Make it a priority to live a little bit greener this summer. In many cases, it doesn’t take much time or money to make your yard and outdoor living space a bit more environmentally friendly. It can be as simple as using sustainable building products on your next outdoor project or using a more eco-friendly fertilizer. The key is putting the health of the environment first. Here are a five eco-friendly ways to make your outdoor space look great while reducing impact on the environment at the same time.

Eco-Friendly Fence Upgrade

Upgrade your fencing this summer with a greener alternative to traditional wood or metal. There are four eco-friendly alternatives to traditional fencing, which includes bamboo, composite, hedges and salvaged wood.

Bamboo is a sustainable fencing solution that is both beautiful and durable. Composite fencing is made from a combination of recycled materials, including metals and plastics. Hedges provide privacy and look great when used in place of a fence. Salvaged wood is simply wood fencing reused rather than being thrown out or burned. Salvaged wood often has a beautiful aged look that gives it a one-of-a-kind look.

Start a Compost Pile

Setting up an outdoor compost bin is quick, inexpensive and will actually save you money in the long run. A compost bin can be any container that’s approximately 3x3x3 feet in size or larger. You can also use chicken wire to create a compost bin. Learning how to compost is easy, and it’s one of the most eco-friendly things you can do at home.

Place your compost bin in a shady area, preferably near a water source. Mix “brown” materials – dead leaves, twigs, straw – with “green” materials – grass clippings, plant-based food scraps, coffee grounds – and keep the mixture moist at all times. Within one to three months you’ll have the most nutrient-dense and all-natural fertilizer you’ve ever put on your lawn or garden. You’ll never have to buy fertilizer again!

Switch to Solar

Outdoor lighting can provide spectacular ambient lighting as well as added security. However, it can get expensive to run a large network of electrically powered outdoor lights. This includes both upfront costs to purchase the lights and wiring and the expense of paying higher electricity bills.

Solar lights provide a simple solution. Today, virtually any type of outdoor lighting product comes in a solar variety, including flood lights, walkway lights and lamp posts. Since the sun provides the power, you won’t experience any increase on you next electric bill.

Smarter Sprinkling

Keeping your lawn and garden looking great during the hot summer months requires quite a bit of watering. However, many cities across the country have limitation on watering, especially during very hot days. The solution is to collect your own water.

A rain catch is a simple bucket-like contraption that captures rainwater and stores it until you’re ready to water the grass, flowers or garden. It’s essentially a free way to keep your lawn looking great without using extra city or well water.

Go Furniture Shopping

Dress up your patio or deck area with eco-friendly furniture. Green furniture is constructed out of recycled materials, and it’s often more durable than the traditional patio furniture you currently have. Upgrading your patio furniture is one of the quickest ways to improve the look of your outdoor space.

 Author Bio:

Joe Eitel is a web content writer for Hometown Dumpster Rental, the leading online resource for finding local dumpster rental and junk removal service providers nationwide. Search Hometown’s extensive dumpster rental listings for free and find reputable roll off dumpster rental companies in your area. Also check out the Hometown Dumpster Rental Blog for industry news, tips and tricks.