Eco-friendly gardening is a term that has gained momentum in the last few years.

I did not happen upon it for altruistic reasons.  Honestly, my basic reasons were:
1) I am inherently lazy; and
2) I abhor waste.

My first exposure to eco-friendly gardening was in the late 1990's when Wildflower Farms operated out of a farm just south west of Schomberg.  They chose to demonstrate an eco-friendly grass on their front lawn, and I had occasion to see this product in all seasons and over a period of years.

I had a friend who lived in Pottageville who overseeded her backyard over a period of about three years and watched this product in action. 

We bought a property in Beeton in 2002 and realized that the grass had all but died and all that existed was weeds...

I tilled my yard, rolled it, seeded it and watered it.  The eco-grass took about two months to entrench itself and has paid for itself many times over, with the added benefit of helping Save Our Planet.

To find out more about this and other environmentally friendly lawn solutions, click here.

The next step is natural eco-friendly gardening.  This can be accomplished fairly easily by adhering to four basic principles:
1) Create a good solid foundation by creating quality soil.  A local garden centre should be able to provide a soil analysis.  With this information, you will know what plants can thrive with your soil, and/or what you need to add to improve your soil.  Use natural fertilizers and composts rather than chemicals.
2) Create a diversified environment - this reduces the risk of diseases and infestation.
3) Grow plants native to your environment and location.  These plants will grow naturally and help create an effortless garden.  Consider working with existing cooperatives (or start your own) to trade seeds and or root stocks.
4) Develop Good Habits and use earth-friendly techniques such as composting, recovering rain water, cover soil with a fabric and/or wood chips (or similar product) to reduce water evaporation and choosing hardy, drought resistant plants.

Happy and Healthy Earth-Friendly Gardening!