You probably never thought that your garden could be greener, without adding more water. But these days everyone’s talking about eco-friendly ideas, and yes, your home garden can be part of the solution. The most obvious eco-element is trees, of course. Not only do trees add shade and remove carbon dioxide from the air while producing oxygen, they also help prevent soil erosion.

Planting fruit trees and vegetable gardens also adds to local food sustainability. You can hand pick apples and lettuce from your own yard instead of buying fruit that was shipped thousands of miles to get to your plate. Fresh, locally grown food will have a higher nutritional content than food that was picked and then shipped, and you know which chemicals, if any, it’s been treated with. If you can’t eat the entire harvest yourself or don’t have time to pick it all, offer your trees to local food banks or a deserving friend.

Consider adding native plants to your garden. Using non-invasive species can attract (or repel) wildlife and birds, resist fires and be designed specifically for areas prone to flooding or drought. This is especially important for chronically dry areas facing regular water restrictions but as the national population increases, water use will become a bigger issue in all communities.

Done right, landscaping can reduce your air conditioning bills and cut access noise. Using shrubbery to shade your windows or cut chilly winds means you can lay off the thermostat, saving you fuel and money.

Fresh mulch will suffocate weeds, make your garden easier to handle and keep the soil moist. This cuts down on water use and cut down on the need for harmful chemicals to the environment. There are a number of different types of mulch available including bark or wood chips, newspaper, sawdust, grass clippings, hay and straw. These are natural, biodegradable materials and may be otherwise considered a waste product.

Many cities are already thinking about banning pesticides; why not ban them from your yard? Consider letting some of the pests be, and investigate natural pest control for the critters you absolutely can’t live with. Your yard will be safer for all the bugs, birds, children and pets that visit it.

Start a compost to fertilize your garden. Not only will this reduce your household waste and return nutrients to the soil (composting is Mother Nature’s recycling), your fantastic, healthy plants will be the envy of the neighborhood. It doesn’t take much to green your garden - just a fresh way of looking at things and you’re on your way.

Resource Box: Joe Pinto is one of the top-producing agents in the Chicago real estate industry. With over 10 years of experience, Joe brings professionalism and hard work to help you in the sale or purchase of Chicago condos. For more information, visit Joe at ChicagoHomeEstates.com