Sierra Blogging Post Archives

It's that time of year again -- springtime, the time to start planning and planting your backyard garden.

There's nothing as rewarding as home-cooked meals made with vegetables and fruits from your very own garden. And it's never been as appealing to know where your produce is coming from (and what's been done to it) than it is today.



If you're lucky enough to have room to plant a garden, why not take a few extra steps to ensure your garden is as green as possible? You can create a healthy ecosystem that's good for the soil, good for you, and good for your harvest.

10 Tips for Planting a Greener Garden

1. Don't use chemical pesticides. Use natural products only.

2. Add ladybugs or other natural predators to your garden and install fencing to control pests.

3. Plant herbs or flowers that repel insects between vegetable plants... basil, mint, chives, chrysanthemums, and marigolds all do the trick.

4. Make (or buy) organic compost and mulch to condition the soil. It's easy to create your own backyard compost pile with coffee grinds and organic scraps.

5. Never use peat in your garden. Peat is taken from, and effectively destroys, precious wetland areas.

6. Use traditional (manual) tools and not electric ones. Rakes, hoes, and shovels work just fine.

7. Plant local species whenever possible.

8. Collect rainwater for watering the garden.

9. Choose disease-resistant, pest-resistant plants and bulbs from cultivated stocks only. Never take plants from the wild.

10. Choose recycled products for use in and around your garden. Use yogurt cups to sprout seeds, recycled lumber to build raised beds, old containers to water, etc. Get creative.

If you live in the city, don't despair. Chances are you can find a community gardening plot and enjoy all the benefits of backyard gardening even if you don't have a backyard.

Check our backyard department for great deals on brand name products for your garden and patio.

Happy planting!