Spring, the season of renewal, is upon us. Maybe you are a spring cleaner, maybe not, but how about committing to make your yard a more environmentally friendly place?
Here are just a few things to consider as you plan your spring yard activities:
- Kick the habit and lay off the fertilizers. Instead, build soil health to help your plants. Plant native plants that like our soil types and won’t ask you for extra food. Your plants and the waters of Cape Cod will thank you.
- Stop using pesticides. Organic pesticides kill just like synthetic ones do, so don’t buy the marketing pitch and just say no. Remember that hole munched in a leaf was likely made by a caterpillar that the birds in your yard need to feed their babies. If you like the birds, a few irregular leaves is a small price to pay.
- Add some clover to your lawn area. Clover keeps things green and adds some diversity to lawns and adds nitrogen to your soil without contributing to water quality problems.
- Add some native plants to your landscape. Start small if you need to and you will see new life in your yard as birds, pollinators and other beneficial species show up in appreciation. You can always add more each year as part of an eco-friendly conversion of your landscape.
It can be hard to feel like you are making a difference given the size of some of the environmental challenges we face. Taking a stand in your yard will let you become part of the solution in a tangible way that you can see and enjoy. APCC.org is filled with great information on how to convert your yard. Give it a try this spring.
