If the health of the planet is a concern, one of the best ways you can do your part to help the environment is by using responsible and impactful garden strategies in your home garden. Find out how even small gestures can yield important results, just in time for Earth Day.

Cut down on the amount of food waste you dispose of by adopting the at-home practice of composting. It won’t take too long to create nutrient-rich soil that can be given back to the earth and supplement your garden.

Attach a rain barrel to your home’s downspout to collect roof runoff. The "free" water is perfect to reuse in the garden or around the yard. Rain barrels require only a few parts and can easily be assembled yourself — some towns even offer rain barrel programs and will supply you with the barrel and all of the components at low- or no cost!

As much as you might fawn over color-rich bagged mulch, there’s something to be said for using materials from your own environment to keep weeds at bay. Pine needle mulch, autumn leaves, and natural wood chips are all excellent options to use year-round. You may even be able to obtain wood chips free from your local municipality if they take care of clearing fallen trees throughout the community. Which mulch is best for your garden?