Clean Planting Beds
- Task: Prepare flower and veggie beds for spring planting by removing debris, trimming back last year’s dead perennial growth, and adding compost and mulch.
- Shortcut: To avoid double work, place a compostable bag on a wheelbarrow or garden cart, and fill it with weeds and spent plants as you work through the beds.If the green matter is disease-free, empty bags into your compost pile. If you see fungi or bugs, tie the bags and toss in the trash.
Tune up the lawn mower
- Task: Sharpen the cutting blade, add a new spark plug and air filter, and change the oil to make sure you’re ready to tame your lush lawn. Regular spring maintenance ensures a long life for your mower and avoids costly replacement.
- Shortcut: Run your mower for a minute or two to warm the oil before draining it. Warm oil runs out faster and more completely than cold, sluggish oil. After running the mower, disconnect the spark plug before servicing. Compost, create, and conserve
April 22 is Earth Day!
- Coffee grounds, egg shells, veggie clippings, and tons of organic materials get tossed into landfills every day. Turn your trash into a pile of smelly gold for your garden by starting a composting routine.
- Composting bins are affordable and easy to use. It takes a few weeks for all the materials to decompose (why we recommend keeping the bin outside), but after that time it turns into nutrient-rich material perfect for planting and gardening.
- Keep an indoor bin for kitchen scraps and an outdoor bin to do the actual composting. Check with your local services to see if compost collecting is available in your area. If you don’t have space for your own compost, the city might be able to use it.
Plant a tree for Earth Day
- Plant a tree in your backyard to celebrate Earth Day this year. There are tons of helpful sources for selecting the placement and caring for your new sapling. It’s a great activity to do with your kids as you watch them and your new tree grow tall and strong.
- Check to see if your area has an urban forestry program. The program will send you a tree to plant in your yard or parking strip. All you have to do is keep it watered and happy. You can also get help from the urban forestry department if you have questions about planting a new tree on your property.
Consider smarter energy
- Smart home devices can make your home greener too. This April, consider making your home energy use a little smarter with a smart thermostat, smart bulbs, smart plugs, solar-powered lights, and solar-powered cameras.These devices give you control over your energy use while you’re home or away. Turn lights and appliances off and on remotely, and even change the temperature of your home. Solar-powered lights don’t need electricity from your home to work, making them a green option for outdoor devices.
