Lawn & Garden

Is your yard an energy saver or an energy waster? Have you ever thought of it in that way? What you plant, where you plant it, and how you maintain it can save (or waste) your time, energy and money. And not just in your yard. Your choices can impact your home’s energy usage and even natural resources.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates three well-placed trees can cut your energy costs by $100 to 200 a year!
Check out this segment of Alliant Energy’s PowerHouse TV for more on the “power” of energy-efficient landscaping.

 

 Learn more energy-saving tips for your entire home. Watch PowerHouse TV episodes online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some more fun and green gardening ideas:

• 66 things you can grow at home: in containers, without a garden
  Don’t have the space for a traditional green garden? All you need is a container or two to grow fruits, veggies, salad greens, even hops. It’s organic gardening on a smaller scale. Check out this Web page from Planet Green for great tips on 66 things you can grow in containers. 
  
• Answers to three common beginner gardening questions
  Excited about starting your own vegetable garden but not sure where to start? Kitchen Gardeners International was instrumental in inspiring the First Lady to start an organic garden at the White House! The founder answers three basic and important questions for beginning (or even seasoned) gardeners.
  
• Finding a farmer’s market
  Not ready to start your own garden but hunger for the fresh tastes of the season? Use this website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies.
  
• Quick Tips for getting rid of weeds
  Dandelions, stinging nettle, creeping charlie…along with your veggies and annuals, these guys are popping up everywhere this time of year! This article from Planet Green gives 5 chemical-free ways to control weeds. 
  
• Seven nontoxic and pet-friendly garden remedies
  A professional landscaper gives timely tips on pet-friendly yards using natural remedies to eliminate pests and other gardening problems that you may encounter.

Getting ready to grow

(Courtesy of the Alliance to Save Energy, March 2010 Newsletter)

Itching to get your hands in the dirt, or revive your lawn? Before you rush out, consider these timely tips for cultivating an energy-efficient yard.

Smart Watering

• Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle, and make sure to turn off the faucet when you're through watering your plants.
• Let the grass grow. Longer grass will reduce the loss of water to evaporation. Mow more often, and you'll be watering more often, too.
• Plant during the spring or fall, when water requirements are lower.
• more
  

GreenScaping

Do you have a chemically dependent lawn or garden? Kick the habit by switching to “GreenScaping.” A few simple changes can grow a greener, healthier yard. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says this more natural approach to landscaping can save you time and money, and preserve natural resources.

How? Start with these five steps:

1. Build and maintain healthy soil
2. Plant right for your site
3. Practice smart watering
4. Adopt a holistic approach to pest management
5. Practice natural lawn care

 

Plant Your Way Game

The Plant Your Way game from Trees Forever allows you to plant trees in your "yard" to create windbreaks or shade spots. You simply choose the direction your house faces as you look out the front door, start placing trees from their "nursery" and watch the solar heat thermometer drop (or wind speeding through your house). The game gives tips along the way, and additional tree-related energy efficiency information.

 

More tips and brochures:

Energy Efficient Landscaping Tips

PowerHouse "Energy-Efficient Landscaping" Brochure [PDF] - By Alliant Energy

"Power Planting: The Right Tree in the Right Place" Handbook [PDF] - By Alliant Energy

Featured Links:
The Green Guide from National Geographic: Gardening
Planet Green from the Discovery Communications: Gardening
Reiman Gardens, at Iowa State University, is an award-winning public garden dedicated to sustainable gardening.
Gardening Minnesota
University of Wisconsin Gardens, Lawns & Landscaping
 

Environmental Tip of the Day (from the EPA)