Tips for an Eco-Friendly Yard

Courtesy of Ajay Kaisth
10 Things You Can do to help Birds and Pollinators in your yard
 Leslie Inman's Your Yard is Nature – CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL BOOK
  1. Shrink the Lawn – they are tremendously wasteful in many ways.
  2. Plant Native Plants and Trees – the plants that have evolved in your area need little maintenance/resources.
  3. Leave the bugs for the birds – Baby birds require bugs as food.
  4. Avoid using Pesticides – they indiscriminately kill all insects – generally, harmful “chemotherapy” is not needed for your lawn/plants, seeps into groundwater.
  5. Turn off unnecessary outdoor lights – light pollution disturbs insect cycles.
  6. Learn about native bees – wild north American bees are prolific pollinators.
  7. Bring back the peaceful, quiet yard – reduce/stop loud machinery and leaf blowers (quieter electric is an option).
  8. Feed the caterpillars – learn about butterfly host plants.
  9. Leave the leaves – if you leave the leaves in the autumn, you will see more butterflies and fireflies in the spring. Leave at least one leaf brush pile from the fall through summer.
  10. Recognize bugs as essential to a healthy ecosystem – bugs feed birds.
What I do (I have noticed a significant difference just in one season by doing the below – more fireflies, birds, pollinators, butterflies...)
  1. Keep the grass reasonably tall (4.5-5 inches) – needs less watering. Hosts more pollinators.
  2. Reduce the frequency of lawn mowing: I ask my service to come as needed, NOT on an automatic weekly schedule. Saves money. In some months it may be weekly, in others it is twice a month, in others it is once in 3 weeks – all depends on how tall the grass is in that season/time. Also, request they come M-F, 9-5, so not to disturb you/neighbors.
  3. I have asked that they REDUCE the use of gas leaf blowers and use only in a very limited manner. These are highly polluting with carcinogens – harmful to humans, as well as birds, insects whose habitats are decimated. Very high, disturbing, loud noise level too. Where do they blow the grass anyway? (I follow up with an electric blower and a rake/broom for the areas that need to be grass free – walkways, driveways etc.).
  4. Continue to reduce my lawn area – making beds and planting (mostly) native plants - straight species, not “cultivars.” And, I also have planted several native trees (not the very tall ones).
  5. No use of pesticides/chemicals since 2006 – not on lawn, not on plants and no indiscriminate “mosquito” spraying – very harmful to humans / pets/ environment/ neighbors / contaminates ground water.
  6. Compost – easy to use composter purchased from Costco (Aerobin 400).
  7. Continue to learn from sites/links/local programs.
RESOURCES:
Facebook Links:Web Links:
Hope the links help in your learning journey to making our world, our community (starting with your own yard) a better place!
Nurseries that stock Native Plants (Ask for NJ/North-east Native “non-cultivar” plants)
  • Gino’s, Newtown
  • Toadshade Farm, Frenchtown
  • D&R Greenway Trust, Princeton – has 2-3 native plant sales annually
  • Plainsboro Preserve – has a couple of native plant sales annually
  • Village Nurseries, East Windsor
  • Kales Nursery, Princeton
  • Green Haven, Hamilton

As you build your gardens, aim for a mix of at least 70% native plants.

Single tree tip: if you have the space, plant a NATIVE oak and look up Doug Tallamy, who is an expert: nytimes.com/2021/03/31/realestate/oak-trees-why-you-should-plant.html