Greenscaping For All Seasons
By Lina Younes
The leaves in the Washington, DC area will soon reach the full range of the fall spectrum. Since we have been having unseasonably warm weather, we still can see many flowering bushes in bloom in gardens and parks in the area surrounded by the multicolor autumn foliage. In fact, I’m actually looking forward for the temperatures to become steadily cooler so that I can plant bulbs that will blossom in the springtime. I guess I’ll have to be more patient.
As we’re talking about the changes in seasons, we should start to think about taking special steps to protect our gardens. With careful planning this autumn, we will be rewarded with colorful flowers and green lawns next year. We can achieve this goal without resorting to chemicals. We can go green in our yards through greenscaping!
How to greenscape? Well it boils down to some basic resource conservation issues: reduce, reuse, and recycle. The green 3 R’s. By implementing these principles you can save millions of gallons of water, pesticides, while protecting the environment. First, reduce the production of waste in your gardens. Select native plants and perennials. Secondly, reuse products prolongs the useful life of these materials and delays their final disposal. Thirdly, recycle lawn trimmings and yard debris in a compost pile to be able to feed your lawn with minimal use of chemicals. Some work now will go a long way for a healthier environment.
What are your thoughts on the issue? Any tips? Planning anything special for your garden this year? We love to hear from you.
About the author: Lina Younes has been working for EPA since 2002 and chairs EPA’s Multilingual Communications Task Force. Prior to joining EPA, she was the Washington bureau chief for two Puerto Rican newspapers and she has worked for several government agencies.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Oct 28, 2010 @ 05:22:06
this is really usefull
Oct 28, 2010 @ 07:20:35
In my country, beside 3 R’s for privat homes, we need 3 R’s too for the poor people in their worst home. First, Rehabilitation for their land jurisdiction, secondly, Rehabilitation of the neighborhood and the thirdly to Recommendate “Landlord” do not there. I cries when compare my village between now and 45 years ago. We have “Land use Act-1963”, but , ago, when bamboos drained the water from Hill-up to bottom (reduce & reuse?), now is lost, when the fish ate my feces in the fishpond (recycle?) also too. I think we need one ‘R’ again : “Revolution”…..
Oct 28, 2010 @ 08:24:08
Friends, please, answer me: Are Americans able to reforest 20%
their farms from the river banks?
Oct 28, 2010 @ 13:17:25
The 3R are fairly sound practices
Oct 28, 2010 @ 16:43:23
Thanks for sharing with us.
Oct 29, 2010 @ 12:31:14
Our landscaping practices have crossed over into a significantly destructive operation.
For example we must change local ordinances so homeowners are not limited to planting ornamental turfgrass. City officials are sadly in need of awareness and education. Instead they rely on the old model, mowing and cutting every green thing in site because it “looks tidy.”
We have a long, long, way to go in making important changes in attitude and behavior. At this stage in the game, the 3 R’s strike me as rather quaint, but not nearly enough to create the progress we need.
Nov 03, 2010 @ 13:47:15
Shane,
The need for environmental awareness is necessary. I think we are moving away from tidy, manicured lawns, but you’re right, we still have a long way to go. It will take more than the three R’s to change people’s behavior, but we all need to do our part.
Lina
Jan 08, 2011 @ 16:29:10
The concept of greenscaping works in the same wavelength as the concept of Feng Shui. It is an ancient art that is created around the principles of arrangement and placement of different elements to create a spiritual balance. When looking at garden water fountains and greenscaping for the purposes of Feng Shui, it is important to keep the elements in mind.
Feb 06, 2011 @ 12:07:01
Really nice article! I published my own way of keeping a lawn nice and green and also using recylcing techniques of old grass clippings.
Its a process called mulching basically reusing all of your old grass cuttings instead of throwing them away the results are second to none.