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Thursday, June 9, 2016

Lawn Composition: Animals, Recycling, and Compost, Oh My!



Ladybugs--who are attracted to sunflowers and marigolds, among other common plants--and ground beetles eat certain kinds of aphids which can be harmful to garden or lawn vegetation. Additionally, hanging bird feeders and nesting boxes can attract birds who can take care of pesky caterpillars and slugs. What this adds up to is a mitigation of the need or want to use harmful pesticides to take care of bug problems that one might encounter. Plus, those who employ the above methods gain the added benefit of a lively atmosphere around their lawn and garden!




Recycling is a good way to reduce one’s contribution to manufacturing processes that put harmful chemicals in the atmosphere. One way to decorate a lawn or garden is to re-use salvaged items, such as glass bottles, wooden pallets, and empty containers. In many instances, recycling itself is a manufactured process because of the need to clean and sanitize materials, so re-purposing items before they even need to be recycled circumvents the need for this process altogether, and it lends a very unique look to the lawn.




Composting is a natural and efficient way to fertilize lawns, plus it provides a self-contained method of recycling one’s own organic material. Be careful of the items used for compost, as meat or bones could attract unwanted pests or rodents! Composting eggshells, vegetables and fruits, coffee grounds, and weeds then using it as a natural fertilizer aids soil by aerating it, supplementing it with nutrients, and helping it retain moisture. 




These are just a few tips to go green in gardens and lawns. There are many other ways to reduce one’s own impact on the environment by simply considering and researching simple ideas like the ones described here. 

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