Honor Earth Day with environmentally friendly landscaping
By Teresa Lott
It’s hard to fathom that a body of water can burn yet Ohio’s Cuyahoga River was so polluted it caught fire thirteen times. The last fire in 1969 helped to establish the Environmental Protection Agency, out of which came the Clean Water Act. Around the same time, the very first Earth Day was established, recognizing April 22 as a day of education about environmental issues. Since then, Earth Day has become the largest secular observance in the world. Its focus has expanded from increasing awareness to inspiring action with the goal of reaching 3 billion Acts of Green by 2020.
There’s no doubt that our actions on land impact our waterways. The way we care for our lawns, flowers, vegetables, and trees, can inadvertently pollute the water we use for drinking or swimming, contaminate the fish we eat, or create problems for wildlife. Fortunately, there are yard care practices that enable you to garden with the environment in mind. When implemented, these practices can also increase your success, reduce maintenance, and even save you money.
Clemson Extension’s Carolina Yards program was created to guide South Carolina homeowners in conserving water in the landscape and in making positive changes in the environmental quality of their yards, neighborhoods, and surrounding waterways. The program includes a certification component, recognizing those that implement at least eighteen of the fifty-five environmentally friendly action steps when caring for their yard.
As we approach Earth Day, why not consider certifying your yard as your Act of Green? If you’ve had your soil tested recently, you’ve got one action under your belt. Maintaining a 2-3 inch layer of mulch in you landscape beds will enable to you check off that action step as well. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to check off eighteen action steps.
In getting your yard certified, you will also be eligible to enter the 2017 Carolina Yard of the Year contest recognizing excellence in environmentally friendly landscaping. The winning yard will be filmed and air as a segment on SC ETV’s Emmy Award-winning gardening show, Making It Grow! Applications for the contest are due by June 16. More information about the Carolina Yards program can be found at www.clemson.edu/cy. Navigate to the events page for information about the Carolina Yard of the Year Contest.
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.
