When you’re thinking about being kind to the environment, you’re probably drumming up images of the great outdoors in places like natural parks and neighborhood trails. But what about the great outdoors in your backyard?

While you may not see the negative impacts of littering or pollution outside your window, that doesn’t mean your lawn doesn’t impact the world. In fact, there are plenty of steps you can take to reduce your lawn’s negative impact on the environment. Through careful and considerate landscaping, you can actually reduce the resources your lawn consumes every year and even save a little money while you’re at it.

Consider this – your yard is full of plants. For most of us, the dominant plant in our yard will also be the smallest! Grass is a surprisingly resource-heavy plant to maintain. So what can you do to reduce the impact your grass has on the environment?

First, consider your watering system. Automatic sprinklers are a more efficient way to water your lawn that won’t overuse water like a hose often will.

Even better, start collecting rainwater in bins! A simple rainwater bin will collect a tremendous amount of water that can be used to nourish the plants in your yard.

If you’re really looking to reduce your lawn’s impact on the environment, you could even consider ditching it all together. Grass alternatives are a trendy (and green!) way to cut the resources consumed by your yard. Popular alternatives include rocks, mulch, and even sand. If you have an eye for design, your lawn will look striking and stand out from the crowd with some accent plants and walkways.

Of course, there are many more ways to reduce your lawn’s environmental impact. For more ideas, check out the tips below and more from Hippo, and reference the helpful infographic below!

Find hippo on:

• Twitter
• Facebook