The Environmental Protection Agency says that, “Maintaining a wide
variety of healthy plants, soil organisms, beneficial insects and
animals can keep most pests and diseases in check.” The EPA refers to
this as “putting nature to work.”
When you restore the natural biological environment, the ecosystem
returns to a natural functioning place, where organisms and
microorganisms ward off pests, and help maintain nutritious soil. But,
how do you restore an ecosystem?
I’ve compiled five inexpensive ways to make your landscape more
environmentally friendly, lower maintenance, and safer for both family
and pets.
1) Test your soil.
Standard soil tests measure pH levels and the levels of elements like
phosphorous, potassium, calcium and magnesium, among other things.
Testing lets you know what your soil needs. Otherwise, the fertilizers
and mulch you’re using–some of which are quite expensive–may not be
meeting the needs of your yard. There are a variety of soil tests that can be performed at home; otherwise, universities are a great place to seek testing.
According to Ohio State University’s Research Area,
“Soil testing can boost garden yield and quality. It is a very
inexpensive way of maintaining good plant health and maximum plant
productivity.” OSU’s Research Area charges $20 for a soil test that can
tell a homeowner quite a bit about their ecosystem–and how to create an
optimal environment based on their findings.
2) Use grass clippings as mulch.
One of the EPA’s four GreenScapes suggestions is to reuse. One way to apply this is by repurposing your grass clippings as mulch.
Proper grass cutting suggests you keep grass blades at three inches,
and leave the grass clippings on your lawn. This limits the ability for
weeds to grow. Additionally, grass clippings provide 58 percent of the nutrients your lawn needs.
3) Collect rainwater–and use it.
In a recent article,
Times Daily mentions that, “A 55-gallon barrel connected to a
1,000-square-foot roof will fill up during a 1-inch rain. The barrels
can be purchased for $50 to $120 each, or constructed out of food-grade
drums.”
Going back to the EPA’s principles of reusing, rainwater provides
healthier hydration for your lawn and foliage, without the contaminants
often found in tap water. The Times Daily article further states, “Many
municipalities experience a 30 percent to 40 percent increase in
residential water usage in the summer. Rain barrels can help reduce
that.”
4) Skip the pesticide.
Each year, American homeowners apply 70 million pounds of pesticides to maintain their lawns. According to the National Audubon Society, much of this usage is solely for aesthetic purposes.
Insecticides, herbicides and fungicides have been linked to a range of illnesses, diseases and birth defects.
Furthermore, chemicals can be quite costly. Why not eliminate the use
of unnecessary chemicals, allow your yard to nurture itself, and protect
communities and wildlife while doing so?
5) Consider xeriscaping.
Xeriscaping involves creating a landscape that’s in alignment with
your local climate and indigenous species. For instance, create a desert
environment if you are, in fact, in a natural desert climate like
Phoenix. Plant cacti, not a lush grass lawn.
Non-indigenous plants, grasses, trees, etc. require far more
maintenance and resources, particularly water. It’s far less expensive
to maintain natural foliage than non-indigenous species.
Overall, the initial investment of going green and restoring a
natural environment may be slightly more than synthetic lawn care. But,
over time, property managers can save money by eliminating unnecessary
water and chemical use.
Additionally, a natural lawn is somewhat self-caring, meaning you’ll
spend fewer hours maintaining it once it’s been restored. The added
knowledge of having a yard that’s better for your community, and safer
for pets, wildlife, and your family brings the effort full circle. And
best of all, it’ll help attract tenants.To know details visit our site
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