Managing Your Eco-Friendly Garden
There are many products on the market that can help you to manage and grow your eco-friendly garden. Here are some ideas that many may not have considered.
Water
Water is a valuable commodity in many communities. Widespread drought has made watering lawns illegal in some areas. But, when you do water, do it right. Many people think they are doing their watering right when they lightly sprinkle a lawn. However, it depends on what type of grass you have. Bermuda grasses actually have deep roots. If you set up a soaker hose and deeply water your lawn for – yes – hours, the roots will grow even deeper, making your lawn drought resistant. That’s exactly what we have done. Our West Texas lawn appears to be dead due to a 2 year drought, but 18 inches below the surface are healthy Bermuda roots, ready for the rains to return. We water our lawn 3 times a year but the roots are still alive.
Lawn
The lawn does require water, but, it also engenders life. Our house was known as the “Sticker Patch” before we moved in. All of the neighborhood kids avoided it because of the grass burrs. The ground was hard and impenetrable. As we nurtured the lawn grasses, the roots grew and loosened up the soil. Soon, it was full of earth worms, which enriched the soil. This brought the birds. We even had a snail problem before the drought. In addition, it lowered the temperature on our corner lot. You could actually feel a difference between our lot and the neighbor’s garden that was – well, more of a yard. So, don’t look down on people who nurture a lawn – they’re nurturing Nature, too.
Milkspore
All right, you’re probably wondering “Milkspore?” This is a natural pesticide. Cut worms, or grubs, are a problem with many gardens. However, the poisons use to kill the pests are bad for the environment. Milkspore is natural, and doesn’t damage the ecosystem, but it will kill pests. It is more expensive than pesticides, but, you’ll NEVER HAVE TO REAPPLY IT! That’s right. Milkspore is a permanent pesticide. Take that, chemicals!
Judicious Fertilizing
There are many natural fertilizers on the market, but they can be overused just like the chemical fertilizers. So, what can you do about it? Use it as directed, that’s what. Carefully read the instructions on any fertilizer you use in your garden. Apply only as much as the instructions say, and water it in accordingly. If you do, the plants will actually use up all of the fertilizer. It won’t leach through into the water table or run off into local water ways. It simply does what it is supposed to do – make your garden grow.
Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping is a way of landscaping your garden with natural elements. When you xeriscape, you seldom have to pull weeds or replant, because everything in your garden is native and natural. This can create a beautiful landscape, with little to almost no maintenance.
Do you have any tips from your own eco-friendly garden you can share? We would love to hear about them in the comments!
Ed Brooke is a keen gardener. He enjoys doing work on multiple gardens including his own. He currently works for Lawn Master, a company that provide lawn care services. Little girl watering the flowers image from BigStock.
