How you maintain your garden or landscape can have an important effect on the health of the soil, air, water and habitat for native wildlife - as well as the human community nearby. Here are some sustainable gardening techniques that you can use to help conserve resources.

Mulching
Mulch helps keep water in the soil and available to the plant, rather than evaporating into the air. This can help you reduce your watering time. Also, as mulch breaks down, it provides nutrients to the soil. This can help reduce the need for fertilizer. Be sure to use mulches that are from sustainable forestry practices, and that are free from pests.

Reducing Lawn Areas
Grass lawns often require chemicals and frequent maintenance. Gas-powered lawnmowers produce high amounts of greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming and air pollution. Since lawns are often made of only a few types of plants that most animals do not consume, they do not provide a lot of value for wildlife. Replacing grass lawn with native wildflowers, bushes, and trees provide the food, shelter, and cover that help to maintain healthy, natural ecosystems.

Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is an approach to landscaping that minimizes outdoor water use while maintaining soil integrity through the use of native, drought-tolerant plants. This is a common practice in drier areas, such as the West and Southwest, where water supplies and water quality are at stake.

Rain Barrels
Rain barrels are used to collect rainwater for use during drier months. Rain barrel water is a great way to save money, reduce the amount of chemicals used in processing drinking water, and provide a pure source of water for outdoor plants. Depending on the size of your house and the amount of rainfall in your area, you can collect a substantial amount of rainwater with a simple system.

Removing Invasives & Restoring Native Plant Communities
Native plants are better for the environment than exotic plants, generally requiring less fertilizer and other additives, less water, and less effort in pest control. They are especially important to native wildlife, such as pollinators that may have coevolved with a particular species. Pollinators often rely on a certain type of flower as a source of food, while the flower depends on the pollinator to transport its pollen to other flowers for reproduction. When non-native plants are used, they oftentimes upset the delicate balance of a local ecosystem and sometimes even out-compete native species to the point of extinction. Wildlife will benefit more when native plant communities remain intact, or are restored to their natural habitats.

Once you've completed this step, you're ready to certify your yard.