Do Your Dirty Work: Tips on Soil Conservation

You don't have to be a Republican to be conservative. Be you elephant, donkey or other, we should all be concerned with keeping our land as beautiful and fertile as possible.

As homeowners become more environmentally conscious, there are more concerns about how to make properties eco-friendly. Soil conservation is a way to both help the environment and maintain the appearance (and value) of a home.

Soil Erosion around the Home
While soil erosion is often thought of as an agricultural problem, it can have serious impacts on residential areas as well. Soil erosion is responsible for a large percentage of the pollution found in rivers, lakes, and streams. Homeowners should be aware of the impact they themselves can make on this growing problem.

The best way for individuals to prevent soil erosion is to make sure that soil on their property is covered. This includes land that is covered by either a structure or some sort of vegetation. If your lawn is bare or patchy, it is much more likely to be affected by wind or water erosion. When making improvements to a house, there is often a need to keep stockpile of extra soil. This should be covered with a tarp that is weighed down to prevent wind or water from carrying it off. If a creek or stream crosses your property, you can have an even larger impact. Near a stream, plants that are fond of water not only prevent soil erosion (by binding the soil with their roots), but also provide homes and food for local fauna. In dry climates, planting trees can beautify your property and decrease soil erosion by blocking wind.

Soil Conservation and Native Plants
The roots of native flora are designed for that particular soil, and are better at resisting the stresses of that area. Planting native species is a good idea (environmentally and financially) for people looking to accent their landscape. A native plant requires less time to flourish because it is already tuned to the nutrients found in that area's soil. They will require less fertilizer, so there will be less need to change the soil's natural chemical makeup. Soil that has been chemically changed will, over time, have difficulty sustaining plants as well as animals (such as earthworms) that keep the soil healthy. Native plants should be able to subsist on natural rainfall, decreasing the amount of overall water consumption needed to keep a property looking alive and green.

Lawn Care Options
Healthy soil is rich in nutrients and free of harmful chemicals. There are a number of small changes homeowners can make to increase conservation in their own backyard.

Start a compost pile—it reduces waste and provides a natural (and free) fertilizer

Use physical tactics (like pulling weeds by hand) instead of chemicals

Remove any diseased plants to reduce the risk of that disease spreading

Restrict watering to times when there is no direct sunlight to decrease evaporation

Know your enemy—keep a close watch on what is doing the damage and deal with it accordingly

Jon Nunan is a freelance writer who draws on his experience in construction, ranging from landscaping to log home building, for his articles on home improvement.