Backyard Conservation

Amelia at the rain gutter.

Is your backyard one of your favorite places to hang out? You can help take care of this planet by taking care of your little corner of the world. Here's how.

Believe it or not, the way you mow your lawn can really make a difference in the water you need to use to keep it green. By keeping your grass longer, between three to five inches, your lawn will be healthier. Keeping it a little long encourages a deeper root system. That means it will need less water. Not to mention it’s much faster and easier to cut. You can avoid damaging your lawn by cutting only the top third of the grass. When you cut your grass shorter, it will dry out faster and weeds can take over.

Another natural beautifier is using wood chips as mulch. Many communities collect tree limbs and old Christmas trees, make them into wood chips, and offer them free to whoever wants them. Put one or two inches of wood chips around trees and shrubs to help protect their trunks and roots and hold in water; around flowers and garden plants to help suppress weeds; or around play equipment and trails to provide a soft “pavement.”

If local codes permit, you can help your yard go wild. Planting native grass and wildflowers can offer an attractive spot for wildlife. It can be a lot of work at first, but the results are worth it.

Here's one last environmentally friendly tip; add a rain barrel to collect water from your roof. This reduces run-off and gives you a supply of water for your plants and trees.

For more yard care and water conservation tips, check out Follow the Path to Cleaner Water.