Natural Ways to Prevent and Eliminate Weeds

Gardening can be an incredibly enjoyable and gratifying experience. Yet, even those with the greenest of thumbs have to admit that it can be frustrating at times, especially when it comes to weeds. No one wants to see the fruits of their labor overrun by weeds, but you don’t need to reach for the Roundup just yet. You already have several natural, inexpensive ways to avoid and eliminate weeds at your disposal.

First, focus on getting your lawn and garden as healthy as possible. The healthier your plants and the thicker your grass, the less room there is for weeds. Make sure to plant native species whenever possible. Native plants are better suited for persevering against the weeds of the local area. Then provide your plants with optimal soil conditions. Aerate soil before planting and fertilize with compost. Lay down newspaper to block weeds – it's organic, can be turned into the soil the following spring, and is less expensive than plastic. Strengthen your lawn by mulch-cutting and leaving the clippings (they're a great source of nitrogen) on the grass. And make sure to cut high – weeds get choked out and the lawn’s root system becomes hardier. For an all-natural and safe pre-emergent weed killer try corn gluten meal. It has been shown to inhibit the growth of dandelions, crabgrass, and several other annual weeds.

Even if you take every preventative measure, there's always at least a few weeds bound to show up. Start with the cheapest, most natural weed killer – your own hands. Pull weeds by hand or with a hoe or spade. There are also several different tools available to make removing weeds by their roots easier. Some other all-natural weed killers to consider:

Boiling water. Pour boiling water (you can re-purpose cooking water) on a weed and it will shrivel up within a couple days. This is a great way to clear a grouping of weeds popping out of or around driveways, walkways, and sidewalks. Take care though . . . boiling water will kill any plant it comes in contact with as well as the underground roots of nearby plants.

Salt. Salt (any type will do) is a serious plant killer. You can sprinkle just a small bit at the base of a weed to get rid of, but then the soil will become unsuitable for future plant growth. It's best to use salt on gravel walkways and driveways (just sprinkle it on) to keep anything from growing there for several months. Avoid using salt on concrete because salt erodes concrete surfaces.

Vinegar. Spraying vinegar directly on weeds will kill the leaves and cause them to shrivel up within a few days. Young weedlings will likely die all together, but more established weeds will need to be sprayed a few times before being completely eliminated. Avoid spraying vinegar directly on the soil since it also kills beneficial microorganisms which would ruin the soil for any future plant growth.

Rubbing Alcohol. Rubbing alcohol can be used the same way as vinegar. It too can ruin the soil, so make sure to only spray the leaves of the weed.

Soap. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap to any of the above ingredients to make it more effective. The soap breaks down the surface of the plant boosting the weed killer's absorption and thus its ability to do damage.

A Combination. Your best bet is a combination of ingredients. Mix a gallon of vinegar with one cup of salt and two tablespoons of dish soap. Spray this combination directly onto weeds or pour on entire areas where you want to eliminate plants completely.

Finally, you have two additional options for dealing with weeds. One: If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em. Common weeds such as dandelions, purlsane, chicory, and violet are all safe to eat. Two: If you can't beat ‘em, enjoy ‘em. Accept weeds as part of nature. As A.A. Milne put it, “Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.”

Turning Your Yard Into a Wildlife Habitat

Whether you have a small spot on a porch or deck, a community garden lot, or acres of land, you can create a beautiful garden that provides food, water and shelter to local wildlife. Your wildlife habitat can be your own simple pleasure or you can boast a bit and encourage others around you to follow your green footsteps by becoming a certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation.

Here are the basics of a Wildlife-Friendly Garden:

Food. Planting native plants is the easiest way to provide the nectar, leafs, seeds, and nuts local wildlife needs. You can also supplement with elements like squirrel and bird feeders.

Water. Wildlife needs clean water to drink and bathe. If you are not near a natural water source such as a pond, lake, or wetlands, you can provide an artificial one like a bird bath, puddling areas (for butterflies), or rain garden.

Shelter. Wildlife needs a place to hide from people, predators, and bad weather. Little critters also need a place to raise offspring. Dense shrubs, thicket, rock piles, and birdhouses are a few options for shelters you can include in your wildlife habitat.

