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!