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U.S. Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite B
Boise, Idaho 83709

For more information:
Contact:  Jody Fagan, 208.685.6978


CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH BACKYARD CONSERVATION

BOISE—Homeowners can celebrate Earth Day April 22 and every day of the year.

Backyard conservation measures include planting trees and shrubs, saving water through proper lawn irrigation, creating habitat for birds and butterflies, and incorporating native landscaping.

“Whether you live on a large acreage or a small suburban plot, there’s a variety of things you can do to promote clean air, conserve water and provide wildlife habitat,” says Dan Ogle, plant materials specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Boise. “It can be as simple as planting more trees or not over-watering your lawn.”

Tree and Shrub Planting

When planting trees and shrubs, think about:

  • The purpose of your new tree or shrub (shade, privacy, beauty, wildlife habitat), the limitations of your planting site (overhead wires, clay soil, etc.) and selecting species that will best match your needs.
  • Dig the hole at least 1.5 times wider than the rootball.
  • Make sure the trunk is vertical and remove synthetic wrapping materials.
  • Construct a small berm to retain water in the rootball zone.
  • Backfill the hole with loose soil and then saturate to remove air pockets.
  • Spread 1-3 inches of organic mulch but avoid mulching against the trunk.


Lawn Irrigation

  • Lawn irrigation accounts for nearly half of homeowner water usage. Here are some facts:
  • Many homeowners irrigate too often and for too short a period to meet lawn and, especially, tree and shrub needs.
  • Studies show that most lawns only require watering once every 4 to 8 days. Shallow rooted plants result from irrigating every day.
  • Irrigating less often but for longer results in deeper rooted plants and healthier turf.
  • You can determine your lawn watering needs simply by measuring your sprinkler output for 15 minutes and then calculating your watering time (see chart on attached factsheet, “Lawn Irrigation Guide,” or visit www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/).


Wildlife Habitat

Even a small yard can be landscaped to attract birds, butterflies, beneficial insects and small animals. The following includes several steps for creating backyard wildlife habitat:

  • Plant a variety of trees and shrubs including evergreens for year-round cover and fruit-bearing plants for food sources.
  • Fill in with smaller shade-tolerant understory trees and shrubs.
  • Flowering annuals and perennials add color and can be added at any stage to attract birds and butterflies.
  • Avoid landscaping in straight lines and break up large sections of well-manicured lawn. Natural habitat has curves and clumps of vegetation.

 The NRCS Idaho website at www.id.nrcs.usda.gov includes the following resources for Backyard Conservation:

  • Lawn Irrigation Guide
  • Tree Planting Guides
  • Native Landscaping Guide
  • Backyard Conservation Tip Sheets


USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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