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Syndicate
Apr
26
| Green up Your Yard |
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| Saturday, 26 April 2008 | |
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If you're like most U.S. home owners, your garden uses too much water, too many chemicals, and excessive amounts of fertilizer. All of this overkill not only costs you money, it's also harmful to our environment. Demand for water in Rhode Island increases by two to three times in the summer months, and much of it goes for lawn irrigation, straining local supply systems. To reduce your use, water the lawn only when it's noticeably dry, then give it a thorough soaking. In the hottest part of summer, let the grass go dormant. The tips will turn brown, but the grass isn't dead; it will revive when the weather changes. When the rain arrives, as it always does, flooding storm drains carry pollutants to our rivers and Narragansett Bay. You can divert some of that water by installing a rain barrel, and use the runoff from your roof for your lawn and garden. Go to www.riwaterlady.com to find out more and order a barrel for your home. Chemical pesticides applied in the yard will seep into the groundwater, and eventually show up in our drinking-water supplies. These chemicals also get into local rivers and the Bay, where they are absorbed into the food web and harm fish and wildlife. URI's GreenShare and Master Gardener programs offer lots of online information about nontoxic, alternative ways to control pests. Fertilizer also doesn't stay where you spread it. When it rains, the fertilizer washes along the curb into the storm drain, and empties into our lakes and streams, ending up in the Scituate Reservoir or Narragansett Bay. The fertilizer causes algae to grow, which degrades our aquatic ecosystems and depletes oxygen that fish need to survive. So if you fertilize, follow the directions and use sparingly. And consider using compost instead (see below). You can make your yard more environmentally friendly by minimizing or eliminating your lawn. Plant native vegetation that thrives in our climate, won't need watering, and will attract birds, bees, and butterflies. The National Wildlife Federation offers information and ideas for creating an ecological system of your own. You can find native plants at the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society sale at URI in Kingston (coming up June 7, 2008). Then you can give away your lawnmower, avoid all that noise and air pollution, and swing in your hammock instead. For more info about alternative garden strategies, call the URI Master Gardener Hotline, (800) 448-1011, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., or go online to their Web site . The Good Earth Organic Garden Center , in Hope, provides supplies and information. "Black Gold" In Charlestown Mike Merner owns Earth Care Farm , in Charlestown, where he blends leaves, fish, seaweed, manure, straw, and other ingredients to produce organic compost that some gardeners call "black gold." It takes about 18 months of careful mixing and tending before the ingredients are properly cured and mature. Turning it frequently allows beneficial microbes to convert the waste into dark, nutritious soil that holds water well and improves drainage and aeration. It will enhance your soil, nourish your plants, and reduce or eliminate the need for fertilizer. |