Vpen Door I Gardening
Low-Maintenance
Gardening expert provides a plan
to transform your landscape.
t's possible to create a beautiful landscape
and be kind to the environment, even
with a busy schedule, and while staying
within budget. "All it takes is a bit of planning
and a few low-maintenance strategies," says
gardening expert and author Melinda Myers.
Myers recommends these five strategies
to create a low-maintenance, eco-friendly
landscape this season.
quickly, adding organic matter, nutrients and
moisture to the soil. Grow trees suited to the
growing conditions and available space. That
means less pruning and fewer trimmings.
Make Compost At Home
Recycle yard waste into compost. Put plant
waste into a heap and let it rot. Yes, it really
is that simple. The more effort put into the
process, the quicker the results.
Do not add insect-infested or diseased
plant material or perennial weeds like quack
grass, annual weeds gone to seed or invasive
plants. Most compost piles are not hot
enough to kill these pests. And do not add
meat, dairy or bones that can attract rodents.
Manage Pests
Be Waterwise
Save money on the water bill, time spent
watering and this precious resource, water.
Start by growing drought-tolerant plants
suited to your growing environment. Once
established they will only need watering
during extended dry spells. Mulch with
shredded leaves, evergreen needles,
woodchips or other organic matter to
conserve moisture, reduce weeds and
improve the soil as they decompose.
Fertilize with a low nitrogen fertilizer that
promotes slow steady growth instead of
excessive greenery that requires more water.
Plus, it won't burn even during drought.
Recycle Yard Waste
Minimize the amount of yard waste
produced, reuse what can be in other areas
of the landscape and recycle the rest as
compost. These are just a few strategies that
will save time bagging, hauling and disposing
of yard debris. And better yet, implementing
this strategy will save money and time spent
buying and transporting soil amendments,
since it will be created right in the backyard.
Start by leaving grass clippings on the
lawn. The short clippings break down
22 I OPEN DOOR Magazine • May 2013
A healthy plant is the best defense against
insects and disease. Select the most pest-
resistant plants suited to the growing
conditions and provide proper care.
Check plants regularly throughout the
growing season. It is easier to control a few
insects than the hundreds that can develop
in a week or two. And when problems arise,
look for the most eco-friendly control. Start
by removing small infestations by hand.
Consider traps, barriers and natural products
if further control is needed. And as always
be sure to read and follow label directions
carefully.
Energy-Wise Landscape Design
Use landscape plantings to keep homes
warmer in the winter and cooler in
the summer. Homes will have a more
comfortable temperature throughout the
seasons and energy costs will be reduced.
Plant trees on the east and west side of a
house to shade windows in the summer and
let the sun shine in and warm it up through
the south-facing windows in winter.
Shade air conditioners, so they run more
efficiently and be sure to collect and use any
water they produce for container gardens.
Incorporate these changes into gardening
routines and habits over time. Soon
these and many more strategies that help
save time and money while being kind
to the environment will seem to occur
automatically. ❑
Composting Tips
(StatePoint) It doesn't matter if
you're a gardening novice trying to
supplement your dinner table with
some home-grown veggies or an
entrepreneur that earns a living off the
land, composting is a simple way to go
green and help save the environment.
"Using compost means your
garden will be more cost-effective
because you will have to spend less on
fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides
for a given harvest of any crop," says
Brett L. Markham, author of The Mini
Farming Guide to Composting, the
latest in his Mini Farming book series,
who offers these tips:
• Composting is a natural form of
recycling, so use food waste, grass
clippings, coffee grounds and even
paper as compost. Just be sure to
shred the paper first.
• Start your compost pile in a
convenient spot, and make sure it is
semi-shaded and well-drained.
• Add bulking agents such as wood
chips to accelerate the breakdown
of organic materials, allowing the
finished material to fully stabilize
and mature through a curing
process. Add leaves, straw or hay
along with grass clippings or green
manures for plenty of bulk. Each
layer should be no more than 2
inches.
• Cover the compost pile to help
retain moisture and heat. This will
also help prevent the compost from
being over-watered by the rain.
• Turn the compost pile with a shovel
or a fork to aerate the pile. It is
important to water the pile as you
turn it as well.
Once you add the compost to your
garden, you'll be ready to start
planting in two to five weeks!