Greening Your Garden From the Inside Out

By Sonia Gandiaga
www.ecotoad.org

Spring is coming, and many of us are turning our thoughts to planting our gardens for the year. Most of the gardens that look beautifully manicured, lush, and green, however, hide some dirty secrets within their leaves: toxic chemicals, exotic invasive plants, and an excessive use of water.

So what can we do to create a green garden from the inside out?

Mike from Green Goat Lawn Care, an environmentally friendly and local landscaping company, gave me a few tips on how to switch to a sustainable and environmentally friendly garden:

1. Compost. Apart from reducing household waste (that fills up our landfills), compost benefits the soil by improving drainage and moisture absorption resulting in less frequent watering. It also benefits the plants by providing essential nutrients (substituting synthetic fertilizers) and improves the soil structure, porosity, and density, thus creating a better plant root environment and reducing erosion.

Use organic and natural products. Using organic and natural products instead of toxic chemicals is better for your family's health, your pets, and of course your garden.

Install rain barrels. Putting a few rain barrels on your property will greatly reduce the amount of water that will be taken from reservoirs.

Buy native plants. Native plants are suited for New England weather, being adapted to our cold winters, hot summers, and rainy springs. Buying exotic plants may also promote exotic plant invasion which can displace native plants and have negative impacts on our local environment. The New England Wild Flower Society has a great selection of native plants.

Now that spring approaches, it is time to green our gardens from within! If you need any help, just contact Green Goat for more tips!

Useful Links:
Green Goat Lawn Care: http://www.greengoatlawncare.com/home
Environmentally friendly Garden Products: http://www.planetnatural.com/site/index.html
Composting Guide: http://www.eartheasy.com/grow_compost.html