LANDSCAPING: Tips for Enviromentally-Friendly Landscaping

February 8, 2008

house landscape eco-friendly When it comes to making their homes more environmentally friendly, most homeowners start inside the home first — choosing energy-efficient appliances and compact fluorescent light bulbs, or dialing back their thermostat.

But many opportunities also exist outside the home to ensure that we’re being responsible to the environment. Follow these tips for environmentally-friendly landscaping:

Shrink the size of your lawn and replace it with diverse landscape beds. Reducing the size of your turf saves mowing time and energy, reduces water consumption, and decreases the need for fertilizers.

Plant regionally native plants to enhance biodiversity. Check with your local or state native plant society to find some good examples of native plants.

Reduce the use of Read more

Print This Post

Written by GetGreen · Filed Under Landscaping · 1 Comment

LANDSCAPING: Ecosource Launches New Bio Pot Concept

January 23, 2008

ecosource pot biodegrable Traditional options for potted landscape has been clay pottery, or plastic. There are now new options for your new deck, or new patio following your remodel. You can now buy back- and frontyard pottery made from renewable grain husks that are:

- Made from natural by-products of renewable and sustainable crops
- contain no wood or petroleum ingredients
- deplete no natural resources
- naturally breakdown to easily decompose in landfills or into the earth

These new types of plant containers can last 3-5 years under normal usage, are suitable for all climates, and are resistant to freezing and thawing damage. The pots keep their shape until their end of life, and then when discarded into a landfill they decompose into organic matter.

ecosource Home & Garden is one supplier of these new style of backyard pottery. The company distributes three different lines. The greenPots are made from a rice hulls (price range: $6-21). The Enviro Collection are made from bamboo (price range: $4-12), and the new COIR line — just announced yesterday!

COIR is the third line of biodegradable pots, and they are made from coconut fibers. The product was unveiled at the recent Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market in Atlanta where the company received Read more

Print This Post

Written by GetGreen · Filed Under Landscaping · 1 Comment

LANDSCAPING: Ground cover & playground material solves a waste problem

January 18, 2008

playground mulch recycled rubber Approximately one tire is discarded per person per year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports 290 million scrap tires were generated in 2003. These tires are among the largest and most problematic sources of waste, due to the large volume produced and their durability. Those same characteristics which make waste tires such a problem also make them one of the most re-used waste materials, as the rubber is very resilient and can be reused in other products. With landfills minimizing their acceptance of whole tires and the health and environmental risks of stockpiling tires, many new markets have been created for scrap tires. Growing markets exist for a majority of scrap tires produced every year, being supported by State and Local Government.

Believe it or not, recycled tire products can economically add value and safety to your home. Through a special process, tires can be Read more