5 Steps To A Sustainable Yard And Garden

1. Lay off the fertilizer.
A 2015 study by the Appalachian State University in North Carolina found that highly manicured lawns actually give off nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that’s 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Why? Owners are more likely to dump lots of nitrogen-based fertilizer in concentrated patches, and that fertilizer breaks down into nitrous oxide. While more studies are needed to confirm the findings, it’s just common sense that dumping chemicals onto your yard is bad for the planet. So be a little lazy, and let your yard get a little wilder. And if your garden needs an extra boost, use compost or other organic fertilizer. 

2. Say no to pesticides and herbicides, too. 
Pesticides and herbicides can foster “superweeds” and hardier-than-thou bugs that have grown immune to them. Plus, they contaminate waterways and contribute to turning rich, carbon-sequestering soil into dead dirt. Keep your yard and garden organic. Rodale Books offers plenty of organic gardening books and magazines to help.