Skip to main content

GREEN LANDSCAPING TIPS

With the nice weather upon us, I thought I would pass along a few green gardening tips that I thought you may find useful.  

I hear from so many of my clients that making their homes more environmentally friendly is important to them, and it can even help increase the value of their property.

We all want our yards and gardens to be beautiful, green, and inviting, but also making them good for the environment is just as important.  Whether you have just moved in, or are looking to make your existing outdoor living space an earth-friendly place, here are a few tips that can help!

Expand your garden, shrink your yard.  Grass yards take a lot of time and resources to maintain; replacing them with wildflower gardens or gravel living spaces can reduce your water and fuel consumption.

Replace your gas or electric mower with a reel lawn mower.  They do take more work, buy it's a great way to get in a workout!

Purchase a rain barrel.  Collecting rainwater and using it to water your yard and plants is a great conservation technique, and will reduce your water bill.

Compost.  Maintaining compost will not only reduce your contribution to landfills, but gives you high quality, free fertilizer for your plants.

Plant a tree.  Trees not only reduce the CO² in our environment, they also provide shade to your yard and home.

Create an organic vegetable garden.  Vegetable gardens can provide you and your family with a delicious, healthy, and very inexpensive food source, and are a great addition to any garden.

Plant indigenous plants.  Plants that are native to your location require a lot less maintenance and thrive in their natural conditions.

Eliminate harmful pesticides from your garden.  There are a number of alternatives to the use of toxic pesticides, which pollute both our personal living space and the planet.  Your local garden supply center can help you find an alternative that is right for your garden or yard.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SPRING ROOF INSPECTION

The roof is the one thing between your home and the elements... doesn’t it deserve a little respect?  Here are some roof maintenance tips to preserve your home’s value. Ah, the humble roof. We forget that the single most important structural element in our home is the roof. It provides shelter for those we love and the things we value. It’s easy to let maintenance slide on something we take for granted. With better weather days upon us, now is a good time to inspect the roof and make sure it’s up to the task of protecting your home’s value. Here are some crucial elements you’ll want to look for during a roof inspection: Are the gutters clean and in good shape? Organic debris building up in your gutters can cause water to pool and foster an environment for roof rot. Do you see any curling around the bottom edges? Are there any gaps or holes in the soffit? Are there surface cracks in shingles? Cracks warn you of impending disintegration or sepa...

A SPRING SPREAD ANY BUNNY CAN CREATE

  (Culinary.net) With spring in the air, it’s the perfect time to invite guests over for a hopping party. It’s also a great opportunity to tackle that dreadful spring cleaning and spruce up your living spaces with vibrant decor for visitors to enjoy alongside a delicious recipe. With this sweet, colorful table arrangement, your whole family can get into the spring spirit. From festive utensils, a bright centerpiece and cute snacks, your spring setup can be fresh and fabulous. It’s simple to put together and easy on the budget. Pair it with appetizers or even a main dish for a full spring party spread that’s sure to impress. Find more springtime recipes at Culinary.net . Watch video to see how to create this Spring Table Spread! Chick Cheese Balls Recipe adapted from Hallmark.com Yield: 10 chicks 1  package cream cheese 1/4  tablespoon garlic powder 1  tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1/2  lemon, juice only salt, to taste pepper...

BUYING YOUR FIRST HOME: SEVEN TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS

Now that you've made the decision to purchase your first home, a hearty congratulations is in order!  Becoming a homeowner, especially for the first time, can stir up some feelings of anxiety and excitement.  With the knowledge that you gain through individual research and the help of your REALTOR®, you will soon begin to feel like a seasoned house hunter. Tip # 1: Do Your Homework Did you know that there are a number of incentives available to first-time home buyers? In Canada, there is the First-Time Homebuyers' (FTHB) Tax Credit. The Government of Canada introduced a FTHB Tax Credit in 2009 — a $5,000 non-refundable income tax credit amount on a qualifying home acquired after January 27, 2009. For an eligible individual, the credit will provide up to $750 in federal tax relief starting in 2009. Another incentive is the Expansion of the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP). To provide first-time homebuyers with greater access to their RRSP savings to purchase or build a...