In the push to be eco-friendly in their daily lives, gardeners are turning their attention to ways to “save the planet” in their own backyards. There are many natural ways to reduce both pollution and harm to the environment, and manufacturers of gardening aids are producing more and more synthetic products that are non-toxic. Although old habits are hard to break, there are some relatively simple and inexpensive steps you can take to become a green gardener at your Montgomery Alabama real estate.
1. RECYCLE PLANT MATTER AND KITCHEN WASTE INTO COMPOST
Using compost not only creates healthy soil, it also conditions the soil to become less water dependent.
2. USE SAFE AND NATURAL NUTRIENTS
Substances such as blood meal, bone meal, cottonseed meal, fish emulsion, greensand, and rock phosphate are excellent nutrient supplements, as are CowPots, “plantable" cow manure in the shape of pots.
3. AVOID USING PESTICIDES.
Try using natural controls such as nemodes at your Montgomery Alabama real estate. Eliminate the use of chemical -laced products like insecticides, fertilizer, and slug pellets. Each of these has negative repercussions such as killing birds, toads, and beneficial insects. Synthetic pesticides contain imidacloprid, which is non-threatening to non-pests. An annual application is all that is needed.
4. EXPERIMENT WITH WEED AND DISEASE CONTROL MEASURES
Solutions made with milk, baking soda, and some cooking oils are effective, as is 20% concentrate vinegar, clove and citric oils, and corn gluten. Active ingredients in natural controls include Neem oil, canola oil, mild soaps, and pyrethrius. One safe and effective product on the market is Greencure.
5. CHECK YOUR MULCH
Although use of mulch is a good way to reduce water consumption and weeds at your Montgomery Alabama real estate
, some mulch contains potentially hazardous materials. To ensure that your brand/type is not harmful, look for an MSC (Mulch and Soil Council) product label on the bag.
6. UTILIZE ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS
Whenever possible, use peat substitute rather than peat, which is a non-renewable resource whose loss damages both the environments and animal habitats. Likewise, consider using artificial stone rather than quarried stone for ornamental purposes. Rain barrels are an excellent way to capture an important natural resource, and the use of electric mowers and garden equipment rather than gas-powered greatly reduces the number of released pollutants.
7. READ AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS!
If you must use non-organic gardening materials, please apply them responsibly. It is important that you limit their use to late afternoon or early evening when beneficial pollinators are less active and therefore less susceptible. Carefully measure recommended amounts and do not exceed the limit on the label.
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