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5 Steps to natural yard care
The way you care for your yard and garden has a big impact on Tacoma’s environment. The rain washes what is on our lawn into nearby storm drains and into our local waterways. Follow these steps for natural yard care and ways to reduce yard and garden waste.
- Build healthy soil
- Plant right for your site
- Practice smart watering
- Think twice before using pesticides
- Practice natural lawn care
Build healthy soil
Your plants are only as healthy as your soil. Feed your soil with 2 - 4 inches of compost and layer it around flowers and trees to prevent weeds, regulate temperature and hold in moisture. Get more information on healthy soil:
Plant right for your site
Select disease- and pest-resistant plants that grow well in their chosen locations. Group plants with similar needs for water, soil or sun together. Get more information on natural plant selection at:
Practice smart watering
Water deeply but less often and let the soil partially dry out between watering. Including rainfall, 1 inch of water a week is all a healthy lawn should need. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation systems are a great choice for planting beds—they can save 50 percent or more compared with sprinklers. Try a hose timer when watering your lawn, so you apply just the right amount. Get more information on smart watering:
Tacoma Water -
www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/water/WaterConservation/index.htm General Water Conservation -
www.bewatersmart.net/ Outdoor Watering -
http://gardening.wsu.edu/library/lanb002/lanb002.htm Rainwater Harvest Guide -
www.twdb.state.tx.us/publications/reports/RainHarv.pdf
Think twice before using chemical pesticides
Ninety-five percent of the bugs in your yard are actually good for your yard. And, healthy plants attract fewer bugs. If bugs appear, identify them first, and then figure out why they are there. Resolving the problem will keep the bugs at bay. For weeds, use a hand puller before they go to seed. Get more information on reducing chemicals in your garden:
Practice natural lawn care
Natural lawns are actually a lighter color green than the deep blue-green of synthetically fertilized lawns. Practice "grasscycling." Use a mulch mower and leave grass clippings on the lawn after you mow for added moisture and fertilizer. To repair damaged lawns or to keep lawns healthy during water shortages, spread ¼ inch of Tacoma’s
TAGRO Mix over the top. For healthy lawns use an organic slow-release fertilizer. Get more information on natural lawn care:
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