Go Green and Easy with Landscape for Life

You can have a beautiful landscape and productive garden while working in concert with nature.

Start small. You’ll be amazed the difference a few change of habits can make in your garden and maintenance schedule.

Capture rainwater in barrels or cisterns for use in containers and the garden when water is scarce. Check with your municipality first, as some cities prohibit the use, while others offer rebates.

Compost kitchen scraps and yard waste into valuable soil amendment. Use woody trimmings to create wattle fences, arbors and more.

Plant a few trees to shade your house and reduce cooling costs. Add shrubs and groundcovers near your home to further conserve energy.

Don’t know where to start? Get help and guidance from the free program Landscape for Life sponsored by the United States Botanic Garden and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin.

A bit more information: The free Landscape for Life program is geared to anyone gardening and landscaping in the city, suburbs or on a larger or more rural plot of land. It provides information, a workbook and links to useful websites to help you design and manage a sustainable landscape. Visit their site to download the information or find a class in your area.