount of rainwater with a simple system.
Removing Invasive & Restoring Native Plants
Native plants are better for the environment than exotic plants, generally requiring less fertilizer and other additives, less water, and less effort in pest control. They stabilize soil and reduce erosion; they more effectively filter storm water than exotic plantings, thus improving water quality; and they promote biodiversity.
Forest Gardens - The Garden of the Future? by Jill Tunstall
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