Keeping it green. Using Green Gardening practices will keep soil, air, and water clean and safe for local wildlife (not to mention you and your family).

Once you have these basic elements of a wildlife habitat, you can apply to be part of the National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat program. For $20 you get a personalized certificate, a one-year subscription to National Wildlife magazine, 10% off all NWF catalog merchandise, a subscription to Wildlife Online — Habitats (a quarterly gardening and wildlife e-newsletter), an optional press release for your local newspaper announcing your certification, your name listed in NWF's registry of certified habitats, and the opportunity to purchase a Certified Wildlife Habitat yard sign (see picture below).

Natural Pest Control

Pests can cause trouble both inside and outside your home, but the last thing you want to do is expose yourself and your family to the noxious chemicals most commercial pest control products contain. The simplest, and not to mention cheapest and healthiest, thing to do is use natural methods to eliminate pests. Here's how.

First, remember that prevention is the best form of pest control. Sweep up crumbs, vacuum, and wash dishes before they attract any unwanted guests.

If no matter how tidy you keep things the ants keep marching in, try one of these ideas:

• Mix 1 or 2 tablespoons of liquid soap with a quart of water in a spray bottle and spray the ants. This concentration is safe enough to use on plants. 
• Place bay leaves, cloves, lemon juice, cinnamon, coffee grounds or cayenne pepper at the ants' point of entry. All these produce odors found offensive by acute-smelling ants. 
• Mix borax and sugar (so the ants will bring the borax back to their nests) and sprinkle along the ants' trails. 
• A spritz of vinegar will eliminate ants' scent trail, so go ahead and give an extra spray while cleaning green. 
• Sprinkle baby or talcum powder on the ants, their scent trail, and at their point of entry. 

If your problem is fruit flies, start by taking care of how you store your fruit. Fruit flies lay their eggs in overripe fruit, so store any fruit about to become overly ripe in the refrigerator. Then try the following:

• Leave out a glass of either apple cider vinegar or white wine (fruit flies apparently like both) with a bit of detergent mixed in. The flies will die shortly after taking a drink. 
• To make your own fly paper, boil together water, sugar, and corn syrup and spread the mixture on heavy paper or cardboard. Leave the traps out where the flies tend to congregate and they'll soon be stuck. 
• Fruit flies don't like basil, so try keeping a basil plant in your problem area or spray a mix of basil oil and water around your kitchen. 

If you're pestered by mosquitoes, start by removing any sources of standing water. Change the water in birdbaths, fountains, and any other garden water features at least twice a week. Then try the following repellents:

• Mosquitoes dislike the scent of marigolds, lemongrass, rosemary, mint, and clove. Incorporate some of these plants in the outdoor areas you use the most. 
• Mosquitoes also dislike lavender so try using its essential oil on your skin and/or keeping the fragrant plant in your favorite outdoor areas. 
• A dab of vanilla extract on your pulse points can also help keep mosquitoes at bay. 

If you do happen to get stung, try one of these all natural bug bite remedies.

If you have a wasp problem, you can create a simple and effective trap with an old soda bottle. Cut off the top third of a 2-liter bottle. Turn the cut off top over and place it into the rest of the bottle so the bottle neck is facing downward. Use tape or a stapler to firmly and tightly attach the bottle neck to the rest of the bottle. Fill the bottom of the bottle with soda, fruit juice, or jam. Wasps will enter the bottle and become trapped. Clean and refill the trap daily until there are no more wasps.

Slugs can be a gardener's nightmare. Any tactic used to eliminate slugs must be safe enough to use on the plants they love to munch. Your best bet may, believe it or not, be beer. Place a few small bowls (or tuna cans or pie plates) of stale beer in the areas of the garden where the slugs are most active. The slugs will crawl in and drown. The trick is to make sure the container is pushed into the soil enough so that the beer is about an inch lower than the soil. The slugs must fall in and be unable to get out, not just take a sip, get buzzed, and keep on eating your plants. You can also create a slug trap with fruit rinds. Start by cutting a grapefruit, orange, or lemon in half and scooping out the flesh so only the rind remains. Place the rind, skin side up, where slugs are most apparent. Let the rind sit overnight. Then lift the rind and dispose of the slugs you find underneath. Repeat this process until there are no more slugs.

