8 Ways to Green Your Yard

This story is part of Earth911’s “Green Eight” series, where we showcase eight ways to green your life in various areas.

As winter approaches, you may be gearing up for months of being indoors. But this season is an excellent time to consider your outdoor property, with days shortening, foliage falling and rough weather looming. Here are eight ways to be eco-conscious with the most natural part of your home:

1. Recycle Yard Waste

No matter what time of year it is, you’re going to have yard waste. It could be fallen leaves or weeds that you’ve pulled, so consider these alternatives to landfilling your organics:

• Add leaves and branches to your compost bin to produce homemade fertilizer.
• When mowing the lawn, leave the clippings on the grass as they’ll provide nutrients for a healthier lawn.
• If you have fruit trees, set up a swap program with the neighbors (e.g. five lemons in exchange for 20 strawberries) to share your homegrown produce and keep it out of the trash bin.

2. Use Recycled Plastic Lumber

Did you know that plastic lumber is created from recycled plastic bottles? Building a deck or patio out of recycled plastic lumber not only keeps plastic from going to landfills, but also avoids the splinters and staining issues of wood products. You can find other yard accessories made of recycled plastic, including chairs and tables, reducing the need for trees to be harvested for these products.

3. Properly Dispose of Pool Chemicals

Keeping your pool in swimming condition is important, even if its not in use during the winter months. The chemicals you use to test the water can be corrosive or reactive, so proper disposal is important. Your local household hazardous waste event or program should be able to dispose of them for you, or you could see if another pool owner has a need for them.

4. Install Energy-Efficient Lighting

You probably have some sort of lighting system in place for the yard, and it will be utilized more during the longer nights of winter. There are a number of ways to minimize the energy use of these lights:

• Solar lights store energy during the day and shouldn’t require additional electricity.
• For holiday lighting, look into LED lights that are more energy-efficient than even fluorescent bulbs.
• If you’re illuminating a walkway, set your lights on a timer so they won’t run all night.

5. Feed the Birds

Certain trees, shrubs and grasses can provide food for wildlife in the winter. In colder areas, holly, winterberry, switchgrass and goldenrod are great for seeds to feed your local fauna. If you have coniferous trees like pine trees, their cones can be eaten as well.

You can check with local nurseries and fish and game departments to find out what greens do best in your climate. Not only will you have some winter-ready plants to keep your yard looking sharp, but your backyard creatures will appreciate the extra snacks you provide.

6. Install a Heated Driveway

If you live in an area that gets snow in the winter, you may consider salt or chemicals to melt your driveway. The problem with salt is that it’s easily splashed onto your plants, where it can be harmful to their growth. A heated driveway only uses energy when there’s ice or snow to thaw, and it will reduce the amount of time you spend shoveling snow.

7. Keep Motor Oil Off the Fence

You may have heard that applying used motor oil to your wood fence will keep away insects and preserve the wood. However, the oil will also wash into storm drains over time, where it can contaminate drinking water and harm aquatic life. You can find non-toxic stains and insect repellents instead and recycle your used motor oil.

8. Capture Rain in a Barrel

Roofs are angled with a gutter to help rain end up on the ground (instead of crashing through your living room). Well, this also provides a great opportunity to collect freshwater for use during dryer times. Collecting this water can cut your traditional use, and you can even build your own rain barrel.