If you are like many Minnesotans, you are itching for spring. Chances are you have wandered through the garden section of your favorite Minnetonka big store, looked longingly through your frosted windows at that corner of your yard you think would make a wonderful garden, or even thumbed through a seed catalog. Perhaps you are really itching for spring and have already started seeds on your indoor window ledges or in a full-fledged greenhouse.

No matter where you are in your landscape dreaming, now is a great time to plan for some eco-friendly design choices.

Many of the methods that gardeners have traditionally used contribute to ground water pollution and increase the need for back-breaking maintenance work through the summer. By working with nature, instead of against, you can create a beautiful Minnesota landscape and know that the beauty you have nurtured is beautiful in more than one way.

Here are some things to consider and websites to check for details:

Landscape with native Minnesota trees, shrubs and flowers. Not only does this practice assure that your plants will thrive in our northern climate, but it also helps to restore native plant communities and prevent non-native species. www.dnr.state.mn.us/gardens/nativeplants

Plant a Rain Garden. This can be a fabulous fix for a low-lying spot in your yard that always ends up a muddy mess. It is also a method of capturing rain-runoff, filtering it, and adding it to the underground water supply. It helps to slow the flow of water in the sewer system and prevents polluted runoff. www.infinetivity.com/~stack/rain

Flowers for Wildlife. Gardens such as Butterfly gardens and bird-friendly gardens are not only ecologically responsible, because they encourage wildlife by creating a habitat that they love to call home. You will also enjoy seeing your fluttering friends on a regular basis. www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/dg6711.html

Garden Organically. This is a trendy topic, but more importantly it’s a healthy topic. Assuming the soil you are planting in is free of chemicals and pollutants, using organic methods to grow vegetables, and even flowers, helps to keep your family healthy and helps to prevent pollution of our environment. www.TheManicGardener.com/

You can read how 4 Minnetonka gardeners managed to pull off “green” gardening with exquisite results on the City of Minnetonka’s website.

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Nicole Johnsrud is hard at work helping others buy and sell homes in Minnetonka. Give her a call today and see what she can do for you.

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 11:42 pm and is filed under Landscaping Your Home. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.