Here are a couple all-purpose garden pest repellents:

• Mix one or two crushed garlic cloves, a teaspoon of chili powder, a tablespoon of dish soap, and a cup of water. Spray the mixture anywhere flies, aphids, and beetles are bothersome. This solution is safe enough to be sprayed directly on plants. 
• A simple mix of dish soap and water (about a tablespoon of soap to a gallon of water) sprayed directly on pests can help take care of aphids, mites, and thrips. 

As for mammal and bird pests, red pepper spray makes plants less palatable. Mix cayenne pepper or Tabasco sauce with water and a teaspoon of dish soap (dish soap helps remedies stick to plant leafs) and spray any areas being damaged by squirrels, mice, rabbits, deer, or birds.

Gardening Green

Spring has finally arrived. Time to start daydreaming about the simple joys of warm weather . . . walking barefoot through luscious, green grass or picking fresh veggies from the garden to prepare for dinner. But what defenses do we have against the insects, weeds, and drought that can keep these dreams from reality? Don’t load up on the chemical pesticides and fertilizers just yet. With some careful planning and a little hard work anyone can grow a healthy and organic lawn and garden.

A lot of people are quick to apply chemical pesticides at the first sign of trouble. Some may even use them as a preventative measure. Yet exposure to pesticides has been linked to various health problems, including cancer, birth defects, lymphoma, and ADHD and other neurological development problems in children. Plus, there is no law requiring companies to test lawn pesticides with the same standards as pesticides used on commercially-grown food. In addition to their health risks, pesticides contaminate air, water, and soil, endangering plants and animals as well.

So what’s the safer alternative to chemical pesticides? Start by planting native species whenever possible. Native plants are better suited for persevering against the weeds and pests of the local area. You can also seek out plants that attract pest-eating insects like bees and ladybugs. A few options are thyme, rosemary, parsley, mint, peonies, and daisies. Allowing carrots, broccoli, or cabbage to grow to flower also helps attract predator insects.

If pest insects are still a problem, there are a variety of natural repellents that can deter them before they have a chance to get comfortable. Natural repellents that use either a citrus oil, pepper, or garlic base are safe to use and very effective.

When it comes to weeds, the best way to avoid them is to provide your plants with optimal soil conditions. Make sure to aerate soil before planting. A great alternative to laying plastic down around plants to block weeds is to use newspaper. It is organic, can be turned into the soil the following spring, and is less expensive than plastic. For an all natural and safe pre-emergent weed killer try corn gluten meal. It has been shown to inhibit the growth of dandelions, crabgrass, and several other annual weeds.

Any weeds that make it past your initial lines of defense can be taken care of by hand or with a hoe or spade. While you’re at it, prune those plants (always back to the main branch) to keep them strong. If you can’t bend down or simply don’t feel like it, invest in one of the many tools available for removing weeds by their roots. If you still feel like you need to apply a weed killer, seek out an organic herbicide.

How you mow your lawn can have a major impact on its health. By mulch-cutting and leaving the clippings on the lawn you provide a great source of nitrogen to your grass. Also, cutting high is very beneficial. A lot of weeds are simply choked out and the lawn’s root system develops to become more drought-resistant and hardy. Finally, by keeping your lawn mower blade sharp you make clean cuts leaving fewer openings for disease and insect infestations.

When it comes to feeding your lawn and garden, nothing is better than the all natural fertilizer you create by composting. Combining organic waste like yard clippings, food scraps, and dry leaves in a compost bin creates an organic fertilizer that enriches soil, suppresses plant disease and pests, promotes plant production, and helps soil retain moisture. Compost has even been proven to revitalize contaminated soil. It absorbs VOCs, pesticides, and other chemicals, preventing them from migrating to water resources or being absorbed by plants. Composting keeps waste out of landfills and can reduce the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides. It is also less expensive than commercial fertilizer.

