One of the catchphrases I hear a lot is garden sustainably. So what is sustainable gardening? The goal of sustainable gardening is to leave our environment as good as or better than we found it. So how do we do that?
Watering
One of the first things we can do is to remember that water is a valuable natural resource. We need to water our plants, but ONLY WHEN THEY NEED IT. The Virginia Cooperative Extension recommends about 1 inch of water per week for established plants and lawns. Use a rain gauge to check how much water Mother Nature gives us when it rains. Don’t guess. Tiny new seedlings will need to be watered more often because they have small roots. Watering early in the day or later in the evening will help keep much of the water from evaporating. Use soaker hoses whenever possible, as they put water on the roots right where you need it, instead of a sprinkler, which can put water anywhere, including the driveway and sidewalk.
Native Plants
Another thing we can do is to introduce native plants in our yard, whenever possible—after all they were here to begin with and are used to our environment and, big plus, they help to make your yard more wildlife friendly.
Plant Edibles
Not only will you and your family be eating fresh and local, but that means that less food will have to be shipped. It not only tastes better but is better for you. Did you know that a lot of produce at the grocery store has traveled thousands of miles to get here? That uses massive amounts of fossil fuels and lots of plastic packaging! If you can’t grow your own for some reason, then shop at a local Famers Market. We can even encourage more humane treatment of animals by buying local free-ranged pasture-raised meats.
Reduce Chemical Impacts
Try to eliminate the chemical impact on your local environment. Use organic insect controls whenever possible. Read the label directions so you thoroughly understand how to use those products. Remember, even most organic products can still kill bees and butterflies so apply just before dark so our pollinators have a chance to go home first. We can also feed with organic fertilizers. There are many good reasons for using organic fertilizers. While chemical fertilizers can give you nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium but plants also need micro-nutrients that are not in chemical fertilizers but are in organic.
Compost and Recycle
Composting and recycling help to reduce the waste products filling our landfills. It can break down into rich soil which can stops harmful greenhouse gases from forming and spoiling our environment.
And enjoy that you’re not only doing what’s better for your garden, but what’s better for your planet.