Going “green” in your yard means a lot more than the color of your lawn.
In fact, you may not always want your lawn to look so green!
(Hint: It uses alotof water.)
Check out these eco-landscaping ideas to green your yard in healthy, sustainable, environmentally friendly ways.
What is Green Landscaping?
Green landscapes nurture wildlife; reduce air, soil, and water pollution; and make healthy recreation spaces.
Your yard can make a difference!
Native landscaping plants are naturally adapted to your regional environment.
Stay close to home when making your choices, however.
Just because a plant is native to the United States doesn’t make it good for your location.
Find native plants for your region.
When considering natives, check with local experts to avoid any natives that are invasive or aggressive.
Explore our favorite small trees.
Hardscaping, too, can be green.
Choose recycled plastics or sustainably harvested materials for fencing and decks.
Grass is naturally programmed to go into dormancy.
Water infrequently, if at all.
Use organic mulch in garden beds and around trees to conserve soil moisture and prevent weeds.
Look into xeriscaping, also called drought-tolerant landscaping.
Use that free, naturally soft water for your garden needs.
Get our free planting guide for a downspout garden.
First, test your soil.
You may not need to add any chemicals!
Healthy soil nurtures healthy plants.
Never allow yourgrass clippings or leavesto stay in the street; they are a major source of water pollution.
Blow the chopped grass and leaves back onto the lawn where they’ll decompose and add nutrients.
Apply only the smallest amount of nitrogen-base fertilizer you need; excess nitrogen can"burn" lawns.
Apply fertilizer to lawns only in fall and spring when it is most beneficial to the grass.
A quick-release fertilizer applied in fallnot springis the most important because it helps grass build reserves for spring growth.
Get our organic lawn-care tips.
Green garden landscaping means making an effort to cut back on these fuel emissions.
Switch from gasoline-burning machines to cleaner-burning electrical engines.
Bear in mind, though, that using electricity causes pollution.
Use manual tools such as push reel mowers and hand tools.
They emit zero pollutionand you’ll get a workout in!
Mow your lawn less frequently.
In addition to saving energy and time, your lawn benefits.
Remove no more than one-third of the leaf-blade length at any time.
Research shows that mowing higher means fewer weeds because taller grass shades and out-competes the weed seedlings.
Reduce fuel emissions and save time with a smaller lawn.
Transform part of your lawn into gardens filled with low-maintenance, easy-care shrubs and native plants.
It can be as simple as reducing the amount of solid waste you produce.
For example, instead of bagging lawn waste such as twigs and leaves, create compost piles.
When the yard waste has decomposed, add the finished product to your lawn and gardens to increase fertility.
Other green landscaping ideas to consider:
See more on mulch.
