In the Garden
P2 Week
September 15-21
How can I save water in my garden?
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off your driveway or sidewalk.
- Conserve water by mulching and by using a soaker hose or drip system.
- Install a drip-irrigation water system for valuable plants.
- Use drought-tolerant plants and grasses for landscaping and reduce grass-covered areas.
- Cut your grass at least three inches high to shade the roots, making it more drought tolerant; keep your mower sharp for the healthiest grass.
- Try to water only in the evening or very early morning to minimize evaporation.
- Water Efficient Landscape Planner - Software for Environmental Awareness
- Water-Efficient Landscaping: Preventing Pollution & Using Resources Wisely (PDF) (20 pp, 1.63M, About PDF)
- Green Landscaping: Benefits
- Wild Ones: Native Plants, Native Landscapes (PDF) (28 pp, 302KB, About PDF)
- Wild Ones On the Move!
How can I landscape to reduce polluted run-off?
- Wash your car less often or wash it at a car wash where they clean and recycle the water. If you do wash your car at home, use a bucket of soapy water rather than running the hose. Keep a spring-loaded nozzle on the hose.
- If you use porous pavement (gravel is a good example) instead of asphalt for driveways and walkways, the rain can recharge groundwater supplies instead of running off and contributing to erosion.
- Using native plantings instead of lawn grasses will help filter and retain water locally due to deeper root systems thereby reducing runoff.
- Collect storm water in rain gardens and rain barrels.
- Reduce impervious surfaces around your home.
How can I practice green landscaping and gardening?
- Use organic or low-impact gardening and watering techniques.
- Use native plants to lower water and pesticide needs.
- To find out what nutrients your lawn needs, test the soil through your local USDA Cooperative Extension System Office or home kit. Only Use What's Needed!
- If you use fertilizer, use a slow-release type no more than twice per year.
- Read the Label on any and all pesticides you use to be sure you use them properly.
- Use Integrated Pest Management techniques, an effective strategy to prevent pest damage.
- Read the Label First
- Using Native Plants
- Pesticides: Controlling Pests - Lawn and Garden
- Integrated Pest Management
- USDA Local Cooperative Extension System Offices
How do I reduce waste in my yard?
- Reduce turf grass to less than 75% of the total area. Replace lawn with native trees and shrubs,flowerbeds and ground covers.
- Use a mulching mower to shred grass clippings and leave them on the lawn.
- Compost yard waste.
- Green Landscaping
- Greenscaping Your Lawn and Garden (PDF) (8 pp., 958KB, About PDF)
- Haciendo aún más verde su césped y jardín (PDF) (8 pp., 312KB, About PDF)
- National Wildlife Federation - Backyard Habitat
- Composting