When I approached Jennie with my green summer outdoor makeover ideas, she was as excited as I was and I hope you find these tips helpful in your own outdoor space too!
Summer’s here! Why spend your days cooped up inside when you can “get your green on,” while getting a little sunshine? Summer is the perfect time to go eco-friendly in your outdoor spaces, think: sustainable landscaping!
Sustainable landscaping is all about creating a beautiful environment that’s eco-friendly and easy to maintain. While some of your short term goals may involve reducing water consumption or building a compost pile, years of cultivating your environmentally friendly outdoor spaces can lead to having a self-sustaining garden year round.
To help get you started on this new green outdoor project, here are some budget friendly ways to turn any outdoor space into a green haven.
Tip #1: Grow Your Own Greens
Michelle Obama was on the mark when she realized that the best way to make good use of the extensive White House garden was to grow vegetables. Having your own vegetable plot can be a really rewarding experience. It’s also a great way to keep tabs on what you eat. Another reason why it pays to grow greens? You save more money. Why buy more organic greens when you can get almost all of the veggies you need from your own backyard.
One of the most common questions asked by first-time vegetable plot growers is whether or not they will have enough space for a small vegetable garden. If you have a four-foot square patch in your backyard, then you definitely have enough space for a small garden of greens. In fact, you’ll have enough space to grow a number of crops.
One way you can further maximize your backyard space is to grow dwarf varieties of your favorite vegetables, like dwarf aubergines and leeks. Here’s another tip: If your plot is situated near a fence or wall, then you can also grow green climbers like peas and beans. Throw in a few herbs to make the finest summer salads, soups, and pastas next spring!
Tip #2: Reuse Rain Water
Spring showers do bring May flowers, but they can also grow your June crops. A couple of well-situated rain-barrels can help you cut back on water consumption. With the help of your downspouts, you can direct rainwater into your waiting rain-barrels. A particularly wet spring should give you enough water to take care of your garden for weeks.
Tip #3: Create a Compost Pile
The term “compost” refers to decomposed biodegradable or organic material. These days, more and more people are creating compost piles in their backyards. The reason behind this is that compost can be used to help improve solid waste management while creating free and effective organic fertilizer.
With a great compost pile in your garden, you can help save the earth while encouraging healthy plant growth in your vegetable plot.
Tip #4: Reduce Light Pollution with Solar Lighting
One of the perks of working for a lighting company is that I’m privy to information about the greenest lighting alternatives on the market. Having handled and used countless lighting fixtures, I can tell you that when it comes to green landscape lighting, you simply can’t go wrong when you go “solar”.
Solar landscape lights are excellent alternatives to your regular electricity-powered lighting posts and fixtures. These lights are especially designed to help in reducing light pollution. Since these fixtures won’t use up consumable energy, you can expect solar landscape lights to also help in reducing your electricity bill.
Tip #5: Pepper Your Landscape with Native Plants
Whatever it is, whether we’re talking about cacti or wildflowers, landscaping with native plants can help you cut back on gardening costs. You may be wondering how native plants can be greener than other plant varieties. The reason behind this is because native plants tend to thrive in local lands. Most of these plants won’t even require much watering or fertilizer treatment. By using these plants in your garden or lawn, you won’t have to spend too much time, money, or effort in keeping these plants healthy.
How do you plan to green your outdoor spaces this summer?
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