Select plants that are appropriate for your local climate
conditions. Having your yard 100% lawn turf isn't always
the best since watering great areas of grass can use significant
amounts of water.
Water Management
Reduce Stormwater Runoff.
Keeping rain and water on our yards and out of storm drains, reduces pollution
in other bodies of water such as rivers and lakes. Because water washes off our
yards, it is important to reduce pollutants on our property. Using porous surfaces
for walkways and patios lets water soak through to the soil underneath and reduces
runoff into our drains.
Yard Smart Water
• Reduce the amount of pollutants used on your property
• Clean up oil spills & leaks on the driveway
• Create swales or terraces to catch, hold, and filter stormwater
• Decrease soil erosion by planting ground covers where lawn grass doesn't
thrive
• Direct downspouts and gutters to drain onto the lawn, plant beds or containers
where rain soaks into the soil rather than run off the property
Plant the Right Plants
Select plants that are appropriate for your local climate conditions. Having
a yard 100% lawn turf isn't always the best since watering great areas of
grass can use significant amounts of water. Decrease soil erosion by planting
groundcovers where lawn grass doesn't thrive, such as under trees or on steep
slopes.
Periwinkle
Medium to dark shade, many blue flowers in spring, withstands drought once
established.
Japanese Spurge
Best in light to dark shade & well-drained soil. Control by mowing.
Creeping Juniper
Grows slowly, but excellent for covering rocky slopes, requires full sun, dry
even rocky soil, good air circulation
• Ground cover can help with weed
control
• Protects the soil from erosion and water loss
• Acts as an insulating cover for the soil, keeping it cooler in summer & warmer
in winter
• Serves as a living mulch & helps build up humus levels
• Covering the ground with a carpet of vegetation
prevents the germination of weed seeds
• Provides habitats and cover for
beneficial insects & other predators
• It can be very attractive
Making compost is an easy and inexpensive way to add nutrients
to a garden. At the GreenHouse, we're using a compost bin made
by The Earth Machine, provided by Charleston County Recycling.
Healthy Yard
Creating a beautiful yard is both challenging and fun! Developing environmentally
friendly landscapes helps in areas of water quality and conservation, saves
time and money, and avoids toxic pesticides or chemicals. Careful planning
and site evaluation are the first steps in applying these concepts. Here
are some important considerations when designing a landscaped area. Remember,
plan first -- plant once!
Mulching plant material ensures that water
will remain in contact longer with the roots. It protects the
base of plants from damage, and enhances the appearance of
the landscaped yard.
Plants can provide shelter for wildlife,
beauty and enjoyment... and pest control! Use plants that repel
pests and attract helpful insects. Some helpful insects are
the lady beetle, green lacewing, big-eyed bug, earwig and syrphid
fly.
Recycling yard waste cuts back on landfill
usage and is a good source of free compost and nutrients for
the soil. Recycle grass clippings by leaving them on the soil.
Use fallen leaves and pine needles as natural mulch. Compost
kitchen waste to provide excellent nutrients for your plants.
Use raw fruit & vegetable scraps, eggshells, and coffee
grounds & filters (no meat or dairy products).
Composting
Thing About This:
Any plant material that was once alive can be composted:
• fallen leaves
• grass and lawn clippings
• evergreen needles and hay
• annual weeds before they seed
• remains of healthy garden plants
• wood chips and sawdust
• fresh fruit and vegetable scraps
• tea leaves and tea bags
• coffee grounds and filters
• eggshells
Adding compost to soil will:
• Improve its richness
• Add nutrients for healthier plants
• Improve clay & sandy soil
• Promote healthy root development
• Help the soil retain moisture
• Provide year-round opportunity for exercise
Steps in creating a backyard
compost pile:
1. Locate an area at least 5’ x 5’ square
2. Remove the grass where the pile is to go
3. Put down a layer of brush, twigs, or a wood pallet to allow the air to circulate
under the pile
4. Put down a 6” layer of leaves and spray lightly with water
5. Add 4” of plant material
6. Add 1” of soil over plant material
7. Spray lightly with water
Repeat above steps two more times to create three layers up to 5’ in
height. Turn each layer with a pitch fork or spade to ensure rotting and completely
mix materials. Once the heating process decomposes plant materials, mix compost
ingredients into top 6-12” of soil in your garden.
Insects
Beneficial insects are those which are helpful to us in some way. Plan your garden
to feed beneficial insects by choosing a variety of plants that will bloom
as many months of the year as possible. Some plants that will be especially
helpful include:
Ladybugs get rid of aphids, spidermites, scale, and mealy bugs.
A Few Good Bugs
Ladybugs - get rid of aphids,
spider mites, scale, mealy bugs Praying Mantis - eats all harmful
insects Assassin Bugs– feed on
a variety of insects Bigeyed Bugs– feed on
aphids, caterpillars, mites and other pests Ground Beetles - prey on slugs and snails. Hover Fly Larvae - eat aphids, mealybugs Ichneumonid Wasps - prey on caterpillars,
beetle larvae and other soft-bodied insects Lacewings– many pests including aphids Minute Pirate Bugs - feed on spider mites,
caterpillars, thrips & more
Friendly Gardening Practices:
• Instead of toxic sprays, use insecticidal soap and oil sprays
• Use slow-release fertilizers that contain 30% or more nitrogen
• Fertilize and water only when needed
