There’s no better place to go green than in your garden! Maybe you’ve already been growing your own fruits and veggies for years or have carefully tended to your flowerbeds each spring, but are your gardens as green as they can be? Kick your gardening skills up a notch by being more environmentally conscious. 

From conserving water to carefully selecting what you grow, there are plenty of things to do to make your garden more beautiful and earth-friendly. Here’s the dirt for growing a greener garden. Can you dig it?

Keep it natural. Chemical pesticides, weed killers and fertilizers might keep your garden growing and pest-free, but they’re all poisons. Instead, opt for some all-natural compost. Take it a step further by making your own compost! Don’t toss those veggies, fruits and even teabags, leaves and coffee grounds in the trash because these can all be used in your homemade compost. We recommend an Internet search for a “how to” guide to making your own compost and even more ideas on what to put in it. Why spend your money on commercial products when you can make your own “gardener’s gold” for free? You can also hang nesting boxes and put out birdseed so birds will nest nearby. Since birds can eat pests like snails and slugs, you’ll have chemical-free pest control. Floating row covers are an excellent defense against unwanted pests in the garden, and the Internet will also lead you to the many types of organic, non-toxic weed control products available.

Water. Okay, so one of the most obvious things needed for a garden is water. Add a rain barrel to your garden; it’s an easy way to obtain mineral- and chlorine-free water. The water barrel also helps reduce storm water runoff, helping to prevent erosion and flooding. Just be sure to put a screen on top of the barrel to keep out insects and debris and use the water supply frequently to keep it moving. Other water tips: Add mulch and compost to your soil to help retain water and cut down on evaporation.

What’s the buzz? Grow a variety of native flowers and watch for the butterflies and bees to arrive! In fact, gardens with 10 or more species of plants have been found to attract more bees. Why welcome the butterflies and bees to your garden? These pollinators help keep your gardens growing; pollinators affect 35 percent of the world’s crop production and even help increase the output of some of the leading food crops in the world. 

Make it pet-friendly. Maybe the last thing you want is your favorite four-legged friend running through your garden, but you should be aware of what you’re planting. There are plant varieties that you should avoid placing in areas where your pets will have access. Check your local poison control center for a list of plants native to your area that can be poisonous or harmful to pets. Some pet-friendly, non-toxic plants include bamboo, spider plant, blue-eyed daisy and garden marigold.

Get ready to reap the benefits of your green(er) gardens!