Eco-Friendly Gardening Ideas

Whether you want to grow your own vegetables and herbs, or you want to give your backyard a makeover with beautiful flowers, gardening can be a very rewarding activity. To make sure you are doing everything you can to be kind to the environment, here are some eco-friendly gardening ideas.

• Add compost to your soil. Using compost in your garden has many benefits such as helping the soil aerate and retaining moisture. It is also a great natural alternative to the chemicals that are in many store-bought products. Start a compost bin by collecting scraps from your kitchen that can be composted such as vegetables, fruit, and egg shells. You can also add grass clippings and other natural materials to the bin. Layering the materials will help the composting process. Keep the compost bin outside as it works its magic. It will be ready to use in 6 to 9 months.
• Keep birds close by. This will help deter pests and keep you from using chemical sprays on your plants. Install bird feeders, bird houses, or bird baths. These fixtures will help attract birds, and they can also serve as decoration.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Apply this classic phrase to gardening. Try not to produce a lot of waste, and compost what you can. Reuse pots, seed containers, and anything else. You can also use household items for storage such as an old laundry basket for your gardening tools and don’t forget to recycle materials.
• Use rain water to your advantage. The next time it rains, set out a rain barrel to collect the rain water. Harvesting rain water is a great way to reuse a natural resource. It can also save you money on your water bill.

With the weather warming up this month, now is an excellent time to start planting. Happy gardening!

Contact ELA Home Repairs for with your installation or repair needs at 800-368-PROS (7767).