TIPS TO SIMPLIFY OUTDOOR CHORES

You have a busy life and your home and garden maintenance can easily eat away at your free time, especially if you want to have a manicured lawn and garden. So why not take a few minutes to think about some practical ways you can streamline the amount of time and money that you spend making your outdoor landscapes look amazing? Here a few easy and cost-effective tips to simplify outdoor chores that we think will make you feel even better about the home you’ve already worked so hard to maintain.

Putting plants close together and covering the area with a thick coat of mulch will reduce the number of weeds that need to be dealt with, and it will put additional time and money back into your life. We recommend consulting with a local nursery expert who can give you information about the best native plants for your area, which will grow easier and require less water and maintenance than non-native species of plants. You can also shrink the size of your lawn and the amount of yardwork by installing a paver patio, rock garden or pond to enhance the time you spend outdoors with friends and family. This will add to the value of your home for the long run but, more importantly, to the quality of life that you enjoy while you’re living in it during the here and now!

When you use your time, fuel and money to buy fresh produce at your local grocery store, you’re still wasting resources even if you’re buying organic food. The truth is that the most organic foods you can eat are the ones you grow in your own yard! Of course, you’ll want to test your soil first to make sure there aren’t lead issues or other concerns with growing food in your area. But once you choose to garden at home, you’ll also be shrinking the amount of lawn that needs to be mowed, as discussed above. And, you’ll also probably experience a great sense of pride and joy at being able to eat something that you planted, cultivated and harvested with your own hands! Studies have shown that gardening can actually make you feel better, physically and emotionally. So put your own “certified organic” stamp of approval on the produce that’s on your plate – and smile because while you’re at it, you’ll be helping your wallet, the environment and your family’s health and wellness.