1)

Composting creates an excellent fertilizer and reduces the amount of waste you send to a landfill by as much as 50%. Most composters are designed for non-meat scraps, there are newer composting products available for meats! If you can’t compost, use an organic fertilizer product instead of a product with lots of artificial chemicals.

2)

Use less water in your yard! The average single-family suburban home uses at least 30 percent of its water for outdoor purposes such as irrigation. Some experts estimate that more than 50 percent of landscape water is wasted due to evaporation, wind, or overwatering. Select native plant species that require less water and are drought tolerant (xeriscaping).

3)

Utilize rain barrels and sprinkler timers. Water in the early morning and try to design your terrain to slow the movement of water so that your plants, trees and grasses can soak up more nutrients during a rain storm. Also use mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation and control weeds.

4)

Select native plants that deter pests and attract helpful insects such as butterflies.

5)

Utilizing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques will enable you to drastically reduce the use of chemicals to manage pests. If needed, use natural/organic pesticides and herbicides. You can also utilize eco-friendly slug or deer repellents.

6)

Know the acidity of the lawn by using a Ph and moisture meter. Then take steps needed to neutralize acidity. Healthy soil is an important component of any successful garden.

7)

The typical mower is extremely polluting when in terms of gasoline emissions. One hour of mowing the lawn is equivalent to 100 miles of driving a car in terms of air pollution, and the typical home owner mows the lawn about 40 hours per year. Most mowers also operate in a very uncomfortable decibel range (very very loud). Mowing your lawn with an electric mower uses only $3 of electricity per year and runs much quieter. Non-motorized mowers are great workouts and create no pollution.

8)

Instead of bagging the cut grass, use it as a natural fertilizer by simply keeping it on the lawn. Nearly one-fifth of municipal waste comes from organic matter such as yard waste.

9)

Keep your grass about 3 inches high. This provides for a stronger root system and reduces watering needs for the lawn.

10)

Grow plants and trees to provide your home with shade in the summer months. Deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your home do a great job of shading in the summer and letting the sunlight in during the winter. Plants and trees are also natural carbon absorbers, so planting plants and trees helps reduce your carbon footprint!