When it comes to watering your plants, you may want to consider a rain barrel. A rain barrel is a container designed to capture and store rainwater coming off a roof, usually attached to a downspout. Using rain barrel water to water your lawn and garden and even wash your car will reduce your water bill and reduce the amount of pollutants pouring into local storm water systems. Plants grow better with natural water compared to water treated with chlorine and fluoride. Plus, drinking water is a precious commodity. By using rain barrels, you'll be conserving it instead of dumping it on your yard. The water required to produce just 1 cup of coffee can fill one 50 gallon rain barrel. Rain barrels can be homemade or purchased pre-assembled or as a kit for $50 to $200.

With some careful planning and a little hard work anyone can grow a successful, organic lawn and garden. May the warm weather be with you!




Compost bin from local DPW.



Hand-me-down compost bin.



Homemade rain barrel.

The ABCs of Being Green

It's back-to-school time. So, here's a quick refresher on the ABCs of Being Green to help you make this upcoming school year the greenest yet.

Always remember the three Rs . . . Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Every piece of advice about being green resonates back to at least one of these basic tenets.

Bike or ride the Bus instead of driving.

Clean green with homemade cleaning solutions made from simple and natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide.

Donate goods you can’t recycle or sell. Freecycle is a great online nonprofit that helps you to donate to people in your community.

Eat produce from the Environmental Working Group’s 15 Cleanest Fruits and Vegetables in place of produce from the Dirty Dozen list.

Filter your tap water with a home filtration system instead of buying bottled water.

Go outside! Turn off the TV and video games and let your kids explore outdoors. Check out state and national parks in your area and the variety of family friendly activities most of them offer.

Hit the local library or used book store for books, CDs, and DVDs instead of buying them new.

Install timers to automatically adjust your thermostat when you’re sleeping and out of the house.

Juice up your cell phone with a car charger. Or, when using the computer, charge your phone using the USB port. Both options will save energy compared to using a wall plug.

Keep rain water for a variety of non-potable uses, such as watering plants or washing your car, by installing a rain barrel.

Launder your clothes with ½ to ¾ of the manufacturer’s suggested amount. You’ll cut down on waste and get your clothes cleaner.

Make the most of each car trip by combining as many errands as you can. Save time and gas.

Nurture your skin with personal care products that are safe for your health and the environment.

Opt for energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs.

Purchase energy-efficient appliances to replace your old ones as they wear out.

Quit topping off your gas tank. It’s bad for your health and the environment.

Recharge your batteries (you’ll, of course, have to buy the rechargeable kind) instead of using disposable batteries.

Shower instead of taking baths. Try to keep it to 5 to 10 minutes.

Toss food scrapes and yard refuse into a compost bin to make your own organic, nutrient-rich fertilizer.

Utilize what you already have before buying anything new. Don’t just “shop your closet”. Shop your entire home. Go a step further and organize a swap (of clothes, shoes, and accessories; or home goods; or kid toys; or books and movies) with your friends.

Visit farmers’ markets in your area and support local farmers while getting super-fresh, locally-produced food.

Wash with fragrance-free soap. Opt for fragrance-free body wash, hand soap, shampoo, and moisturizer to avoid chemicals that are harmful to your health and the environment.

X April 22nd on your calendar. It’s Earth Day. Volunteer for events organized in your community. Can’t find any organized volunteer opportunities in your area? Get together with friends for a community clean-up of your own.

Yank out your stash of reusable shopping bags whenever you go shopping.

Zap away less energy by unplugging appliances, like toasters and coffeemakers, when they’re not in use. “Standby usage” accounts for anywhere from 6% to 26% of a homes' electricity use.

Natural Pest Control

Pests. They can cause trouble both inside and outside your home. But the last thing you want to do is expose yourself and your family to the noxious chemicals most commercial pest control products contain. The simplest, and not to mention cheapest and healthiest, thing to do is use natural methods to eliminate pests. Here's how.

First, remember that prevention is the best form of pest control. Sweep up crumbs, vacuum, and wash dishes before they attract any unwanted guests.

