Every day is Earth Day at Millcreek Gardens. We believe communing with nature every day is good for the body, mind, soul and Earth. When you shop at Millcreek Gardens, Salt Lake City’s favorite plant nursery, you’re doing your part to keep your corner of the Earth in good shape. On Earth Day, you may volunteer to go out and clean up a green space or plant flowers in a common area, but we have some suggestions for Earth Day activities that will help the Earth year-round.

earth day

Plant a Shade Tree

In Utah’s arid climate, we could all do with more shade. Shade trees give us a deliciously cool place to relax, they provide shelter for delicate plants and depending on their location, may help you save money on your energy bills.

Here at our Salt Lake City tree nursery, we sell hundreds of varieties of shade trees, including maples, mimosas, birches, cedars, willows and more. If you are worried about space and how big your tree will grow, talk to one of our staff members. We can help you select a smaller tree. Many Japanese maples, for instance, only grow to be 10 to 20 feet tall and display beautiful colors in the fall.

When you plant a tree, remember to dig a hole twice as deep as the root ball. Water and fertilize it according to the directions, and consider mulching around the tree as well to help keep it moist.

Use a Rain Barrel

The drought here in Utah and the surrounding areas has been devastating to both wildlife and plants. While conserving water in our homes will not have an immediate effect on the drought, every little bit helps, and if everyone did their part, the difference would be significant. Additionally, forming habits to conserve water whenever possible is always a plus for the environment.

Rain barrels collect rainwater from your gutter system and save it for you to use to water your plants. You can purchase one, but since they are often several hundred dollars, you might want to try to make your own rain barrel.

Plant More Plants and Less Grass

As a Salt Lake City resident, you likely know how hard it is to keep grass thriving here. Anyone who is able to do it is either using a lot of water (which is currently illegal in some areas) or they’re spray painting the grass green (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

Dedicating a lot of your lawn space to grass also means more mowing. There’s a movement across the U.S. to let part — or all — of your lawn grow wild to encourage the bee population to bounce back.

Ask us for recommendations for plants for your yard that aren’t water hogs and don’t require as much maintenance as grass. We can show you a variety of drought-tolerant shrubs and other hardy sun-loving plants.

Show your love for the Earth by coming to Millcreek Gardens this month and make your back yard more beautiful and more sustainable.