Tread Gently on your Turf this summer! We have a national obsession with lawns and gardens. From golf-course-like green lawns and pest control usage to water conservation measures and gas-powered lawn mowers, we take pleasure in our own personal landscapes. From an environmentalist’s point of view, the amount of money we spend on gardening and grass is shocking, maybe even frightening. According to Statistics Canada, sales from all lawn and garden products have risen steadily over the past five years to more than $2 billion annually. A large chunk of that goes to chemicals and other products and resources devoted to keeping our lawns and gardens bug- and weed-free and profusely in bloom. But there are green alternatives that don’t assault nature’s fine balance. Let’s take a look at some of them: Go au naturel – Native plants are easy to grow and maintain. They require less fertilizer and water and pests are less of a problem. From food and flowering plants to shrubs and bushes and trees, there are many indigenous plants that will thrive in Canadian soil. The internet is your best source for information. Watch your water – This is especially tricky during long heat waves, but it can be done. Use mulch and compost so your soil traps in water rather than letting it evaporate. Consider soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems that use less water than traditional sprinkler systems. Use a rain barrel. It is best to water in the morning or evening when the sun is cooler and less likely to stimulate evaporation. Recycled lawn furniture – A number of companies make outdoor furniture out of recycled product. It is pricey, though. A Canadian company featured three years ago on Dragon’s Den is making colourful lawn furniture out of recycled plastic. The stuff is weather-proof so it doesn’t warp, split or fade and it’s maintenance-free so there’s no need to paint it or replace it. Almost sounds too good to be true. Eliminate the buzz – Lawn mowers and tools powered by gas or electricity don’t fit in well with a green garden. Try to reduce your dependence on them. Consider a push-style mower, especially if your lawn is relatively small. Leave grass clippings as they add nitrogen to the soil and promote earthworm activity. Try to trim your grass higher as this pushes out weeds and conserves moisture. Consider solar-powered light fixtures instead of electric. Grow your own food – Nothing like eating garden fresh fruit and veggies, especially if it hasn’t been tainted by synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Start by conditioning your soil and making sure you have compost on the go. Buy chemical-free seeds and plants. Try to group plants together tightly, which reduces water waste and weeds. Tomatoes, zucchini, Swiss chard, sugar snaps and pole beans often give the most bang for your buck. Raised garden beds promote higher yields, easier accessibility and all-round efficiency. Kill ‘em with kindness – Bugs aren’t really a bad thing for your garden. Most are good, in fact. Depending on the pest, though, there are certain plants you can place nearby that will help eradicate the nuisance bug. Mint, lemon balm and human hair are good for getting rid of slugs. Try sprinkling chilli pepper around plants to ward off hungry rabbits. Chives, marigolds and cilantro scare away aphids. Soap shavings or used cat litter discourages deer. Vinegar is a good natural week killer. For weeds, pouring heavily salted boiled water over the weed will do the trick as will bending over and manually yanking out the unwanted plant. There are also plenty of organic and natural pesticides, herbicides and fungicides for sale if concocting your own isn’t doable. So think twice before you cut, aerate, spray, water, weed, gas up and plug in or before you run to the nearest home improvement store to stock up on chemicals for your lawn and garden. Sure, your yard will look pretty in the short term but consider what you’re doing to our ecosystem.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:35:17 +0000
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