If no matter how tidy you keep things the ants keep marching in, try one of these ideas:

• Mix 1 or 2 tablespoons of liquid soap with a quart of water in a spray bottle and spray the ants. This concentration is safe enough to use on plants.
• Place bay leaves, cloves, lemon juice, cinnamon, coffee grounds or cayenne pepper at the ants' point of entry. All these produce odors found offensive by acute-smelling ants.
• Mix borax and sugar (so the ants will bring the borax back to their nests) and sprinkle along the ants' trails.
• A spritz of vinegar will eliminate ants' scent trail, so go ahead and give an extra spray while cleaning green.
• Sprinkle baby or talcum powder on the ants, their scent trail, and at their point of entry.

If your problem is fruit flies, start by taking care of how you store your fruit. Fruit flies lay their eggs in overripe fruit, so store any fruit about to become overly ripe in the refrigerator. Then, try the following:

• Leave out a glass of either apple cider vinegar or white wine (fruit flies apparently like both) with a bit of detergent mixed in. The flies will die shortly after taking a drink.
• To make your own fly paper, boil together water, sugar, and corn syrup and spread the mixture on heavy paper or cardboard. Leave the traps out where the flies tend to congregate and they'll soon be stuck.
• Fruit flies don't like basil, so try keeping a basil plant in your problem area or spray a mix of basil oil and water around your kitchen.

If you're pestered by mosquitoes, start by removing any sources of standing water. Change the water in birdbaths, fountains, and any other garden water features at least twice a week. Then, try the following repellents.

• Mosquitoes dislike the scent of marigolds, lemongrass, rosemary, mint, and clove. Incorporate some of these plants in the outdoor areas you use the most.
• Mosquitoes also dislike lavender so try using its essential oil on your skin and/or keeping the fragrant plant in your favorite outdoor areas.
• A dab of vanilla extract on your pulse points can also help keep mosquitoes at bay.

If you do happen to get stung, try one of these all natural bug bite remedies. 

If you have a wasp problem, you can create a simple and effective trap with an old soda bottle. Cut off the top third of a 2-liter bottle. Turn the cut off top over and place it into the rest of the bottle so the bottle neck is facing downward. Use tape or a stapler to firmly and tightly attach the bottle neck to to the rest of the bottle. Fill the bottom of the bottle with soda, fruit juice, or jam. Wasps will enter the bottle and become trapped. Clean and refill the trap daily until there are no more wasps.

Slugs can be a gardener's nightmare. Any tactic used to eliminate slugs must be safe enough to use on the plants they love to munch.

• Your best bet may, believe it or not, be beer. Place a few small bowls (or tuna cans or pie plates) of stale beer in the areas of the garden where the slugs are most active. The slugs will crawl in and drown. The trick is to make sure the container is pushed into the soil enough so that the beer is about an inch lower than the soil. The slugs must fall in and be unable to get out, not just take a sip, get buzzed, and keep on eating your plants.
• You can also create a slug trap with fruit rinds. Start by cutting a grapefruit, orange, or lemon in half and scooping out the flesh so only the rind remains. Place the rind, skin side up, where slugs are most apparent. Let the rind sit overnight. Then, lift the rind and dispose of the slugs you find underneath. Repeat this process until there are no more slugs.

Here are a couple all-purpose garden pest repellents. 

• Mix one or two crushed garlic cloves, a teaspoon of chili powder, a tablespoon of dish soap, and a cup of water. Spray the mixture anywhere flies, aphids, and beetles are bothersome. This solution is safe enough to be sprayed directly on plants.
• A simple mix of dish soap and water (about a tablespoon of soap to a gallon of water) sprayed directly on pests can help take care of aphids, mites, and thrips.

As for mammal and bird pests, red pepper spray makes plants less palatable. Mix cayenne pepper or Tabasco sauce with water and a teaspoon of dish soap (dish soap helps remedies stick to plant leafs) and spray any areas being damaged by squirrels, mice, rabbits, deer, or birds.

