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Ideas for Your Yard
Your yard can be used as a canvas for ecological learning and experimentation while simultaneously improving your environment.
Your goal: The Eco-Yard
An "Ecological Yard" (Eco-Yard) is any yard that has been consciously designed to:
Why is the number and diversity of wildlife species important? Because species diversity represents your environment's "intelligence" - more species means a "smarter" planet and that means it is better able to cope with problems like global warming, soil erosion, and deforestation. The ideas below will make your yard smarter which contributes toward the overall intelligence of the planet.
Energy put into your yard comes in the form of your energy and all the secondary energy that is derived from the water, chemicals, and fuel it takes to maintain your yard. Ecological yards typically consume less energy than a conventional yard of turfgrass.
Guiding Principles for Your Eco-Yard
An Eco-Yard is not a stereotypical "wild lawn". Ecological improvements that simultaneously create more beauty in your yard and stay within your budget are quite achievable. The information and resources here will help guide your choices.
Conventional turfgrass yards have many hidden energy costs which are a significant drain on our natural resources. An Eco-Yard shifts the maintenance burden of your yard from energy generated from non-renewable resources (and from you) to energy generated by the sun. Plants that are native to Iowa, for example, have been in this area because they evolved for thousands of years with only the available sunlight and rain. Establishing these plants in your yard not only transfers the maintenance to the broad shoulders of Mother Nature, but it also feeds and houses the local wildlife that has evolved with those plants.
Healthy soil is the key to a healthy planet. Soil grows plants and those plants feed us and all other species. Most artificial pesticides and fertilizers, however, deplete the health of the soil by weakening the organisms that build soil. Without bacteria, fungal mycelia, worms, and other soil building organisms, soil has little nutrients for plants. Many organic pest controls and fertilizers are available that produce excellent results. Organic methods have a compound benefit in that they often feed soil builders, which increases the resiliency of plants, thus reducing the need for these controls.
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| Why: | For Iowans, conventionally grown food travels an average of 1500 miles to reach our tables. These miles consume massive amounts of fossil fuels, polluting our air and water. The space required to grow the food also reduces habitat for wildlife and can decrease important buffer areas between crop fields and streams. Growing your own food virtually eliminates these downsides and can replace an area of turfgrass with a reduced grocery bill. Growing different vegetables can also be an endless source of experimentation and can give you an in-depth understanding of how our ecological systems work. | | How: | Vegetables require a lot of sun so find an area of your yard that receives sun most of the day. If you have little experience growing vegetables, begin with plants that are easy to grow: beets, beans, squash, and tomatoes. Purchase plants from the Farmer's Market or local nurseries and plant only large seeds (in general, bigger seeds mean easier plants). Contact a Master Gardener to get answers to your questions. Many relevant publications are available on the Organic Gardening page. |
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| Why: | Chemical fertilizers are a significant contribution to water pollution. Polluted water decreases the diversity and number of many animal and plant species. | | How: | Compost is a natural fertilizer made up of decomposed plant material. It slowly releases its nutrients and gives plants and soil organisms time to consume them so your environment is not polluted. Applying compost also greatly increases the quality of your yard’s soil thus providing many long-term benefits to all your plants. |
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| Why: | 51% of all the materials put in the Johnson County landfill are organic and can be composted. Hauling these materials to the landfill uses non-renewable fossil fuels which depletes your environment. Composting your organic materials not only reduces this energy consumption, but it also provides you with a superb soil amendment that does not consume non-renewable energy in its creation and distribution. | | How: | Food scraps, grass clippings, newspaper, card board, and leaves can all be composted. Many forms of composting exist: from a simple two-foot by two-foot hole to a composting barrel or bin. Newspaper and card board can be used in the garden under mulch to help suppress weeds. While it may take some creativity to ensure the compost is not unsightly, the resulting soil amendment is a huge benefit to the plants in your yard. |
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| Why: | Turfgrass provides recreational areas that other plants cannot match. Areas of your yard that are not used for recreation, however, could be replaced with alternatives that are better suited for its specific use. Tailoring your yard to match your specific needs will make it feel more welcoming and pleasant. | | How: | Carefully examine your yard and identify which areas are strictly used for recreation and which areas have the potential to provide more benefits to you and wildlife. Possible replacements include a native shrub screen, ornamental or prairie grasses, a flower or vegetable garden, low-maintenance groundcover or turfgrass, or a small pond. Most alternatives to turfgrass are vastly superior in their ability to provide resources for yourself and your environment. |
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| Why: | Rainwater that runs from your roof and into the sewer eventually flows into a nearby stream. Most urban streams become unhealthy for wildlife and are prone to erosion because they cannot handle all of the water flowing into them. This results eroded and undercut banks which leads to costly, energy-intensive stream restoration efforts. In addition, pollutants from the street and fertilizer or pesticides from your lawn are carried into the streams adding further stress to wildlife. A rain garden increases the amount of water that filters into the ground instead of flowing into the sewer. It also reduces pollutants in streams and provides habitat for beneficial wildlife and insects. | | How: | Installing a rain garden requires a bit of planning and work, but the contributions your yard will make to the environment are well worth the effort. Carefully examine your yard and identify which areas may be candidates for a rain garden. These areas are typically located where significant amounts of rainwater flow, such as near a roof downspout or at the end of a long slope. Most Iowa native plants are good candidates for rain gardens. |
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| Why: | Native plants demand almost no maintenance, fertilizer, irrigation, or disease control because they have thrived in Iowa weather conditions for thousands years. Iowa wildlife and insects evolved in concert with these native plants, thus their population is strengthened because they have adapted to the plants unique shelter and food characteristics. A stronger wildlife and insect population means your yard contributes to the overall strength and diversity of the environment so it is better equipped to handle problems. | | How: | When choosing trees, shrubs, and plants for your yard, look first at natives. Chances are very good that an Iowa native is available that will fulfill your specific design needs. |
