How to Water Responsibly

Here are some great ideas for cutting down on water usage in the outdoors.

Mulch - Mulch holds moisture in the soil and prevents evaporation from soil surface. Fine-textured mulches (pine straw, mini nuggets, shredded hardwood) are more effective in conserving moisture than coarse-textured mulch. Apply to as large an area under the plant as possible. Consider putting 2-3 sheets of newspaper under mulch for added water retention.

Deep Watering - Shallow frequent watering encourages a weak root system and reduces plant tolerance of drought. It's  best to water well, less often.

Water Roots, not Leaves - Wetting the foliage encourages diseases and results in water loss through evaporation.

Hand-water newly planted trees, shrubs, and thirstier plants. Again, deep watering is the best way to encourage strong root system and drought tolerance.

Use Drip, Trickle or Soaker Hose - Drip irrigation uses 50% less water than conventional sprinkler irrigation and applies water slowly and directly to root system.

Use the Timer and Install a Rain Sensor on Irrigation System - Rain Sensors are inexpensive extras that usually pay for themselves (in water savings) within 2 years.

Adjust Irrigation Controller - according to change in seasons and rainfall.

Depend on rainfall as main outdoor water source when possible. Water companies love when you leave your system on during a rainy time. Shut those systems off if the weather turns.

Water your children and the grass at the same time. Instead of buying a pool and filling it with water, dumping it out and filling again, turn on a little sprinkler in a dry patch and cool off the kids. You get the added benefit of choosing where to water. 

No matter where you live choose drought resistant grasses and plants. Make your green area around your home smaller, while using rocks to decorate. You can have green grass while not watering the whole yard.

Laundry Deodorizer with a Green Twist

Especially in the summer with wet clothes, hot days and sometimes a day in between loads of laundry those lovely clothes begin to smell very musty and stale. While sure, you could wash them 5 times to get some of that grimy odor out, this simple deodorizing treatment is safe and 100% effective.


To make this amazing solution you will need 1 gallon of apple vinegar and some apple essential oil. Add about 20 drops of the essential oil to the vinegar gallon jug. Mix. Now when ever your clothes need more then a little pick me up you can run them through a quick rinse cycle, using one cup of the vinegar mixture. After the pre-rinse, wash as usual.

Green Ways to Stay Cool This Summer

It's easy to stay cool this summer and save a little green while your at it. Not only that, these four steps are great for the environment too.

1.Change the air filter on your air conditioner. Poor ventilation and circulation lead to higher running costs and less efficiency in cooling.

2. Plant trees and shrubs around your air conditioners. Direct sunlight can heat up your unit. By planting a few shade bearing plants you will save up to 10 percent on your energy bills

3. Run your ceiling fans and your air conditioning unit. The ceiling fans help to circulate the air causing it to stay about 4 degrees cooler

4. Reduce your need to crank the air conditioner up by replacing all your heat producing bulbs with energy non heat light bulbs.

Freshen Your Shoe Closet

Does your shoe closet smell like a closet full of fresh sun dried linen? If it does, can you tell me your chemical free secret? As for my shoe closet, home to teenage boys shoes, gym socks and a myriad of other untouchables, ours smells nothing less then a garbage pit.
Sure I can sprinkle baking soda, and it helps a bit. I could hang some air fresheners, but really they are all chemical laden also. Since our shoe closet is also our coat closet, I wanted to choose something with a more pleasant odor. Here is what we did.

We hung two oranges with cloves in our closet. Yes, I did sprinkle odor killing baking soda in those shoes and make a rule that all wet, including sweaty, items must be left outside to air out. As we do in our refrigerator when we have garlicky leftovers, I placed a small bowl of baking soda in the corner.

This green idea, has helped out tremendously and even our guests have commented on the fresh smells coming from the front closet.

Safe and Effective Ant Spray

Ants are out in full force now that summer has arrived. Unfortunately those little buggers are also searching our houses for food. While many of us hate the thought of spraying insecticides in our house, or bombing our house with terrible chemicals, having ants marching through your entire dwelling can cause you to rethink it.
While reading I came across this simple 90% effective solution.

Fill a spray bottle with 3 tablespoons of liquid detergent soap and water. Spray directly on the ants. It dries them up almost instantly. Spray all the areas you see them, and where you may think they are coming into your house. If your lucky enough to find their nest, pour two gallons of boiling water mixed with 1 cup liquid detergent down the hole of their home. That particular nest will be no more.

For the next few weeks you will have to keep a spray bottle handy and spray out any scout ants, but it will be a lot easier and a lot less costly to our environment.

Getting Rid of Aphids and White flies

Do those pesky white flies bug you every time you walk through your grass? I know first hand how very annoying they are. After a hot summer day, sitting in your cool green grass sounds like a dream come true. However, white flies have the same idea, and they don't respect your personal space.

I found an interesting solution to white flies and aphids. Did you know they are attracted to yellow? It's true. Here is a simple, green way to get rid of those pesky annoyances without having to resort to the big guns. Place a yellow poster board, or a yellow painted piece of wood coated with motor oil or Vaseline. When the white flies or aphids land they will be stuck. Place around your yard, near plants they seem to be attracted to and near your picnic table.