How to Make Your Garden More Eco-Friendly

In the spirit of Earth Day and in light of recent scientific revelations regarding the onset of global warming, we're all trying to do more in our own daily lives to contribute to a 'greener' planet. There are many small ways you can help reduce waste, greenhouse gas emissions, the use of harmful chemicals, and environmentally unsound manufacturing processes. One of them is by transforming your garden into an environmentally friendly miniature ecosystem. All you have to do is be more conscious of the elements you choose to incorporate into your garden. Here are a few simple ways you can reduce your family's impact on the earth and enjoy a beautiful, relaxing outdoor retreat all at once.

Self-Contained Water Features - Using fountains, water gardens and garden ponds that use re-circulating pumps saves water and creates a natural environment in your yard in which wildlife such as butterflies, frogs and birds can thrive. Even a small water feature in conjunction with trees, shrubs and flowers can provide refuge for wildlife displaced by construction and development. You can take it a step further with a solar water fountain - they run solely on the power of the sun's rays, saving precious natural resources as well as money off your electric bill. Solar birdbath fountains like the beautiful Balmoral Copper 2-Tier Solar Fountain pictured left are a great way to add a decorative focal point to your garden.

Solar Lighting - Solar lights are a great way to provide safety, security and ambiance to any outdoor space. Since they're cordless, they can easily be placed anywhere in your yard where the solar panel can receive sunlight. They take in energy from the sun during the day and release it at night, providing you with beautiful lighting that saves money on your electric bill and helps to preserve our planet's resources. If you'd like more information on how solar lighting works, how to choose solar lighting for your yard, and how you can benefit from the use of solar outdoor lights, check out SpecialtyLiving.com's Solar Lighting Buyer's Guide. Pictured left is the Starlite Six Sided Solar Lantern.

Reduce Use of Harmful Chemicals - Don't allow your garden to add to the thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals that seep into the earth's soil every day, destroying plants, killing wildlife and contaminating our water supply. Using organic fertilizers and pesticides is the best way to keep from contributing to this problem. Organic fertilizers and pesticides can now be found at most large home and garden retail chains such as Home Depot and Lowe's. If you'd like to learn about all-natural, earth friendly ways to keep your home and garden clean and pest-free without using chemicals, check out this comprehensive 'Healthy Home' guide by Care2.com.

Use Native Plants - Native plants reduce water use, have less need for fertilizers and pesticides, and offer an enhanced habitat for wildlife because they're adapted to your local climate. They require less maintenance over time, reducing the amount of work you have to put into keeping up your garden. They also look beautiful and preserve your area's natural heritage. The National Park Service website gives a great overview on why it's important to use native plants in landscaping projects.

Purchase Eco-Friendly Outdoor Furniture - Eco-Friendly furniture is made in environmentally responsible ways. That means the wood harvesters use sustainable materials, reduce damage to forests during harvests, avoid over-harvesting, protect endangered species and their habitats, dispose of by-products in responsible ways, and protect the rights of people indigenous to the areas where materials are harvested. In addition to this, eco-friendly furniture is often made of recycled or natural materials and free from harmful chemicals. For more info, check out SpecialtyLiving.com's Eco-Friendly Buyer's Guide and their wide selection of Eco-Friendly Products. Pictured at left is the Napa Bistro Table.

SpecialtyLiving.com's Eco-Friendly Buyer's Guide has more details on eco-friendly gardening along with benefits, terms and definitions.