Save Money & Go Green With These Yard Ideas

By Roland Stockwell


If you were hoping to live a more eco-friendly life but still want a beautiful yard, you don't necessarily need to turn your yard into a giant rock garden filled with cacti. There are plenty of ways to use less water and stay eco-friendly and still enjoy a bit of greenery.

When you plan out your yard, consider using native plants. These plants are already acclimated to the soil and amount of rainfall typical for your area. There are plenty of beautiful choices no matter where you live, including trees, ground-cover and shrubbery. Visit a nursery that specializes in selling the native plants in your area, and you will probably be surprised by the choices.

If a green lawn is something you really crave, consider adding grass but in small amounts. You don't have to have the whole lawn green. Smaller patches of grass interspersed with beautiful pavers or a patio are not only attractive, but easier to maintain. If you live in the desert or in an area with a lot of drought but you really want grass, consider compromising with a synthetic grass. These days, synthetic grass more closely mimics the look and feel of real grass. In addition, make sure that you are watering effectively. Get a water meter and check the soil to ensure that you are not overwatering, which is actually a very common problem.

One simple way to conserve water is to set up a rain barrel or two in your yard. Think about all the water that just flows off your roof during a shower. Even if it rains less than an inch, hundreds of gallons of waters can be diverted in to rain barrels which you can then use as a source of water for your garden and plants. This saves the tap water for essentials such as drinking and cooking, and will lower your monthly bill, saving you some money.

Purchase or build a couple of rain barrels and place them under the spouts that are closest to the items you need to water often, such as your vegetable garden. This makes carrying water easier. Because the water can sit there for days or weeks, you will have to do something to ensure the overall safety of this standing water. Using a safe and natural product is best, such as the Rain Barrel Water Cleaner that was developed by Healthy Ponds. This product, which is veterinarian approved and safe for pets, people and wildlife, uses beneficial types of bacteria to keep unpleasant odors at bay and the water clean and free of excess organic matter.

Healthy Ponds also has safe, effective and natural products for bird baths, fountains, ponds and other water features. These products contain no chemicals, just safe blends of bacteria that reduce the excess organic matter that can make water stagnant and unhealthy.




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