Quick Start Guide to Going Green

Being green is good not only for the environment but your health and your wallet as well. Seeing as there’s so much benefit, you probably want to get right on it. Here’s a quick start guide to getting green:

Clean Green. Ditch those expensive, smelly, chemical-laden cleaning products in favor of cheap, non-toxic solutions you can make right at home. Put distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle to create an all-purpose cleaner you can use on glass, mirrors, doorknobs, appliances, counter tops (just avoid using it on marble), toilets, showers, and bathtubs. Add a little baking soda for extra scrubbing power. Spray your kitchen countertops with undiluted vinegar and then 3% hydrogen peroxide to disinfect. This combination is as effective as bleach at killing bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella, but is safe enough to use on produce without so much as an aftertaste. As for your wood furniture, just mix two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice and apply it to your furniture using a soft cloth. You’ll save money on cleaning supplies, keep the plastic bottles they come in out of our landfills, and avoid harsh chemicals (many of which are known carcinogens) that can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritations.

Drink Green. By using a faucet-mounted water filter you can save money previously spent on bottled water (which is often no cleaner than tap water), cut down on plastic bottles, and improve the smell and taste of your drinking water by removing chlorine and bacterial contaminants. Drinking enough water every day is essential for staying healthy If you have a ready supply of clean, good-tasting, inexpensive water, you will be more likely to drink those recommended 8 to 10 cups a day.

Travel Green. Choosing to walk or bike in place of driving will save gas money, prevent ozone-depleting exhaust, and benefit your heart health. Public transit is another green, wallet-friendly option.

Eat Green. Buying only organic produce is not an option for anyone and knowing which organic produce is worth the extra cost can be confusing. The Environmental Working Group offers a great resource with its annual “Dirty Dozen” list of the 12 conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides, along with a list of the 15 cleanest fruits and vegetables. According to the EWG, you can lower your pesticide consumption by nearly four-fifths by avoiding the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables and instead eating the least contaminated produce. You can print out a wallet-size list or download the iPhone app at http://www.foodnews.org/. You will spend your grocery money more wisely, send a message to the food industry about how you want your food grown, and cut harmful pesticides from your diet.

Garden Green. No food tastes better than the one you grow yourself. Pick up a compost bin from Home Depot, Target, Sears, or possible even your town’s Department of Public Works, and you are well on your way to growing your own organic produce. Using compost you create from food scraps and yard waste keeps organic materials out of landfills, saves you money on commercial fertilizers, and nurtures your soil for growing diet-healthy vegetables.

Natural Ways to Avoid and Eliminate Weeds

Gardening can be hard but extremely rewarding work. No one wants to see the fruits of their labor overrun by weeds. There are natural alternatives to chemical weed killers though.

First, focus on getting your lawn and garden as healthy as possible. The more healthy plants you have and the thicker your grass, the less room there is for weeds. Make sure to plant native species whenever possible. Native plants are better suited for persevering against the weeds of the local area. Then provide your plants with optimal soil conditions. Aerate soil before planting and fertilize with compost. Lay down newspaper to block weeds – it's organic, can be turned into the soil the following spring, and is less expensive than plastic. Strengthen your lawn by mulch-cutting and leaving the clippings (they're a great source of nitrogen) on the grass. And make sure to cut high – weeds get choked out and the lawn’s root system becomes hardier. For an all natural and safe pre-emergent weed killer try corn gluten meal. It has been shown to inhibit the growth of dandelions, crabgrass and several other annual weeds.

Even if you take every preventative measure, there's always at least a few weeds bound to show up. Start with the cheapest, most natural weed killer – your own hands. Pull weeds by hand or with a hoe or spade. There are also several different tools available to make removing weeds by their roots easier. Some other all natural weed killers to consider:

• Boiling water. Pour boiling water (you can re-purpose cooking water) on a weed and it will shrivel up within a couple days. This is a great way to clear a grouping of weeds popping out of or around driveways, walkways, and sidewalks. Take care though . . . boiling water will kill any plant it comes in contact with as well as the underground roots of nearby plants.
• Salt. Salt (any type will do) is a serious plant killer. You can sprinkle just a small bit at the base of a weed to get rid of, but then the soil will become unsuitable for future plant growth. It's best to use salt on gravel walkways and driveways (just sprinkle it on) to keep anything from growing there for several months. Avoid using salt on concrete because salt erodes concrete surfaces.
• Vinegar. Spraying vinegar directly on weeds will kill the leaves and cause them to shrivel up within a few days. Young weedlings will likely die all together, but more established weeds will need to be sprayed a few times before being completely eliminated. Avoid spraying vinegar directly on the soil since it also kills beneficial microorganisms which would ruin the soil for any future plant growth.
• Rubbing Alcohol. Rubbing alcohol can be used the same way as vinegar. It too can ruin the soil, so make sure to only spray the leaves of the weed.
• Soap. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap to any of the above ingredients to make it more effective. The soap breaks down the surface of the plant boosting the weed killer's absorption and thus its ability to do damage.
• A Combination. Your best bet is a combination of ingredients. Mix a gallon of vinegar with one cup of salt and two tablespoons of dish soap. Spray this combination directly onto weeds or pour on entire areas where you want to eliminate plants completely.

