Lawns to Edible Landscapes

(Music Playing) Hi, I am Patti Moreno the Garden Girl. And I am here today to talk to you about America’s unsustainable obsession with lawns. Traditionally, lawns where status symbol in feudal year. Large green lawns meant that the estate had lots of sheep and lots of cattle. And now it is the basis of feudal economies. American’s have been obsessed with lawns since the 1950’s. But that mindset is changing. It is time to re-think our lawns. Lawns use up a staggering amount of energy to maintain. They used up lots of water, they take a valuable real estate and the pesticizing petrochemicals are used to fertilize your lawn. Seat into and contaminate our ground water. And hey! Those power tools? They contribute to air pollution and noise pollution. It is time for America to transform its green lawns into green landscape. (Music Playing) Some of the things you can do are decrease the size of your lawn or eliminated entirely like I have in this area. And design them more natural landscape using native plant that driven your area. Native plants should not used more water and falls on your climate. I live in the North East and I have maple trees, Lilac bushes and my personal favorite, Road Dendren. How about turning your lawn into an edible landscape by starting your own mini-orchard using dwarf and semi dwarf apple trees? You will have flowers in the spring, shade in the summer and fruit to eat in the fall. Do not forget put a least a 2-inchs thick layer of moss. That will keep the moisture in and heats out. But if you just cannot live without your lawn, here are few eco fermine you can do. Get rid of those power tools for more traditional methods of cutting your grass. Like a push mower, clippers or this hand tool. Set up a rain collector under one of your down spouts. Attach a hose and use it to water your lawn and landscape plants. Another thing you can do is a add water feature. They add interests, beauty and of natural quality to your landscape. And if you have kids, they are pretty educational too. Use organic fertilizers available at your local garden centers. Organic fertilizers are clearly marked on the label. But these can be pricy. So, consider starting your own compose. For the more adventurous gardeners, use chickens and chicken tractor like me. The chicken eats grass and the manure behind as fertilizer. When it is time to move the cage, the chickens go with it. (Music Playing) (Chicken Sound) I do not what that means. So for more sustainable planet, it is starts with you! I am Patti Moreno the Garden Girl, thanks for watching. (Music Playing)