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The truth is that it can be hard to keep up with all the work necessary for a well-manicured lawn. There are many weed killers and fertilizers on the market that help you get your yard in shape easily but this article will show you some other ways to have a lush, green lawn without having to spend so much time maintaining it.
What follows are 10 ideas for transforming your boring backyard into an eco-friendly paradise with minimal effort.
Choose Native Plants
One of the best things you can do to make your garden eco-friendly is to plant only native plants. They are hardier and better attuned to your environment than exotic ones, making them more likely to survive once they are planted. Native plants also attract local wildlife like bees, butterflies and even deer which can be very beneficial for your yard.
Start Composting
Composting is the process of allowing organic materials like leaves and grass to break down and decompose. The final product, which you can then use to fertilize your plants, is called compost. You can get a compost bin from your local home improvement store or make one yourself. Start making your own compost and you’ll never need to buy fertilizer again.
Water Wisely
Tying into the composting process, you can also use the compost to water your plants! Watering your garden with wastewater is a great way to provide much-needed nutrients and minerals back into the soil without wasting valuable drinking water.
Install a Rain Barrel
Don’t let all that rain go down the drain instead, use it to water your plants. Collecting rainwater and using it as a source of irrigation rather than drinking water is called rainwater harvesting and you can easily do it with the right kind of barrels or tanks that can be installed in your home or yard. If you don’t want to buy such an elaborate setup, just go for a good old-fashioned bucket.
Plant a Rain Garden
Instead of just letting all that water runoff into the street or your neighbor’s yard, you can actually use it to your advantage by creating a rain garden. Rain gardens are spaces where excess water is diverted so it can pool and be re-used.
Turn Your Lawn Into a Wildlife Habitat
One way to attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife into your backyard is to turn some of that lawn into a habitat for them. You can create spaces where the birds can safely nest, plant flowers and shrubs that attract butterflies and even leave some patches of your grass uncut so it will provide cover to critters on the run.
Give Back to Mother Nature
You can give back to nature in your backyard by doing certain practices that take very little time and effort but benefit the environment immensely. One example is mulching, which simply means piling plant matter on top of the soil to prevent weed growth and retain water so it slowly decomposes. Another simple, yet powerful way is to build a compost pile with the food waste you create in your kitchen.
Go Solar
Install solar panels in your yard and you’ll be amazed at how much this simple change can save you on energy costs. Not only will that generate fewer carbon emissions and reduce your carbon footprint, but it will also help keep that electric bill of yours under control.
Solar lighting is also a great option when making your backyard a low-maintenance and eco-friendly oasis. Although are many things to consider for backyard lightening, these lights take no effort to do, simply install them and let the sun’s power charge up their batteries for you as they automatically turn on at night.
Build a Greenhouse
Why settle for just growing an herb garden when you can grow a whole greenhouse full of vegetables and fruit? Or better yet, an orchard! If you have enough space in your backyard a greenhouse is a great way to convert some of that lawn into a low-maintenance food garden.
Use Eco-Friendly Products
Forget using harsh chemicals and pesticides to kill weeds, pests, and mold in your backyard. There are plenty of eco-friendly products available these days that will help you get rid of all the annoying creatures trying to make a home for themselves in your yard while leaving a small carbon footprint or no footprints at all.
By following all of these tips you can make your yard an oasis for people and wildlife alike. Once you’ve transformed your lawn into a low-maintenance, eco-friendly space, the only thing left to do is sit back and enjoy!
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