It’s the time of year to start planting your gardens! Did you know that you could save energy with your gardening activities? Planting strategically and using natural resources are simple ways that can help you conserve energy while doing what you love!
Gardening Energy Conservation Tips:
- Plant grass or ground cover on exposed land to prevent the loss of topsoil from erosion (nice tip for our riverside dwellers, like me).
- Create a compost pile for kitchen and garden waste to save energy by not having to haul yard debris to the dump (plus you won’t have to spend as much money on fertilizer).
- Plant evergreen trees to protect your home from the chilling winter winds.
- Plant deciduous shade trees to shade your house in the summer and allow the sun to warm your house in the winter.
- Plant natural grasses and shrubs that are native to your area and do not require a lot of extra water in the summer.
- Plant shade trees in the yard, by roadways and in vacant lots to combat the rising CO2 production.
- Collect rain water in a bucket for watering plants, garden and landscaping.
- Water your plants early in the morning and long enough for a deep soak to encourage deep root growth. Hydrating in the morning or late afternoon avoids evaporation issues. Also avoid watering on windy days.
- Use a "soaker" hose rather than a sprinkler, where possible. Less water is required because the water is concentrated on the soil closer to the roots and there is less evaporation.
- Use "hand" pruners, clippers and other yard tools rather than gasoline or electric-powered ones…it allows you to get some exercise in, save money, and conserve energy.
- Leave lawn clippings after mowing to fertilize the grass, or collect the clippings and use them for mulch (Igiugig doesn’t really have “lawns” but the sides of the road and the ball field are mowed regularly).
