Easy and Green

Being kind to the environment does not have to be difficult, in fact, it can save you time and money. Start with a few simple changes.

Leave fallen cones and evergreen needles in place as an attractive mulch. They do not make the soil too acidic. But they do help conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and improve the soil as they decompose.

Shredded leaves are another free organic mulch. Use your mower instead of a rake to manage these.

Recycle your Christmas tree. Use it as a bird shelter or windbreak in the winter. Then support it in the garden and use as a trellis for vining vegetables or flowers.

And include a compost bin. Place one or two in the garden for convenient filling and emptying. Or just create a pile, out of sight and let it rot. Be sure to include only insect, disease and weed free plant debris.

A bit more information: Recycle tree and shrub prunings right in your landscape. Create wattle fences to divide planting areas, create a trellis for vines and supports for tall floppy plants. Or rent a chipper shredder and grind them into mulch for your trees and shrubs.