Finally, you have two additional options for dealing with weeds. One: If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em. Common weeds such as dandelions, purlsane, chicory, and violet are all safe to eat and are actually quite tasty. Click here to learn more. Two: If you can't beat ‘em, enjoy ‘em. Accept weeds as part of nature. As A.A. Milne put it, “Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.”

Creating a Wildlife Habitat

Whether you have a small spot on a porch or deck, a community garden lot, or acres of land, you can create a beautiful garden that provides food, water and shelter to local wildlife. Your wildlife habitat can be your own simple pleasure or you can boast a bit and encourage others around you to follow your green footsteps by becoming a certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation.

Here are the basics of a Wildlife-Friendly Garden:

Food. Planting native plants is the easiest way to provide the leafs, nectar, seeds, and nuts local wildlife needs. You can also supplement with elements like squirrel and bird feeders.

Water. Wildlife needs clean water to drink and bathe. If you are not near a natural water source such as a pond, lake, or wetlands, you can provide an artificial one like a bird bath, puddling areas (for butterflies), or rain garden.

Shelter. Wildlife needs a place to hide from people, predators and bad weather. Little critters also need a place to raise offspring. Dense shrubs, thicket, rock piles, and birdhouses are a few options for shelters you can include in your wildlife habitat.

And don't forget . . . practicing Green Gardening methods will keep soil, air, and water clean and safe for local wildlife (not to mention you and your family).

Once you have these basic elements of a wildlife habitat, you can apply to be part of the National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat program. For $20 you get a personalized certificate, a year's subscription to National Wildlife magazine, 10% off NWF catalog purchases, a subscription to Habitats (a quarterly gardening and wildlife e-newsletter), your name listed in NWF's registry of certified habitats, and the opportunity to purchase a Certified Wildlife Habitat (see picture below) yard sign.

Now get out and enjoy that wildlife!

Decline of The Butterfly

The world butterfly population is on an ominous decline. Many butterfly species are on the verge of becoming or have already become extinct. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated 23 species in the country as endangered or threatened.

The declining butterfly population is a more serious problem than many people realize. Butterflies are an important part of the ecosystem. They play the critical role of pollinator in plant reproduction. Plus, their extinction upsets the natural order of the food chain.

The decrease in the global number of butterflies is also an indication of some much greater problems going on in the world today. Some of the factors contributing to the declining butterfly population include the destruction of their natural habitat due to real estate development (about 6,000 acres a day), deforestation, global warming, and the widespread use of pesticides (especially those used for genetically modified crops).

There are now several organization dedicated to preserving butterfly populations. Many groups focus on restoring habitats, but some scientists are going as far as raising butterflies in captivity to be reintroduced back into their natural habitats.

One of the best known groups dedicated to the plight of the disappearing butterfly is Monarch Watch. In 2005 the group launched its Monarch Waystation program to encourage individuals, businesses, and local governments to plant indigenous milkweed in gardens, parks, zoos, and nature centers and around schools, businesses, roads and other unused plots of land. Milkweed is vital to butterflies. Female butterflies lay their eggs on its stems and leaves, and when the caterpillars hatch they feed exclusively on milkweed. Monarch Watch has already helped establish more than 1,000 waystations in 43 states. To learn more, visit http://monarchwatch.org/.

Even if you don't plant an official waystation, milkweed is always a great addition to a garden. Your flowers, and the butterflies, will thank you.