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Gardening
Tips for January
It’s that time of year when we all start
thinking about things we might try to do differently or better in the
new year. Here are a few things you can do to go GREEN:
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Use fewer
chemicals. Really assess the situation. Is the pest truly
causing destruction, or is the damage merely cosmetic? Most ‘pests’
cause very little damage, and don’t require treatment. If you have a
pest, and you’re not sure whether you should treat it, or ignore it,
you can check with your local University of Illinois Extension
office or an ICN Pro at your local garden center. Check out
www.web.extention.uiuc.edu/state/hort9/html
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 Mow
less. Raise your mowing height, increasing the vigor of your
turf. A more vigorous turf can out compete weeds, and requires fewer
fertilizers. Mowing consumes fossil fuels and contributes to
pollution. Find areas that don’t have to be mowed and return them to
a more natural state. For interesting reading on reducing your
mowing habits check out
www.for-wild.org/land/tufts_op.htm.
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Plant a tree. Trees
are awesome air cleaners. They also provide shade to our homes
reducing our energy consumption during those hot summer months.
Trees also provide much-needed habitat. When choosing a tree, try to
choose a tree that is native to your area. For help deciding which
tree to plant and where to plant it, contact the ICN Pro at your
local garden center.
www.treesaregood.com/treecare/tree_selection.aspx
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 Create
a rain garden. Do you have a spot in your yard where water seems
to stand after a rainfall? Rain gardens help to clean water as it
infiltrates into the ground. For more information and step by step
guidelines, visit:
www.appliedeco.com/RainGarden.cfm
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Remember to
share. Ever since we were little tikes, someone has been telling
us to share nicely. Look around, do you provide any habitat in your
yard? Do you support local efforts to increase habitat and green
space in your city? Check out these websites for great information
on creating habitat in your own backyard:
www.nwf.org/backyard,
http://charityguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/backyard-habitat.htm?gclid=CPi1n7y25JACFQdfQAodjwcuMg
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Teach. Be
a role model for a child. Teach them to love a garden. Watch their
eyes light up when a seed they planted germinates. Help them nurture
a plant, whether it is a houseplant or a plant outdoors. Create a
passion for them that they can carry with them their entire
life. Here are a few websites that can help you with great
information and project ideas to get you started
www.kidsgardening.com,
www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden
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Use less
water. Water restrictions are becoming a fact of life in many
areas. We are all guilty of wasting water, and if we all try to do a
little better in our water usage, we can make a difference!
Following is a website that has tips to help you conserve water in
your own home and garden:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/watercon.html
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Plant native
species. Native species, once established, require less water,
no fertilizers and no pesticides. They are perfect food sources for
our native birds, and butterflies.
www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/plants/npg/index.html,
www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/prairienativelinks.html
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Start a
compost pile. Compost piles are surprisingly easy to start and
maintain.
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/homecompost
 There is no
shortage of things to do in your yard and garden, and the ICN Pro’s at your
local garden centers are ready, willing and able to
help you!
by Carey
Boehm-Corrie, ICN Pro of the
Year (2003), Boehm's Garden Center,
Rushville, IL
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