Some persons are responding to the increasing economic pressures by planting a backyard garden. They recognise that there are many benefits to growing our own vegetables, fruits and other foods. In addition to reducing our food bill and providing nutritious food, it also reduces stress, as taking care of a garden calms the mind and exercises the body.

Green waste, or the waste from vegetation such as plants and trees, can be used to make our gardens healthier and more fruitful. Nature has a way of giving us 'two-for-one' deals, and planting and maintaining a garden is one of those deals. The waste from the very food we reap can be re-used in the garden as mulch and soil conditioners. Green waste makes our gardens healthier by enriching the soil and preventing the loss of moisture.

Mulching your garden

Mulching your garden is easy. When you sweep up your yard, trim your trees or mow your grass, use the grass clippings, leaves from trees and wood chips for mulch. Place these materials around your plants on top of the soil about one inch away from the root. The mulch should be no higher than two inches. This will help the soil to keep in water so that you water less and save on your water bill. You will have to replace the mulch, as over time it will break down into the soil.

If you have a problem with weeds, you can use old newspaper as mulch to help prevent weed taking hold in your garden. Weed the garden and then place the newspaper in the areas where you want to prevent the weed from growing. Put stones or soil on the end of the paper to prevent the wind from blowing it away.

Waste from your kitchen can also be used to make your garden healthier. You can add kitchen waste from vegetables, yam peels, fruits and other organic materials such as egg shells and coffee grounds to the roots of your plants. These will break down and make the soil richer and more fertile. Removing these items from your garbage also reduces the smell of the garbage. Be careful not to add meat or food waste which can attract pests and rats to your plants. Next week we will look at other ways we can use green waste.

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