Tips for Gardening Green

Green up your thumb and help the environment with these tips.

Living an environmentally conscious lifestyle doesn't have to be hard—you can start by making some simple changes to your gardening routine. Here are some easy-to-implement tips to get you thinking green...

• Use a rain barrel or other method of collecting water for watering your plants.
• Try a "green roof." Instead of putting a traditional roof on your house or garden shed, try planting sustainable plants and ground covers. For more information, click here.
• Consider planting native or local plants, trees and shrubs.
• Plant flowers that attract butterflies, birds and other wildlife to your garden.
• Allow part of your backyard to grow wild and see what flowers will appear.
• Use natural products in place of commercial herbicides and pesticides.
• Start a compost pile with kitchen scraps, vegetables and other non-treated yard waste.
• Use shredded leaves, evergreen needles and wood chips as mulch.
• Plant a vegetable garden to feed your family this year. You'll know exactly what chemicals were used on your food.
• Use recycled materials. Buy recycled lawn furniture, reuse yogurt cups, and other materials for planting.
• Use hand tools whenever possible. It's better for your health...and the environment!