Page 7 - Home Lawn and Garden Spring River Valley and Ozarks 2015

RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRATGAZETTE • HOME, LAWN & GARDEN
SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015 7VVV
are falling victim to harmful insects and organisms. Homeowners who want to embrace more eco-friendly lawn-care practices can cut back on their use of pesticides, first trying more environmentally friendly options. For example, biopesticides are made from naturally occurring materials, including animals, plants, bacteria and certain minerals. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, biopesticides are often inherently less toxic than more conventional pesticides. In addition, biopesticides typically affect only the pest causing the problem, whereas broad- spectrum pesticides may affect surrounding organisms, such as birds and mammals, in addition to the targeted pest. The EPA (www. epa.gov) advises that homeowners hoping to use biopesticides first learn about managing pests so they can effectively remedy problems on their properties.
➤ Harvest rainwater
Lawns need water, especially when tem- peratures rise in the summer. But watering lawns can have an adverse effect on your community’s water supply, draining that sup- ply and hurting the community in the long run. Homeowners who can harvest rainwater can drastically reduce their impact on their
community water supply, thereby helping the planet and their community, especially if they reside in locales where water resources are traditionally scarce. When rainwater is harvested, it is collected from downspouts before it washes into nearby sewage systems. Many lawn and garden retailers sell rainwa- ter harvesting systems, which homeowners can install themselves or pay a landscaping professional to install for them.
➤ Lay mulch down around trees and shrubs and in flower beds
Trees, shrubs and flower beds need wa- ter, especially in the summer, when rising temperatures pose a threat to plants. Home- owners can cut back on the water they use to protect those plants by laying organic mulch in the spring. Organic mulch con- serves moisture in soil, promoting stronger roots in plants and helping homeowners cut back on the amount of watering they need to maintain a garden that’s both healthy and pleasing to the eye. Organic mulch, which might be made of bark, is also heavy, making it hard for ugly weeds that rob plants of water to thrive.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative Connection
Laying mulch around trees and shrubs and in flower beds conserves moisture during summer months and can help homeowners cut back on watering.