Photo courtesy of RBirtles at Flickr.com.

Looking for an alternative to chemical pesticides? Diatomaceous earth is a great way to control insects with a hard exoskeleton (including fleas, ticks, and cockroaches). The sharp edges of diatomaceous earth kill these bugs, but diatomaceous earth doesn’t harm people or pets if used properly.

Diatomaceous Earth is great for controlling a wide variety of hard shelled insects, including silverfish, tomato hornworm, bed bugs, carpet beetles, slugs, snails, house flies, fruit flies, red spider mites, and earwigs. The pests that devour your garden can be turned into useful fertilizer. These ground up fossils also provide valuable trace minerals to your soil - they contain approximately 3% magnesium, 86% silicon, 5% sodium, 2% iron and fractional percentages of titanium, boron, manganese, copper, zirconium, and other minerals.

One last thing to watch out for - it’s important that you choose Amorphous Diatomaceous Earth instead of Diatomaceous Earth that’s been processed for use in swimming pools. According to the Winter 1987 issue ofCommon Sense Pest Control Quarterly:

Both swimming pool grade and natural diatomaceous earth come from the same fossil sources but they are processed differently. The natural grades are mined, dried, ground, sled and bagged. The pool grade is chemically treated and partially melted and consequently contains crystalline silica which can be a respiratory hazard.

So, shake off the fleas with Diatomaceous earth!

Photo courtesy of BOB008 at Flickr.com.

Get a 5 lb bag of diatomaceous earth at CleanAirGardening for only $21.99!

Popularity: 7% [?]

Photo courtesy of Manda Mia at Flickr.com.

Dryer sheets are pretty darn close to magic. Somehow, a tiny sheet of filmy material can stop clothes from sticking together and also make them smell fresher than fresh. But, can dryer sheets be re-used? Does it take a whole sheet for a small load of laundry, or will half of a sheet work just as well? Is there a way to save money while also helping the planet?

It turns out that dryer sheets aren’t that great and it’s possible to cut way back on their use. There’s usually enough residue left in the dryer between loads to treat your clothes without adding another sheet (or even adding half a sheet). The healthier choice may even be to avoid using dryer sheets and fabric softeners entirely.

Here are a few green alternatives to drier sheets:

Photo courtesy of marianne. at Flickr.com.

Do you have any other ideas? If so, please share them with us in the comments section below.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Photo courtesy of grace*c* at flickr.com

Sometimes it can be difficult to determine how much water your lawn needs, but there are indicators that can clue you in if your lawn is thirsty.

For example, if the grass blades are folded in half lengthwise, that’s because they’re trying to conserve moisture. If the grass takes on a bluish-green hue, that’s also an excellent clue. A dead giveaway is when you walk across the lawn and your footprints remain visible, because the stalks lack sufficient moisture to spring back up.

Curing a thirsty lawn may be difficult, especially if you’re dealing with mandatory water restrictions due to drought conditions, but one way you can safeguard your lawn’s condition is to water less frequently but more deeply. This encourages the roots to grow deeper into the soil in search of nutrients, so they’re less susceptible to drought and disease.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Dry-cell batteries, which we use in everything from pocket calculators to digital cameras, are highly toxic and difficult to recycle. One way to limit their proliferation is to use rechargeable batteries; another is to take advantage of ingenious devices powered by human muscle power, such as hand-pumped or hand powered wind up flashlights.

All you have to do with these gizmos is squeeze the handle continuously or crack the knob, and a tiny dynamo inside will generate the electrical current needed to create a bright beam of light. Hand-powered flashlights are most often used in disaster-preparedness kits, but they’re also handy if you have limited need for a conventional flashlight, but would like to keep something around just in case.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Photo courtesy of soleilani at Flickr.com.

Some really weird looking things pop up on rooftops. Now, next to the satellite dishes, TV antennae’s, and solar water heaters, you may be seeing more Rooftop Wind Turbines.

The small footprint of these microturbines means that they’re less intrusive than previous models. They also make less noise and have smaller price tags. But, since wind energy is a geometric function of size, there’s some doubt about the efficiency of micro-turbines.

I wonder if these would be any easier to get approval for than solar panels?

Photo courtesy of tsaishen2 at Flickr.com.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Photo courtesy of ms.Tea at Flickr.com.

Sometimes, the perfect tomato plant comes along. When you find one that’s perfectly adapted to your soil, your climate, and your taste buds, that’s the time to set aside some seeds for replanting in the future.

Here’s how you can save those seeds and enjoy perfect tomatoes year after year:

1. Start off by choosing a very ripe tomato off your best plant and scoop out the seeds.

2. Put the seeds in a jar filled half-way with water.

3. Leave the jar at room temperature for two days. The good seeds will sink to the bottom, and the chemicals that inhibit their growth within the tomato will float off.

Photo courtesy of joeysplanting at Flickr.com.

