With its goal of educating the public on the benefits of green spaces, Project EverGreen offers the following tips that you can pass onto your clients for green space success in the new year.
PET-FRIENDLY LAWNS. Many lawn and landscape contractors have shared their experiences with homeowners’ pets running their lawns. Educate your clients on these options for healthy, pet-friendly lawns.
- Water to prevent dog and cat urine from burning your lawn.
- Modify your pet’s diet to decrease high nitrogen levels in urine, thus preventing brown spots on your lawn.
- Build fences or use wire cages to keep pets away from plants, trees and shrubs.
- To prevent dog paths if a fence surrounds your property, do not try to grow any plants in the area immediately adjacent to the fence.
- Rather than fighting it, plan your yard around your dog’s predictability.
- Install walkways over existing dog paths.
- Train your dog to use a designated bathroom area.
- Beware of planting poisonous plants.
GET GREEN, GET FIT. This year more than ever, Americans will find a calendar full of events encouraging them to get outside and increase their fitness levels. But, says Den Gardner, executive director of Project EverGreen, there may be a crucial ingredient lacking: Green space.
For example, Gardner says, January is National Walk Your Pet Month. “However,” he says, “if owners can’t look forward to the ambiance created by well-designed green space they’re much less likely to get off the couch and give their pets – and themselves – some much needed exercise.”
Green space, Gardner explains, refers to maintaining the right blend and amount of trees, shrubs, grass and other landscaping in our urban environment. “It can provide a definite incentive to get outside and get moving,” he said, “But that’s just one of many benefits.”
Among these, he said, is the ability to:
- Reduce air conditioning costs.
- Protect water supplies by filtering out pollutants.
- Increase property values.
For more educational tips from Project EverGreen, visit www.projectevergreen.com.