An Eco-Friendly backyard is one that keeps its focus on environmentally-friendly practices. When planning an Eco-Friendly backyard, you can consider using native plants, reducing your use of chemicals, water conservation, composting & recycling, and habitat improvement for wildlife.
Native plants blend well with traditional plants and can be incorporated into most landscapes. Native plants need less maintenance and water; they will reduce your mowing area and reduce or possibly eliminate the need for lawn chemicals. They also allow rainwater to soak in deeper and will attract wildlife.
You can reduce your chemical usage by following the directions for application when using any kind of fertilizer or pesticide, and by looking for alternatives to synthetic lawn chemicals.
Water Conservation
When trying to conserve water you could capture rain water from downspouts in barrels or rain gardens, direct downspouts to heavily vegetated areas, or replace turf grass with deep rooted native plants. Soak in the water, don’t run it off.
A rain garden is a shallow depression in your yard that is planted with native flowers and is positioned in the yard to receive run-off from your roof, sidewalks, driveway, and lawns, allowing water to slowly soak into the ground. You can transform wet or low spots in yard, utilize water from downspouts, and use plants that like their “feet wet”. You will need to water your plantings every other day for the first two weeks or until well established.
A Popular New Approach to Gardening
Rain gardens are one of the most popular new perennial garden designs for three reasons. The garden will make good use of rainwater run-off, usually planted with native wetland and prairie plants, wildflowers and grasses, and one of the most rewarding reasons for being popular is the fact that the garden will provide food and shelter for many interesting birds, butterflies and beneficial insects.
If you decide to put a rain garden in your yard, try to keep your garden at least 10 feet away from your house. Pick a naturally low spot and direct water from your downspout or sump into it. Do not interrupt the drainage pattern originally designed for your lot.
If you have a pond you will need to watch run-off water. Just like detention ponds, your pond can become a basin that collects run-off. You especially want to be careful with fertilizers….the same chemicals that make your lawn “green” will have the same effect on your pond. You can help reduce run-off in your pond by channeling water to other low areas or a rain garden.
Wild life will love your pond. Your pond will be an ultimate water resource for wildlife. Butterflies love shallow puddles. Birds, fish, frogs, toads—you name it&msash;they will come into your pond.
Now whether you choose to use less fertilizer or plant more native plants in your yard, you are on your way to a more Eco-Friendly yard. It’s as easy as that!