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3 Eco-friendly Landscaping Tips

Tips for Eco-Friendly Landscaping – When we give to the earth, the earth gives back to us. We all know that it is very important to be ecologically conscious by not wasting resources and keeping our land clean. A positive way to give back to the earth and help yourself too is to have an eco-friendly plan in mind when you plan to do your landscaping.

3 Tips for Landscaping Eco-friendly Landscaping

#1. Compost!
Compost is a very good way to feed your plants and make sure they have all the necessary nutrients to grow, while responsibly disposing of certain materials from your home. Compost is a form of recycling that is very beneficial to plants. To begin, you can make a compost using any old vegetables and fruits, tea bags, grass clippings, pine needles, wood ashes (in small amounts), hay, cardboard, newspaper, leaves, sawdust, or manure. Mix this into your garden and landscape soil, and your plants will thank you for it!

 

#2. Keep ’em safe!
Use only eco-friendly fertilizers and insecticides. Fertilizers are important to helping your plants grow, but many contain chemicals that are bad for the environment. Consider buying a no-phosphorus fertilizer. Environmental scientists have found that too much phosphorus is prone to causing algae, which clogs our waterways and thus harms the environment in many ways as it is cleaned out.

Almost all commercial insecticides on the market today harm the environment. It is important to use insecticides on your landscape plants that won’t do this. Wet suggest making this homemade insecticide:

– 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
– 1 tablespoon baking soda
– 4 tablespoons liquid dish soap

Mix all of these ingredients together in one gallon of water and spray on your plants as an eco-friendly insecticide and fungicide.

 

#3. Use the right plants!
Consider using only native plants in your landscaping. Native plants are much more hardy than non-natives because they were designed for your particular area. They will require less water and less insecticides and pesticides than other plants. Native plants also benefit the wildlife and help the life cycle of various other plants and animals thrive. If you don’t know what plants to look for when selecting those that are native to your area, visit the U.S. EPA’s Greenacres Program.

 

These are some of the most important tips for landscaping in an eco-friendly way. In addition, consider using a reel mower if you have a small lawn. It will benefit you with some exercise and does not use gasoline. With a large lawn, you may prefer to use a non-polluting electric mower to get the job done in a timely manner. Enjoy landscaping and be sure to create a small, organically-grown garden to promote sustainability!

The post 3 Eco-friendly Landscaping Tips appeared first on Downtown Homestead.



from Downtown Homestead http://downtownhomestead.com/3-eco-friendly-landscaping-tips/
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