It is important that we all do our part to help protect the environment. Most of us are aware of ways to reduce, reuse and recycle items so that we can be more earth-friendly. But, did you know that what we do in our home gardens and landscapes greatly impacts the environment as well? Sustainable practices in the garden are important to our ecosystem and with the following seven garden tips for sustainable living, you can start gardening for the greener good, right away.
Sustainable Gardening Tip #1 – With the monsoon season upon us, you can use rain barrels to collect water for your garden. Not only is rainwater better for your plants, it will help eliminate runoff that will eventually wash silt and pollutants into the local water shed. Utilizing rainwater also cuts down on energy that would be needed to pump water to your home to be used in the garden.
Sustainable Gardening Tip #2 – Select plants that are adaptive to your area and will thrive in the conditions where they will be grown. This includes everything from the climate to sun exposure, and ultimately the amount of rainfall in the particular area where you will be planting your plants. There are many varieties of naturalized plants for Northern Arizona and the experts at Warner’s Nursery are always available to help you determine the best plants to use in the many microclimates of Northern Arizona.
Sustainable Gardening Tip #3 – It’s also important to consider plants that are disease and insect resistant. This will lessen the need to be dependent on artificial insecticides and/or fungicides. Plants such as Potentilla and Russian Sage will do the job!
Sustainable Gardening Tip #4 – You can minimize the use of pesticides by planting specific flowers and plants that will attract pollinator and predator insects that will help control pests and increase production. Marigolds are mighty little flowers that have this natural power.
Sustainable Gardening Tip #5 – The use of organic fertilizers in your garden is a great way to go green. The addition of composted manure and fish emulsion can provide plants with what they need to thrive while not harming the environment.
Sustainable Gardening Tip #6 – If you have a lawn, adopt lawn care practices that will minimize harmful impacts. Mow with an electric mulching mower, or better yet, skip driving to the gym for your workout and mow with a push mower. The use of organic slow release fertilizers is a good sustainable garden practice too.
Sustainable Gardening Tip #7 – And last but not least, you can show your commitment to the greener good by composting. Compiling organic material such as food waste, leaves, grass, twigs and lawn clippings in a bin where they can decompose and then be added to your garden as a soil amendment will help feed and naturally protect your plants. Adding composted material to your soil helps to increase drainage and support microorganisms that are beneficial to your garden. Did you know that the United States creates over a trillion pounds of organic waste that ends up in the landfill each year? Yikes! If we all simply added composting to our sustainable practices, just think of the impact we could make.
I invite you to join us here at Warner’s Nursery and do your part for the greener good and incorporate these garden tips for sustainable living in your garden or landscape.
Happy Gardening! FBN
Written by Misti Warner, Warner’s Nursery in Flagstaff.