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| Why: | An average two-cycle lawn mower emits in 1 hour the same pollutants as driving an average car 350 miles. Gas-powered mowers not only give you and nearby wildlife a concentrated dose of these emissions, but they also add additional stress to your environment by consuming irreplaceable fossil fuels. In addition, a manual reel mower slices—rather than hacks—the blades of grass, producing in a less-ragged cut. The sliced blades of grass are less prone to disease and recover quicker resulting in a stronger, healthier, greener lawn. | | How: | Most manual reel mowers cost less than gas-powered or electric mowers. These mowers do not cut tall grass well, however, so you will need to keep up on your mowing chores. Typically more expensive models with more cutting blades do a better job at cutting tall grass. |
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| Why: | It takes a significant amount of energy to deliver water to your faucet for outdoor watering needs. Energy is used to pull the water from the Iowa River or an underground aquifer, clean that water with filters and chemicals (products made using energy), and then pump it to a holding area. This energy is often generated from non-renewable resources which deteriorates your environment. Collected rain water that falls on your yard can be used to supplement or replace water provided by the city. | | How: | Rain water can be collected in a variety of ways. Leaving buckets, tubs, and a wheel barrow in the yard during a rain shower is simple and easy. Rain barrels that collect water from your roof are available at most farm stores. Redirecting water from your roof into a small pond not only provides for your watering needs, but it also strengthens beneficial wildlife and insects by giving them a readily available water source. |
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| Why: | Chemical fertilizers are a significant contribution to water pollution. Polluted water decreases the diversity and number of many wildlife and plant species. | | How: | Cut your use of chemical fertilizer by half or switch to an organic fertilizer and observe the results. You will likely be surprised by how little fertilizer it takes to make a healthy green lawn. Your mowing chores will decrease and so will the costs of buying fertilizer. |
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| Why: | Decomposing clippings are an excellent source of nitrogen fertilizer for your lawn. (Grass clippings do not add to thatch – excessive fertilizer, over watering, and organisms weakened by chemical pesticides are the main causes of thatch). Hauling bagged clippings to the Johnson County landfill also consumes non-renewable energy. | | How: | Do not bag grass clippings. Spread out any significant clumps with a rake. Use a mulching blade for better clipping infiltration. |
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| Why: | The City—and your neighbors—will probably frown upon letting your lawn "go wild". A better idea is to plant a section of your yard with native Iowa prairie plants. These areas strengthen wildlife and insect species by providing food and shelter for them. A stronger wildlife and insect population means your yard contributes to the overall strength and diversity of the environment so it is better equipped to handle problems. Iowa prairie plants require little maintenance which saves you saves you time, energy, and money. It is also fascinating to observe the resilient nature of our native plants and watch their interaction with wildlife and insects. | | How: | Carefully examine your yard and identify which areas may be good candidates for prairie plants. The forward-thinking Iowa City Weed Control Code allows you to designate an area of any size as a "Natural Area" to avoid existing lawn height ordinances. You may need to provide a maintenance plan to The City. Visit Landscaping With Native Iowa Plants to learn more about Natural Areas and establishing prairie plants. |
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| Why: | Herbicides are poison. While they are manufactured to kill weeds, they can pose a significant risk to your groundwater, plants and wildlife in your yard, and your family. Careful and limited use of herbicides dramatically reduces this risk. | | How: | Rather than applying a herbicide to your entire lawn, spot-treat emerging weeds when they are young. Many safe cultural and biological controls are available to help suppress weeds. Keeping your lawn healthy by mowing at or above 2 1/2 inches will help crowd out weeds. Corn gluten is a proven preemergent and can be safely applied to your entire lawn between March 22 and April 15 to control the germination of crab grass and dandelion seeds. |
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| Why: | Corn gluten is a safe preemergent weed control that also provides nitrogen to plants. It is a good alternative to chemical herbicides and fertilizers. It can help control the seed germination of crabgrass, barnyard grass, foxtails, dandelion, lambsquarter, pigweed, purslane, smartweed, and several other weeds. | | How: | Apply corn gluten to your lawn between March 22 and April 15. It can also be used to suppress the germination of weed seeds in your garden, but be sure your vegetable seeds have already germinated before application. |
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| Why: | Maintenance of conventional turfgrass often consumes significant amounts of your energy and the energy expended in creating fertilizers, pesticides, maintenance equipment, and irrigation. This energy is often generated from non-renewable resources which deteriorates your environment. Interplanting appropriate varieties of low-maintenance grass or other plants in your lawn reduces your yard’s drain on natural resources. Your yard’s year-round beauty can also be increased as some interplantings will remain vibrant and green when high-maintenance turfgrass has browned due to drought or seasonal changes. | | How: | Be sure to choose turfgrass and plant varieties based upon the location in your yard and its use. Many low-maintenance turfgrass varieties exist: Kenblue bluegrass, Palmer ryegrass, Manhattan II ryegrass, Dawson red fescue, buffalograss, and Colonial bentgrass are just a few of the varieties available. Dutch White Clover, Wild English Daisies, and Roman Chamomile are excellent alternatives that can coexist with turfgrass. These plants are also a good food source for insects. Clover is especially beneficial since it supplies nitrogen to turfgrass and other nearby plants, which reduces your need to provide supplemental fertilizer. |
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| Why: | Most wildlife need water for drinking and bathing. Because wildlife will not need to expend as much energy searching for water, their strength and resiliency is increased. | | How: | Provide a constant, reliable source of water with a birdbath, small pond, or even a shallow dish. |
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