With summer on its way, we’ll all be spending more time taking care of our yards and gardens. Many of us may be unaware of the extra steps we can take to make our yard care routine more friendly to the environment. While many environmental problems are global, the solutions can start at home. Begin in small ways and start at home by practicing green yard care.

Power Your Tasks with Battery

Routine tasks such as mowing, trimming hedges and blowing leaves can now be done without fuel. Today’s manufacturers have begun to respond to consumer demand with battery-powered products that have no emissions and have the added bonus of eliminating the need for fuel.

STIHL, a leader in the outdoor power industry for more than 90 years, recently introduced the STIHL Lightning Battery System™ line of battery-powered products, offering a quieter way to tackle those yard chores without all the nasty emissions and with less maintenance than gasoline-powered tools. There are several levels of use in the series, from products that are easy to use around the home to items perfect for a pro. Today’s powerful lithium-ion batteries allow users to get more work done on a single charge than ever before. Because the products are lightweight, that means consumers can knock out the day’s tasks with fewer breaks and less fatigue.

Battery-powered tools are not the only way you can garden green, but they are a great option for greener maintenance. Today’s batteries run longer with quick recharge times and long service lives. A wide range of useful products have been developed with a powerful battery tough enough for almost any job. Choose from chainsaws, string trimmers, lawn mowers, blowers, hedge trimmers, pole pruners and more.

Earth-Friendly Landscaping Projects

Some other ways to green your routine include:

• Rain gardens

  – A rain garden is a perfect way to create a circular payoff for the garden while conserving water. Rain barrels are another smart way to capture water and utilize it in the landscape.

• Native plantings

  – Planting native plants is an eco-smart way to diminish irrigation needs. Native plants are uniquely adapted to their locality and, once established, can take whatever type of weather and moisture the region serves up. Taking steps in the landscape to conserve water not only saves on your utility bill but also allows you to be part of the solution for a challenging global issue and can help teach your children how to be good stewards to this earth upon which we all depend.

• Pollinator gardens

  – Green gardening practices include recycling, composting, producing your own food, reducing pesticide and herbicide use and encouraging pollinators. The latter is probably one of the more fun ways to be earth-friendly. Flowers attract many of these beneficial pollinators, from beetles to butterflies, and are pleasing to the eye. Many plants are attractive to pollinating insects, and a carefully planned perennial garden can ensure pollinators come to your garden annually and stay to service your flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Outdoor power equipment companies are catching up to consumer demand for products that are good for the environment by producing battery-powered equipment and ergonomically designed items that help us work smarter, not harder. We can’t take responsibility for solving all of the world’s environmental problems, but by adopting earth-friendly practices in our own yards, we can make an impact.