Parent Time

By Kiera Newman

Many of us grew up watching our parents fertilize thoroughly, mow meticulously and annihilate mercilessly any intruder weeds in the lawn and garden. But one step towards a healthier landscape is accepting that a yard doesn’t have to look like Astroturf. Here are ways to take care of your lawn and garden without harming the environment, and still create a green sanctuary for your family.

• Make friends with weeds Some can be used as groundcover, such as Virginia creeper and wild strawberry, while others are delicious in salads, especially garlic mustard and dandelion.

• Use some pull When you just have to get rid of them, pull weeds by hand (paying kids a penny a weed may get the job done fast) or use an eco-friendly alternative like boiling water and vinegar (repeat the treatment a few times until the root is killed) or use a trusty old screwdriver to dig them out!

• Pick easy plants Switch from high-maintenance annual exotics to drought-tolerant perennial plants such as purple and branched coneflower, bergamot, cylindrical blazing star, butterfly milkweed and New England aster for great colour, long-lasting blooms and lower water bills. Bonus: These plants also attract and feed butterflies. The Evergreen Foundation lists native plants across Canada at evergreen.ca.

• Embrace water retention Hold onto moisture in the soil with ground (not chipped) wood mulch around plants, and consider capturing rain water in a barrel (screened to keep mosquitoes out) to save water. They cost about $75 at Home Depot. Soaker hoses get water to plants with less evaporation than sprinklers and use up to 70 0.000000e+000ss water. Better yet, why not drag out the watering can? Watering by hand uses about a third of the amount of water a sprinker uses and targeted watering can be much more effective than a massive soak.

• Think bigger Plant a tree! It cools you in the summer, provides a windbreak in the winter and sucks up CO2 while releasing oxygen. Plus, it’s great fun to climb, hang a birdfeeder on or just enjoy. Toronto residents with city-owned property in front of their homes may get a free tree by calling (416) 338-8733. For info on tree planting, go to treecanada.ca.

• Brown is green When a summer drought hits and your grass starts to turn brown, don’t worry. Your lawn will revive on its own just fine once normal rainfall starts again. And once your grass comes back, remember not to cut it too short: According to researchers at the University of Guelph, the best height for grass is 7 cm. Grass this length actually needs less watering and it helps to shade out those weeds that need sun.

• Boost naturally Many fertilizers provide a quick, sugar-like boost that wears off fast, but creating healthy soil keeps plants nourished longer. Top your grass with compost or worm castings (yes, that’s poop), then rake or brush into the roots for healthy grass. Check terracycle.net for worm-casting products near you or call the Evergreen Foundation at 888-426-3136, ext. 294, shop@evergreen.ca.

Originally published in Today's Parent, July 2007