If you were hoping to live a more eco-friendly life but still want a beautiful yard, you don't necessarily need to turn your yard into a giant rock garden filled with cacti. There are plenty of ways to use less water and stay eco-friendly and still enjoy a bit of greenery.
One way to go green is work with what is native to your area. Go to a nursery and take a look at the different types of native trees, grasses and plants that are available. These will acclimate faster to your yard than non-native plants as they are already compatible with the soil and weather in your area. You can find beautiful flowering plants, ground cover and much more.
If you do have grass and green shrubbery or ground coverings, be sure that you water the correct amount. Many people simply water too often or for too long. Get a water moisture meter and check out your soil to see if you are overdoing it. Also, when you plan out your lawn, consider limiting the amount of grass. Smaller areas of grass obviously cost less to water and maintain but still provide that splash of green you might be craving. If you live in a high-drought, desert area but you really want a huge patch of green grass, think about putting in a synthetic lawn. Synthetic lawns have come a long way in recent years, and they don't resemble miniature golf courses like they did in the past.
One easy way to cut water bill costs but still have enough water for your garden and plants is to use a rain barrel. The amount of water that falls off of your roof during a rain shower is astounding. For every inch that falls, you can collect as much as 600 gallons of water in rain barrels. You can use this water for watering the yard and garden and even use it for you houseplants. This is basically free water and it is far better to use reclaimed water for the yard than water that should be used for cooking or drinking.
Simply place the barrels under downspouts, and when it rains, water will just flow right in. It is wise to place a barrel next to a spout near where you want to water, such as near flower beds or right next to your garden. This will make it easier for you to transport water instead of lugging it all the way across your yard. You also need to ensure that the water stays as fresh as possible, as highly stagnant water is a health hazard. There are easy ways to do this, such as using a product like the Rain Barrel Water Cleaner created by Healthy Ponds. This product uses absolutely no chemicals and instead contains natural bacteria which work to break down and remove excess sludge and organic matter in the barrel. The product has been approved as safe for animals by veterinarian and also will not harm humans.
Healthy Ponds also has safe, effective and natural products for bird baths, fountains, ponds and other water features. These products contain no chemicals, just safe blends of bacteria that reduce the excess organic matter that can make water stagnant and unhealthy.
One way to go green is work with what is native to your area. Go to a nursery and take a look at the different types of native trees, grasses and plants that are available. These will acclimate faster to your yard than non-native plants as they are already compatible with the soil and weather in your area. You can find beautiful flowering plants, ground cover and much more.
If you do have grass and green shrubbery or ground coverings, be sure that you water the correct amount. Many people simply water too often or for too long. Get a water moisture meter and check out your soil to see if you are overdoing it. Also, when you plan out your lawn, consider limiting the amount of grass. Smaller areas of grass obviously cost less to water and maintain but still provide that splash of green you might be craving. If you live in a high-drought, desert area but you really want a huge patch of green grass, think about putting in a synthetic lawn. Synthetic lawns have come a long way in recent years, and they don't resemble miniature golf courses like they did in the past.
One easy way to cut water bill costs but still have enough water for your garden and plants is to use a rain barrel. The amount of water that falls off of your roof during a rain shower is astounding. For every inch that falls, you can collect as much as 600 gallons of water in rain barrels. You can use this water for watering the yard and garden and even use it for you houseplants. This is basically free water and it is far better to use reclaimed water for the yard than water that should be used for cooking or drinking.
Simply place the barrels under downspouts, and when it rains, water will just flow right in. It is wise to place a barrel next to a spout near where you want to water, such as near flower beds or right next to your garden. This will make it easier for you to transport water instead of lugging it all the way across your yard. You also need to ensure that the water stays as fresh as possible, as highly stagnant water is a health hazard. There are easy ways to do this, such as using a product like the Rain Barrel Water Cleaner created by Healthy Ponds. This product uses absolutely no chemicals and instead contains natural bacteria which work to break down and remove excess sludge and organic matter in the barrel. The product has been approved as safe for animals by veterinarian and also will not harm humans.
Healthy Ponds also has safe, effective and natural products for bird baths, fountains, ponds and other water features. These products contain no chemicals, just safe blends of bacteria that reduce the excess organic matter that can make water stagnant and unhealthy.
About the Author:
Roland Stockwell enjoys blogging about natural products. To discover some good natural products from Bioverse, or to know more about other products like bird bath cleaner solutions, please go to the Bioverse.com website today.
