3 Ways to “Go Green” for St. Patrick’s Day

From green wigs to shamrock sunglasses, St. Patrick’s Day brings out the green in everyone.

This year, why not take green to the next level?  Instead of wearing green, think about how you can “go green.”  Your landscape is a perfect place to start!  With just a few simple choices, you can enhance your landscape and go green at the same time.  It’s easier than you think!  So, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, here are three tips to make your landscape go green.

1. Go Green with Compost

Compost is a natural soil amendment that comes from material that has decomposed.  The decomposition process naturally adds nutrients and allows healthy microorganisms to flourish.  When added to your soil, compost releases nutrients into the soil that strengthens plants and increases their resistance to disease.  Learn more about compost here.

2. Look for Recycled Landscape Materials

If you want to go green for St. Patrick’s Day, it’s important to know what type of impact your choices have on the world around you.  For example, did you know that putting yard debris in landfills is bad for the environment?  Luckily, yard debris can be recycled to create mulch, compost, and various soils.  By choosing a recycled landscape material, you are making a choice that impacts the environment two-fold.

First, recycling yard debris keeps it out of the landfill.  Second, recycled materials, such as recycled hardwood mulch, don’t have as much impact on natural habitats.  You may not realize it, but many landscape materials are harvested out of the natural environment.  Yard debris, on the other hand, generally comes out of landscaping practices.  So, using recycled products means you can have a landscape that looks good, and you can feel good about it too.

3. Use Mulch to Conserve Water & Reduce Weeds

When it is applied properly, mulch is a great way to be environmentally friendly.  Mulch regulates soil temperature and water retention.  This means that you will need to water less, which is good for the environment (and your pocketbook).  Mulch also suppresses weeds by starving them of sunlight.  In doing so, it robs them of the energy they need to push through the layer of mulch.  As a result, you can introduce less chemicals into your landscape.

Compost is also an effective mulch.  However, aesthetically speaking, compost is not as decorative.  That’s why we developed our Mineral Mulch.  It is the best of both worlds.  Through a partial decomposition process, Mineral Mulch is “mineralized,” which means it will start nourishing your soil from day one.  Its rich, dark brown coloring also comes from the decomposition process.  As a green alternative, it enhances your soil without sacrificing style.  What could be better than that?

St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect excuse to go green.  Plus, it is easier than you think.  By taking these steps, you will be well on your way to greener landscape and garden… in more ways than one!