There are lots of great ways you can make your yard more eco-friendly, from reducing your carbon footprint to making your yard a haven for wildlife and pollinators.  You can start small and work your way to larger changes gradually.  Some things are easy to change, like swapping out pesticides with alternatives, while others take longer (such as landscaping).

Compost

Home composting or a Compost pickup service helps is constructive use of your biodegradable food scraps and yard waste, such as leaves or garden plants. It is easy to set up a bin and care for it, and soon enough you will have rich soil that you can return to your yard.  Keep in mind that seeds that are composted may sprout!  For example, pumpkin seeds, or tomato seeds. composting weeds that may spread their seeds in the compost.

Go chemical free

A wonderful way to go eco-friendly in your yard is to eliminate the use of chemicals.  Replace products like weed killers and other pesticides with natural products.  While this may take some adjusting, it is well worth the effort.  There are many products out there that are available, from corn gluten that suppresses weeds, to DIY solutions for pests (such as soapy water).

Plant native species 

It is important to support your local ecosystem with local plants.  Check your local nursery for native species.  These native plants will use less water, as they are adapted specifically for your climate, and will attract pollinators and other wildlife

Use water carefully

Water strategically so that you can minimize your water use.  This could be early or late watering, during the cooler portions of the day.  For automatic sprinkler systems, you could get a rain sensor or control your sprinkler system remotely, turning it off if there is rain.  You can also implement a rainwater collection system, such as a rain barrel.

Reduce grass lawn

Less grass means less watering, less pesticides and fertilizers, and less energy spent on mowing.  You can easily replace grass with landscaping, perennial beds, or even rocks. There are so many great alternatives to grass, from beautiful perennial beds to vegetable gardens.

Use electric tools

Do away with lawn tools that require gas, and switch over to electric.  These machines are usually much quieter, and you don’t have to put up with the smell of burning fuel.  From electric mowers to rechargeable hedge trimmers, this is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint, and also have a better experience tending to your lawn.

Go organic

Go organic when you can, from planting vegetables to buying fertilizer.  If you have a vegetable garden, you may want to prioritize making this the most organic part of your yard.  This way, you can ensure that the veggies that you grow are organic.

Make your yard wildlife friendly

Aside from everything above, there are lots of great things you can do to your yard to attract wildlife and pollinators. Find a variety of local plant species that flower at different points in the season to attract pollinators. Create a source of water, like a pond or bird baths. You can also feed the birds using bird food or hummingbird feeders.