4. Drain the jar and remove everything that isn’t a seed.

5. Stick the seeds on a plate and put the plate in a window sill with direct sunlight.

6. Let the seeds dry out for 2-3 days. Once dry, the seeds can be stored in a whatever type of airtight jar or baggie you have handy.

7. Next year, plant the seeds in trays before planting them back in your garden.

Photo courtesy of Lucy Crosbie at Flickr.com.

8. Gobble up delicious tomatoes and repeat as necessary.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Photo courtesy of Nad at Flickr.com.

Have you ever heard the story of Sisyphus? According to Greek Mythology, he was cursed to push a rock up a hill for eternity, only to watch it roll back down every time he neared the top. For gardeners, fighting weeds can be a Sisyphean task. No matter how many we kill, they’re always trying to sneak back into our garden. That’s why herbicides are so popular - they offer freedom from weeds and freedom from weeding too!

Roundup is the most widely used herbicide in the United States, but new studies suggest that weeds are evolving which can survive even the strongest herbicide treatments. Over time, the weeds that Roundup doesn’t kill will spread into treated areas in a process called Weed Shift. Also, the soil itself can work against herbicides. So called “problem soils” - where microorganisms have adapted to digest man-made chemicals - require even higher concentrations of herbicide to kill weeds.

This means that farmers are going to be using stronger and stronger concentrations of Roundup and getting diminishing returns. A huge arms race is going on in the cornfields and gardens of America, and plants are just a bit more persistent than we are. Unfortunately, a lot of wildlife is going to get caught in the crossfire.

The company that makes Roundup has positioned itself to profit from this situation by producing more of the herbicide and also developing new strains of “Roundup Ready” soybeans, cotton, and corn that can survive stronger chemical treatments. In the long run, the weeds are going to keep evolving until glycophospates are uneconomical to use. There may eventually be a wild plant that drinks Roundup like office workers drink coffee. But before that day gets here, farmers will spend a lot of money that they could have spent elsewhere.

The only way to win this game is not to play. There are plenty of alternatives to chemical herbicides, and weeds aren’t as likely to develop a resistance to those. Over millions of years, plants evolved defenses of their own to edge out competition. By using those organic defenses, it’s possible to control weeds the natural way - and as the cost of treating and re-treating areas with Roundup rises, it can be more cost effective too!

Here are some of the products we’ve tested:

Nature’s Avenger ORMI Organic Herbicide
This product works by killing the leaves of weeds. It breaks down quickly and will only kill the plants you treat directly (which prevents it from accidentally harming other plants or animals after it washes off onto the soil).

Black Jack Organic Vinegar
The high acidity of this herbicide melts the cell walls of weeds. It uses natural Vinegar, Yucca Extract, Olive Oil, Garlic Oil, Citrus Oil and Molasses to bind directly to the weeds that you apply it to.

Organic Crab Grass Killer
This all-natural product kills Crabgrass, Chickweed, Basketgrass, and other hardy grasses that often displace St. Augustine and Bahia lawns. It’s safe to use on yards where children or pets will be playing and it only kills the plants that absorb it through their leaves.

Bradfield Organic’s Weed and Feed
This last product is a preventative treatment against weeds. It contains corn gluten, which has proven effective at stopping seeds from germinating. That means you can apply this to your established flower bed or vegetable garden and not worry about any intruders popping up.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Some hobbyists have found out how to use heat from compost piles to warm up shower water. That’s great, because bacteria in compost piles thrive at high temperatures. As they break down organic matter, bacteria produce energy and often heat compost piles to temperatures in the 80s to 90s. Sunlight on dark material can accelerate the process. Unfortunately, this energy can be difficult to harvest, but apparently burying pipes in a decent sized compost pile can warm up about 5 gallons of water every 10 minutes:

Reduced energy bills and well-scrubbed Hippies - that’s a win-win situation!

Popularity: 5% [?]

Photo courtesy of pomohandshake at Flickr.com.

If you live in Canton, Ohio and your grass is getting up to waist height, now might be a good time to dust off your lawn mower. The city council is taking a hard line at repeat code violations: they’ve recently proposed a law making chronic negligence of yard work a fourth-degree misdemeanor. The penalties for that include fines of up to $250 and even 30 days of prison time!

Cutting the grass regularly not only will keep you out of jail, but it can also make your yard look great and keep yard work at a manageable level. When grass is regularly mowed, it grows in more evenly and vibrantly. When grass grows wild, fast growing weeds will shade out slower growing plants and weaken them. By leveling the playing field, mowing the grass gives all areas of your yard equal amounts of sunshine. Over time, thick growing grasses will crowd out the weeds and lay down deep roots. These deep roots will also make your yard more resistant to drought, erosion, and damage.

Whether you’re facing prison time in Canton, or simply some time in the dog house for not doing chores, there’s no time like the present to mow your lawn!

Might we suggest a reel mower?

Photo courtesy of ingebling at Flickr.com.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Photo courtesy of fotoblitzcolor at Flickr.com.

