Tips for Keeping Water Clean

Keeping water clean begins with each of us—where we live, work and play, and with the simple daily actions we take. Here are a few ways you can make a difference to reduce pollution:

• Plant trees, shrubs and groundcovers, especially around surface water.  Vegetation acts as a natural filter for runoff entering ponds, lakes or streams. Plants can also prevent shoreline erosion and keep soil from washing away.
• Maintain a healthy lawn. A dense, healthy lawn can be an excellent filter for pollutants. Before you apply fertilizers, test your soil so you apply only what you need. Use the right fertilizer, at the right time and in the proper amount.
• Clean up after pets. Dispose of pet waste in the garbage.
• Compost grass clippings, leaves and garden waste.  When these materials are washed into streams and lakes, they decay, which in turn consumes oxygen fish and other aquatic animals need to survive.
• Practice integrated pest management (IPM) around your home and garden. IPM reduces pest problems through a variety of cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical methods. Try to eliminate chemical use or keep pesticide use to a minimum by using them only when other methods are not successful.
• Maintain your vehicles in good condition to prevent leaks such as oil or antifreeze.  Spilled motor oil, gasoline and lubricants can contaminate wells and streams.

Visit www.auduboninternational.org for more conservation tips.

Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Tips

Maintaining your yard in a traditional manner isn’t always the “greenest” endeavor. Whether it’s using chemical-laden pesticides and fertilizer or working with greenhouse gas-producing lawn tools, some methods of lawn upkeep can be tough on the environment. Thankfully, there are plenty of eco-friendly ways you can keep your yard looking lush. So reduce your carbon footprint, and try some of these simple tips:

• Conserve water by watering your lawn more heavily but less often. By doing this, you’re ultimately using less water because the heavier watering lasts longer, allowing you to spread out how often you have to water your lawn. Also, watering in the early morning or early evening gives water a chance to soak into the soil without evaporating as it would during the hottest parts of the day. Finally, consider switching to water-saving sprinklers and hose nozzles. 
• Leave grass clippings on your lawn after mowing. This is an easy way to nourish your lawn because clippings help replenish your soil after they decompose, which in turn encourages healthy grass growth.
• Don’t cut grass too short. Keeping your grass at the tall end of its optimal mowing height (usually between one and three inches depending on the type of grass) helps ensure that the root systems are deep enough to protect the grass from getting scorching by the summer sun. To avoid stressing the grass, a good rule of thumb is to cut no more than 1/3 of the grass’s current height. Be sure to cut your grass often so that you don’t have to take off too much with each mowing.
• Consider trading in your gas-powered lawn mower for an electric or battery-powered mower. Gas-powered engines contribute significantly to air pollution, so switching to an electric or battery-powered mower reduces carbon emissions. Both types of mowers are easy to start, and battery-powered mowers rechargeable and run up to 70 minutes. Electric and battery-powered versions of other gas-powered lawn tools, such as weed whackers and leaf blowers, are also available, so consider swapping those out as well.        
• Go organic when choosing a fertilizer. Organic fertilizers take longer to show results than chemical fertilizers; however, organic fertilizer will improve your soil quality in the long run and yield a much greener lawn. Conversely, chemical fertilizers can deplete your soil of minerals, pollute ground water runoff and cause soil to become too acidic.

Keep Your Backyard Bug Free--Naturally!

Summer is the time for barbecue parties and sleeping under the stars, but bothersome bugs can ruin outdoor fun. Many people spray themselves and their lawns with chemical repellants to get rid of these pests, but there are natural alternatives that are environmentally friendly to your home and association. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy a bug-free summer.

Get growing. Planting a simple garden can do wonders in keeping the bug count down. Plants like garlic, radishes, marigolds, nasturtium, oregano, sage, rosemary, cilantro and mint are easy to cultivate and can make the area in and around your garden uninviting to the creepy crawlers, as they act as natural bug repellants. Pest-control never looked or tasted so good!

Wet and wild. Eliminate stagnate or standing water in your yard; it provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Emptying used kiddy pools and fountains and refilling them with fresh water, cleaning gutters of leaves and other rain-blocking debris and filling in puddles with dirt are just some of the ways to reduce the buzzing bugs in your yard.

Going to the birds. Setting up a few bird houses in your yard is not only a great way to enjoy the beauty of our feathered friends, but it also mitigates bug problems, since many birds love to dine on dragonflies, dung beetles and the ilk.

Candle in the wind. When outdoors, ignite an all-natural bug repellant candle nearby to keep the bugs at bay, and enjoy the sweet smell of citronella, lavender, mint and other aromas that pests find repugnant. Brands such as BioSensory, Solay, Melo and Yankee Candle have jumped onto the debugging bandwagon and offer eco-conscious candles.

Light up the night. Many high-flying insects are drawn to light like a moth to the…you get the idea. So, why not install an elevated yellow bug light on your back porch or deck to attract those critters up and away from the ground (and you!) when you spend an evening outdoors. Of course, be sure to review the CC&Rs or talk with to an association representative to make sure your bug lights are in compliance with the rules.