This is by far the most beautiful time of year in the Hudson Valley Region. The bright fall color and the crisp cool air make it a perfect time to outline our fall gardening chores and implement more environmentally friendly applications in our yard. This new and better gardening approach is less time consuming, easier and a lot more fun. Before we begin ripping and tearing at the earth, let’s take a hike. Yes, a brisk walk in the woods and through some meadows to observe and study mother-nature in some of her more natural settings. It’s time for us to use nature as our guide and understand her rhythms and rules. By working within “nature’s envelope” our frustrations will turn to glee and we will finally be on the right path.

Here are a few shortcuts through the woods:

By keeping our property in a more natural setting, these natural woodlands and meadows help sustain a cleaner environment. This practice creates a natural filter for rain water and environmental pollutants. A natural setting is more wildlife friendly. What better way to teach our children to respect the natural environment when it’s right outside our windows and in our yards.

Lawns are beautiful, but let’s face it, they are much too big. I love my organic lawn. If you’re still working with what I call a “chemical lawn”, it’s time to make the big change. These chemical lawns cost more money to fertilize and mow each season. The chemicals leach into our water table and can create a toxic situation for us, our pets and our wild friends. Taking a more natural approach to our lawn maintenance will help clean up our environment and save us enough money to perhaps take a vacation or go out to dinner more often. I like that change. If we are mowing 3 acres, cut it back to 1 acre and turn the other 2 acres into a meadow. That alone will make our property more wildlife friendly. Changing the mowing height from 2 to 3 or 4 inches will create a healthier lawn and it will be more drought tolerant. Over seed heavy this time of year to thicken up the lawn and get rid of the bare spots. Leaving the grass clippings on the lawn puts natural nitrogen back into the soil.

Save your leaves in a composted area after jumping and rolling around in the piles with the kids and the dogs. Decomposed leaves make some of the best compost and mulch in most gardens. By using a mix of decomposed leaves, straight compost, some shredded-bark and natural chips, we are mimicking the natural plant cycle in the woods. This process has been going on for thousands of years so why change it. This natural mulch breaks down in the soil and creates a healthier more fertile soil.

Start planting native trees, shrubs and perennials over exotic species. Native plants have adapted to our soil and climate. The local wildlife depends on these natives for survival. An example of this relationship is the (Cornus racemosa) Gray-Twig Dogwood berry. This berry is so rich in protein many of our migrating birds wouldn’t make it across the Chesapeake Bay without it in their diet.

Why a more natural approach to gardening you may ask? By using a more environmental approach the garden will require less maintenance, watering, will become more wildlife friendly, and will save us time and money. Native plants are generally more deer resistant and if heavily browsed, tend to bounce back more quickly. Most important, we are helping to sustain a cleaner, more livable environment for future generations. Let’s do it for our kids. So think about taking a long hike in the woods today and don’t forget to bring the dogs.