GREEN LANDSCAPING TIPS
Kachi Realty
GREEN LANDSCAPING TIPS
GREEN LANDSCAPING TIPS
We all want our yards and gardens to be beautiful, green, and inviting, but also making them good for the environment is just as important. Whether you have just moved in, or are looking to make your existing outdoor living space an earth-friendly place, here are a few tips that can help!
Expand your garden, shrink your yard. Grass yards take a lot of time and resources to maintain; replacing them with wildflower gardens or gravel living spaces can reduce your water and fuel consumption.
Replace your gas or electric mower with a reel lawn mower. They do take more work, buy it’s a great way to get in a workout!
Purchase a rain barrel. Collecting rainwater and using it to water your yard and plants is a great conservation technique, and will reduce your water bill.
Compost. Maintaining compost will not only reduce your contribution to landfills, but gives you high quality, free fertilizer for your plants.
Plant a tree. Trees not only reduce the CO² in our environment, they also provide shade to your yard and home.
Create an organic vegetable garden. Vegetable gardens can provide you and your family with a delicious, healthy, and very inexpensive food source, and are a great addition to any garden.
Plant indigenous plants. Plants that are native to your location require a lot less maintenance and thrive in their natural conditions.
Eliminate harmful pesticides from your garden. There are a number of alternatives to the use of toxic pesticides, which pollute both our personal living space and the planet. Your local garden supply center can help you find an alternative that is right for your garden or yard.
Useful Information from Kachi Realty LLC
Cut your energy costs with easy home tips. Learn how smart lighting, efficient appliances, and simple thermostat tricks can help you save energy and money year-round.
WAYS TO GO GREEN IN THE KITCHEN Start a garden. Whether you opt for a full-out vegetable garden or a small window of fresh herbs, the taste of freshness will be unmistakable! Shop locally! Visit local farmers markets or choose locally produced produce whenever possible. Bring your own bags when you visit the grocery store. Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs. Save time and energy by cooking a double portion and setting half aside in the freezer for a quick meal at a later date. Get energized and leave the appliances alone. Whenever possible, mix and beat ingredients by hand, cook multiple items at the same time, and avoid washing dishes unnecessarily. Use energy-efficient appliances such as the slow cooker or toaster oven, which can use up to 30% less energy. Be aware of energy wasters such as excessive pre-heating or simmering. Ditch the wraps (such as saran wrap or foil) and make the switch to reusable containers for lunches and leftovers. Put a lid on it! Did you know that cooking with lids could save up to three times the energy? Keep all that steam inside the pot for a more energy-efficient (and faster!) meal. Go fresh—say goodbye to excessively packaged foods, which are often produced using processes that are harmful to the environment. Cooking meals from scratch using fresh ingredients is not only healthier, it’s often less expensive and better for the environment. Decide what you are looking for before you open the fridge, and never keep the door open longer than absolutely necessary.
Water Features For Your Yard A water feature can make a major change in your yard, and there are plenty of different ways to go about adding one. From a simple and small fountain to a koi pond or waterfall, you can use water to create a peaceful sense of a real escape from life in your yard. Small Water Features For small yards or for those looking to add something simple, a basic fountain is easy to add. They come in a variety of types, shapes, and sizes and can fit into any landscaping. Your fountain can be a centerpiece for the yard or can be placed near the patio. You can even get a small tabletop fountain for the patio table. Most fountains are easy enough to install by yourself. They use a pump system that circulates the water and keeps the fountain running. Follow all of the instructions for set-up, use, and care that come with the fountain and you can enjoy the sound of trickling water for many years to come. Adding A Pond A pond is a really eye-catching and special addition to any yard. You will need some space for it, but even smaller yards can manage one. Koi ponds are a very popular choice, as the fish are lovely and create an ambience in the yard. They fit in well with any sort of Japanese or other Asian landscape design, but really extend into other styles as well. Make sure your pond has a system for keeping the water circulating and clean; standing water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and it can get quite dirty over time. It’s best to have a professional install the water system for your pond. Waterfalls You may not be able to have Niagara Falls in your yard to enjoy, but you can get a waterfall added as a feature of your yard. These can be falls that descend over a rock wall, a small stream that runs over consecutive drops in a sloped yard, or something in a corner where water falls down into a small pond. A waterfall adds the sound of moving water to the air all the time. Be sure you have proper drainage for the water system. Water features are a beautiful addition to any yard, and your imagination is really the only limit. Many professionals can help you to design the water feature that is right for your yard and your needs.