Fall Yard Cleanup the Eco-Friendly Way!

Whether you live in southern California or along the Eastern seaboard, fall is here which means it’s time to clean up your yard and prepare for the winter days ahead. Here’s how to do it with an eye on the environment.

Composting throughout the winter will yield a rich, organic fertilizer for the spring.

Create a Compost – The EPA estimates that 24% of the average family’s food waste and yard trimmings end up in landfills. Help reduce your direct impact and improve your garden next year by starting a compost pile. You can use a commercial compost bin or make your own backyard compost bin using railroad ties, wire mesh, wooden pallets, or concrete blocks. So what can you add to the compost? Anything from lawn clippings and green plants as well as virtually any organic material such as food scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells. Never add anything that has been chemically treated, bones, meat, or pet waste. By the time spring rolls around, the compost will have become a rich fertilizer for your garden. Check out the EPA’s Composting Site, which provides basic info and easy instructions on how to start your own.

Wrap Up Routine Maintenance – Mow the lawn once more and clear any leaves, twigs, and old grass clippings before the first frost. Use biodegradable leaf bags (made of non-genetically modified starch) or add the clippings to the compost.

Make sure any fertilizer you use on your lawn is certified as 100% organic.

Organic Lawn Care – As soon as the weather cools, apply a 100% organic fertilizer and remove any weeds before the first snow to promote healthy soil. You’ll reap a lush, green lawn come spring without having to use harsh chemicals that could potentially be harmful to pets and children, especially if they track it in the house. Most home improvement stores carry organic fertilizer or Treehugger.com offers a lengthy list of online eco-friendly retailers who carry it along with several other green gardening supplies.

Winter Vegetable Garden – If you live in the north, now’s the time to dig up old vegetable plants and till the soil in preparation for next year. But if you live in the south, you can take advantage of the warmer weather by planting a winter vegetable garden. Try planting root crops such as beets and carrots and leaf crops like cauliflower, spinach, cabbage, and lettuce.

Pruning Trees and Shrubs – It’s recommended you wait to prune trees and shrubs until they are completely dormant for the season. Otherwise, you may encourage new growth that won’t survive the winter.

Clean your garden tools in preparation for next year and to ensure they last.

Clean Your Tools – Akin to spring cleaning after a long winter, give your tools a good scrub at the end of the season. Use a natural cleaner (try Clorox Greenworks Natural cleaning products ) to remove the dirt and grime, or even better use warm water and mild soap.Apply a light layer of oil the metal components to keep them from rusting. Make sure your  mower is completely emptied of any lawn clippings.

Outdoor Lighting – Once you’ve tackled the lawn and plants, it’s time to inspect all outdoor lights and make sure they are working properly. If you haven’t done so already (we hope you have!), now would be a great time to install CFLs or solar lights.