In The Garden

1. Consider a new tradition for the holiday season: decorate a potted living tree that can be planted outdoors in the spring.
2. Compost yard wastes, food scraps and other organic material - it's a cheap and easy way to reduce waste.
3. Use leaves as mulch to provide insulation for shrubs and perennials by raking leaves around the plants in the fall.
4. Leave grass clippings on your lawn. "Grasscycling" provides nutrients and promotes healthy soil. So save time and energy: don't rake and bag clippings.
5. Don't use chemicals in your garden. Lawn and garden pesticides are harmful to humans and pollute our environment.