If you love a lush yard, but really want to reduce your water usage and live a greener life, it can be done. It doesn't require that you concrete over your lawn and paint it green, either. With some careful and thoughtful planning, a beautiful eco-friendly yard can be yours.
When you plan out your yard, consider using native plants. These plants are already acclimated to the soil and amount of rainfall typical for your area. There are plenty of beautiful choices no matter where you live, including trees, ground-cover and shrubbery. Visit a nursery that specializes in selling the native plants in your area, and you will probably be surprised by the choices.
If you do have grass and green shrubbery or ground coverings, be sure that you water the correct amount. Many people simply water too often or for too long. Get a water moisture meter and check out your soil to see if you are overdoing it. Also, when you plan out your lawn, consider limiting the amount of grass. Smaller areas of grass obviously cost less to water and maintain but still provide that splash of green you might be craving. If you live in a high-drought, desert area but you really want a huge patch of green grass, think about putting in a synthetic lawn. Synthetic lawns have come a long way in recent years, and they don't resemble miniature golf courses like they did in the past.
One easy way to cut water bill costs but still have enough water for your garden and plants is to use a rain barrel. The amount of water that falls off of your roof during a rain shower is astounding. For every inch that falls, you can collect as much as 600 gallons of water in rain barrels. You can use this water for watering the yard and garden and even use it for you houseplants. This is basically free water and it is far better to use reclaimed water for the yard than water that should be used for cooking or drinking.
You can place rain barrels under downspouts, particularly those that are close to areas such as your flower beds or garden for easy watering. Because this water will often sit in the barrel for many days or weeks, it is imperative that you keep it clean. Using a product such as the Healthy Ponds' Rain Barrel Water Cleaner is a great, eco-friendly way to go. This product uses natural beneficial bacteria to keep water clear and safe. It is veterinarian approved and safe for all animals and people, so you don't have to worry about harsh chemicals in your water and yard.
If you have other water features, such as bird baths or even a small pond or fountain, there are other Healthy Ponds products to consider. All of them use combinations of bacteria instead of chemicals to keep water clean and safe throughout the year.
When you plan out your yard, consider using native plants. These plants are already acclimated to the soil and amount of rainfall typical for your area. There are plenty of beautiful choices no matter where you live, including trees, ground-cover and shrubbery. Visit a nursery that specializes in selling the native plants in your area, and you will probably be surprised by the choices.
If you do have grass and green shrubbery or ground coverings, be sure that you water the correct amount. Many people simply water too often or for too long. Get a water moisture meter and check out your soil to see if you are overdoing it. Also, when you plan out your lawn, consider limiting the amount of grass. Smaller areas of grass obviously cost less to water and maintain but still provide that splash of green you might be craving. If you live in a high-drought, desert area but you really want a huge patch of green grass, think about putting in a synthetic lawn. Synthetic lawns have come a long way in recent years, and they don't resemble miniature golf courses like they did in the past.
One easy way to cut water bill costs but still have enough water for your garden and plants is to use a rain barrel. The amount of water that falls off of your roof during a rain shower is astounding. For every inch that falls, you can collect as much as 600 gallons of water in rain barrels. You can use this water for watering the yard and garden and even use it for you houseplants. This is basically free water and it is far better to use reclaimed water for the yard than water that should be used for cooking or drinking.
You can place rain barrels under downspouts, particularly those that are close to areas such as your flower beds or garden for easy watering. Because this water will often sit in the barrel for many days or weeks, it is imperative that you keep it clean. Using a product such as the Healthy Ponds' Rain Barrel Water Cleaner is a great, eco-friendly way to go. This product uses natural beneficial bacteria to keep water clear and safe. It is veterinarian approved and safe for all animals and people, so you don't have to worry about harsh chemicals in your water and yard.
If you have other water features, such as bird baths or even a small pond or fountain, there are other Healthy Ponds products to consider. All of them use combinations of bacteria instead of chemicals to keep water clean and safe throughout the year.
About the Author:
Roland Stockwell loves blogging about natural products. To discover some good natural products from Bioverse, or to know further about other products such as bird bath cleaner solutions, please check out the Bioverse.com website now.
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