DIY Network

Outdoor Improvements From "Today Show Tips" episode DTST-125

You want your yard in top shape, and you're pretty handy with wood, but maybe your thumb's not particularly green? We have some tips and simple projects for the latest in outdoor improvements — and some dos and don'ts for a greener yard. Then learn about how to invite songbirds into your back yard.

Go Organic

Save money and help the environment with some easy steps toward keeping chemicals out of your yard.

• Compost. If you worry about the effect that most chemical fertilizers have on water run-off or even your kids and pets, take another look at using compost to make your plants happy. It starts out as ordinary household waste and yard debris and ends up as "black gold," the best soil amendment you can put in your garden. When you have healthy soil, your plants are healthier, so they don't need as much fertilizer.

• Mulch. Most people never think about what's in the mulch they put all through their gardens, but it's very possible that some of it comes from contaminated wood, such as pressure-treated lumber containing arsenic. If that's the case, you're putting arsenic into the soil. To make sure the mulch you buy is safe, look for the Mulch & Soil Council certification seal on the bag. It's assurance that there are no contaminants in the product.

• Pest control. People worry a lot about insects damaging their gardens, but only about 3 percent of bugs are actually pests. That makes it easier to target the problem bugs specifically. Use biological controls instead of chemicals. Milky spore, for example, is a commercially available disease that works well on Japanese beetles. Ladybugs, which can be bought over the Internet, love to eat aphids and will be very happy guarding your roses.

  Also effective are insecticidal soaps and neem oil. While they are not selective about which bugs they kill, they break down quickly and safely in the soil.
  

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• Eco-friendly tools. Broadcast spreader have been used for decades to distribute chemicals, but they throw the product everywhere: on the sidewalk or driveway or in a waterway. Scott has developed the Deluxe EdgeGuard Spreader, which has a deflecting shield to keep the fertilizer or insecticide from landing in the wrong places.

• Lawnmowers. If you pay attention to common sources of air pollution, you may know that lawnmowers are pretty bad, especially considering their size. They emit carbon dioxide fumes, and they're noisy. If you have a relatively small yard, consider using a good, old-fashioned push mower or even an electric mower. They're both very quiet, and neither one creates any emissions.

• Plastic pots. When we buy plants from a nursery, they come in plastic pots. Unfortunately very few of them are recycled. One alternative: cow pots. They're made from composted cow manure. They're not only biodegradeable, but they provide fertilizer to the plant. Just plant the whole thing.

  Also available are decorative pots made out of rice and bamboo. They'll break down in the soil, too.

• Blowers. Mowers aren't the only garden tools with potentially polluting engines. Powerful, noisy leaf blowers can also add to your carbon footprint, so just go back to the basics and use an old-fashioned rake to clean up those leaves.

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