6 Green Gardening Rules Every Eco-Friendly Homeowner Should Know

You shun plastic straws and carry your own tote bags to the grocery store.  So why not continue the green theme in your garden and plant with the planet in mind?

Low-water, zero waste, and chemical-free options abound for both flower beds and containers.  And by embracing green gardening, you can help improve your yard's soil quality and attract beneficial pollinators.  To get started, try some of these green gardening techniques below.

1.  Use Green Containers

Milk jugs, yogurt cups, and egg cartons are all reusable and free for starting seedlings.

Solo cups left over from parties (poke holes in the bottom and transplant tomatoes into them as they outgrow egg cartons or other small cups).

Make your own seed containers from folded newspaper (most publishers use soy ink, which is nontoxic).  Newspapers are biodegradable, and the whole thing - paper, dirt, and seeds - can be planted in the ground.

Two other green containers include Mason jars (excellent as succulent planters) and peat pots.  Peat cups are made from natural fibers and can be planted directly into the garden without causing root shock.

2.  Add A Rain Barrel

Catch rain in just about any type of container, and then use it to water your garden.

Plants benefit from rainwater as it's free of chemicals and minerals found in tap water.  Install barrels around your downspouts.

Make sure rain barrels are installed correctly so they do not cause flooding around your house and elevate them to fit your watering can under the spigot.

3.  Go Chemical Free

Roundup or any pesticide is a no-no in an aco garden.  Instead, try neem oil (an organic pesticide extracted from the tropical neem tree) for bugs and liquid seaweed and compost for fertilizer.

Neem oil has low toxicity and when mixed with water can be used as an insecticide, fungicide, and miticide.

4.  Water Wisely

Don't just spray willy-nilly and then walk away.  there is a smart way to hydrate your garden.  The pros say to water early in the morning, when there is usually less wind and temperatures are lower.  The result?  Water is absorbed more effectively and less is evaporated.

Drip irrigation system or soaker hoses are most effective at watering at soil level.

5.  Make Some DIY Fertilizer

Find a hidden corner of your garden where you can layer grass clippings and fallen green leaves with brown materials like dried-up leaves and even coffee grounds.  Add water to the pile and top with garden soil.

Grass clippings can also be applied as mulch.  Pine needles are another green mulch pick as they acidify soil.  Try it on azaleas, which are acid-loving.

Compost can also be added as fertilizer - just spread it on your flower and vegetable beds to add nutrients and beneficial microbes to the soil.

6.  Attract Plant Pollinators

Nothing is greener than a bunch of butterflies and bees circling your flowers to pollinate the plants.  And don't forget hummingbirds, moths, flies, and even some beetles - they all move pollen from flower to flower.

Plants that will attract these important creatures include catmint, lavender, cosmos, calendula, butterfly flower, sunflowers, sweet alyssum, and lantana.