Guest Post: Reduce Your Impact by Gardening Smart

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While expansive and lush fields of grass characterize most yards nowadays, it is usually not the most eco-friendly way to keep your yard looking nice. Grasses require a lot of upkeep including mowing, watering, and fertilizing. However there are many alternatives to grass that are far better for your water bill and for your local ecology. Here are some ideas to reduce your impact on the environment and still have a beautiful yard:

1.            Plant Native – The first thing you should start out doing is planting according to your area. Most areas have a variety of plants that grow quite well in existing temperatures and watering conditions. These plants have adapted to live in your area and thus do not require as much upkeep as non-native plants. Planting native flora also helps the local ecology to stay strong and keeps the birds, bees and butterflies native to your area happy and healthy. Native plants do not require fertilization either since they are accustomed to the soil conditions.

2.      Fertilize Naturally – Adding nutrients to your soil is something that should be done very carefully. Runoff from artificial fertilizers and pesticides gets into the local water system and creates all kinds of issues. Instead, try to go for natural sources like manure. You can also create compost with your trash and yard clippings. This is a great way to put back in the soil what is lost through the growing process without damaging the ecology.

3.      Natural Pesticides –Keeping the bugs off your flowers, shrubs and other plants is often easier said than done. However there are many ways that you can repel bugs in your garden without spraying your yard with strong chemical pesticides. Natural alternatives include sprays made from citrus or marigold. You can also plant bug repelling flowers like marigold, yarrow, thyme and rosemary. Just the presence of these plants in your garden can reduce the number of pests that you encounter.

Planting smart can help your yard to stay looking nice while making a minimum impact on the local ecology. It can also help you to save money and effort. It is a win-win for everyone!

Author Bio:

Jack Meyers is a regular contributor for www.nannybackgroundcheck.com. As a detective he wants to spread the knowledge of terrible things that can happen when people don’t fully verify the credentials of a caregiver or any employee. He also writes for various law enforcement blogs and sites.