10 Eco Friendly Tips For The Garden:

It is easy to be environmentally friendly when you make it part of your lifestyle. Just a few simple changes really start to add up over time. Here is a list of 10 simple things that you can do in your garden and backyard to become more eco friendly. Not only are they easy, but they will improve your health and help you save money too!

1) Disconnect the downspout on your house from the municipal drains. Place a rain barrel under the downspout so that you can use the water when you need it. Now, instead of the water going into the sewers, you can use it to water your garden and lawn. Of course, the fact that this will reduce your water bill is nice too.

2) Buy organically grown food or grow your own. Organically grown food is grown without the use of pesticides or artificial fertilizers. Organic gardening also relies on crop rotation, composting, planting disease-resistant crops and beneficial insects to grow pesticide free food and environmentally sound crops.

3) Gather up the leaves in the fall to use as mulch or compost instead of throwing them out. Make sure the leaves are completely dry and then mix them in with the soil before winter sets in. The leaves will help to retain moisture in the soil all year long.

4) When you cut your grass it should be three inches long. As well, leave the grass clippings on the lawn. This will help to protect the roots, keep the grass greener, keep the soil moist and discourage insects from staying around. That's a lot of benefits for no extra work on your part.

5) Buy as much fresh food and produce at your local Farmer's market as possible. Not only will this support local farmers and the local economy, but fresh food tastes amazing and has more nutrients. Plus, less fuel is needed to transport the food to market.

6) Use plants that are native to the area you live in. These plants will need less water and fertilizers, which means that they need less work and money for them to grow strong and healthy.

7) Install window awnings on your house. They may look old-fashioned, but they are more effective than drapes or blinds in keeping your house cool. The cooler your house, the less money you will need to spend on air conditioning. Also, try to buy white window awnings if you can; white will reflect more heat away from the house than any other colour.

8) If you live in a condo, gather support from people living in the building to start a garden on the roof. These gardens are also known as green roofs and have many benefits. The plants help to cool the building during the summer and reduce heat loss during the winter. They act as sound insulation and can reduce noise levels by 40 decibels. As well, they absorb carbon dioxide from the air.

9) Avoid the use of pesticides and other chemicals in your garden. Not only are pesticides toxic to you, but they are also toxic to birds and other wildlife that visit your garden. Explore the different options available that work just as well and may even save you money since you are not buying pesticides and chemicals.

10) Only water your lawn once a week. This will encourage the roots to grow deeper under ground, where they will be cooler and less susceptible to damage during hot, dry summers and cold winters.