You don’t need to have the world’s best green thumb to go ‘green,’ and selecting plants to fill your yard is no exception. Picking the right foliage helps you support a sustainable and attractive environment while saving you some money and work as well. Here are three ways to go ‘green’ in your own yard:
Go perennial. Perennials are flowers, herbs and other plants that generally live for more than one growing season. Many varieties of perennials come back reliably each spring, year after year. Each fall, the top part of perennial plants die off but the roots remain, regrowing the plant in the spring. Annual plans complete their entire life cycle in one growing season and must be replaced each spring.
Save yourself some trouble. Selecting drought-tolerant grasses and reducing the size of your lawn can cut down on the time you spend mowing. With less of a lawn, you’ll apply less chemicals and use less water.
Stay local. Rather than opting for invasive species or plants that aren’t a good fit for your local environment, choose plants that are native to the area and will support the local ecosystem. Local gardening organizations can make recommendations for your area.