In the heat of summer, healthy trees are especially important for your home. Trees provide shade as well as evaporative cooling (they release moisture that absorbs heat as it evaporates). During the hottest times of the day, it’s generally 5 to 10 degrees cooler under a tree. Use this to your advantage - each fully grown tree can reduce air conditioning costs $20-200 a year.

When it’s hot, trees create a micro-climate of cooler soil where beneficial bacteria and secondary plants thrive. This sheltering effect can help keep your grass and other plants alive in a desert garden or during drought conditions. Trees also stop the wind, which prevents dry air from sucking away moisture. The wind blocking effect can save 10-20% on heating and cooling bills. Even if your grass and other landscaping plants start to wilt, your trees can hold down the soil and prevent erosion. Their roots often prevent expensive foundation damage during dry weather and prevent mud slides when the rain returns.

So, it’s easy to see the benefits of trees, but when the thermostat climbs it can be tricky to keep anything alive. Do more than keep your trees alive this summer - help them thrive! Here are a few tips to turn your yard into a tree haven:

1) Mulch, mulch, mulch

Mulch is amazing stuff. It contains nutrients that your tree can use, and it retains water like crazy. This low-tech solution performs better than all sorts of timers, sensors, and irrigation systems. Mulch is a natural way to drip feed water to your tree right at the place its needed, and mulch increases the water absorbing potential of your yard. Mulch made from certain trees will also repel bugs and can be used to adjust the pH balance of your soil.

That said, avoid using too much mulch. “Mulch volcanoes” can harm trees instead of helping them, by suffocating the roots and inviting rodents to nest against the tree trunk. Instead, spread a light amount of mulch starting about 3-4 inches away from the trunk and extending out for several feet to either side. This will position the mulch over the root system without harming the trunk. As an added benefit, this mulch will block the sun from the soil, which keeps unwanted plants from sprouting and further reduces the ground temperature.

2) Water less often, but more intensely

Believe it or not, overwatering is the most common mistake during drought season. Every tree is different, but a general rule of thumb is to water with 10 gallons per week for every caliper inch of the tree trunks diameter. Many homeowners apply far more water than that, which can harm the tree instead.

Flooded soil kills the fine hairs of the root system. Excessive watering can compact the soil, which will make it harder for the roots to absorb water in the future. Also, drought tolerant plants are more susceptible to disease when they’re overwatered. Novice gardeners often mistake the signs of overwatering (ie; brown spots on the leaves and wilting of plant stems) as a sign of dehydration. This creates a vicious cycle where well meaning gardeners apply more and more water, drowning their plants and complaining about how the dry weather is responsible.

Rather than watering at every chance, the best option is to water once a week (or less) and water intensely. Intense watering soaks deep into the soil, beyond the reach of evaporation but not beyond the reach of your tree’s roots. Intense watering of the root ball (the area right under the tree trunk) encourages your tree to put down deep roots that will also anchor it against high winds. To water the root ball with the least amount of wasted water, you can plant trees against irrigation piping, or simply strap a tree gator around the trunk during hot weather.

After the drought has passed, there are some benefits to even heavier watering:

Once or twice a year, water twice as long as you normally do to help leach salts out of the root zone.

3) Reduce fertilizer use

As much as 80% of fertilizer is usually lost to run-off. So, if you’re watering less, now is a good time to reduce your fertilizer use and prevent water pollution at the same time. You may also want to consider organic fertilizers that break down without leaving harmful chemical residue.

4) Put off pruning

Pruning is very stressful for trees. Think about it - pruning a plant during a drought is like amputating someone’s finger during a marathon race. Trimming a tree creates an open wound on the plant - this cut gives parasitic bacteria and bugs a chance to rob the tree of nutrients. The healing process takes up valuable resources that the tree needs for other life processes. Also, these cuts are areas where moisture and sap can leak out of the plant, which is especially troublesome when water is in short supply.

During a drought, its best to delay pruning. Put the shears away until the weather improves, and take advantage of extra shade in the meantime.

Photo courtesy of surfwax at Flickr.com.

One last thing to consider - are your trees planted strategically around your house, condo, or apartment? You can use the different behaviors of evergreens and deciduous trees to your advantage. Since deciduous trees drop their leaves in the winter, they’re ideally suited for the Southeast, South, and West sides of your home or office. During the summer months, when the sun is at its hottest, their leaves will offer shade and protection. During the winter, when you want sunlight to warm up your building, the leaves will be temporarily gone.

Here are some products that can help keep your orchard survive summer:
Water your tree trunk directly with a TreeGator… just $24.99

Photo courtesy of cleanairgardening at Flickr.com.

Apply fertilizer and water directly to the roots with a Root Irrigator… only $99.99

Photo courtesy of cleanairgardening at Flickr.com.

For ultra-slow drip irrigation, try an Ooze Tube for $21.99

Photo courtesy of cleanairgardening at Flickr.com.

Popularity: 7% [?]