Gardeners are concerned about the environment. Gardeners have used pesticide for decades and are now realizing that many pesticides and insecticides have found their way into our ground water and into our drinking water, so are changing their pest control methods to make their gardens greener. Focus on the environment, sustainability and use recycled materials and techniques. Many gardeners are used to gas powered equipment, heavy fertilization and pesticide use. But today there are many ways the gardener can garden greener.
1. Stop relying on pesticides. Gardeners are used to using pesticides whenever they see a bug on a plant, even if the bug is beneficial. Learn what bugs help the garden. If a bug does not cause serious damage to a plant, do not harm it. Choose plants that are native to your area. Native plants are adapted to your region and can repel pests on their own. They can also provide food for native animals and replace the plant material lost to building development.
2. If you use pest control use organic pesticides. Bacillus Thuringiensis (bt) is an organic pesticide and is non toxic to the environment. If you use a toxic pesticide, use less of it and use the least toxic to the environment. If you use herbicides, stop. Use mulches. Mulch is the best way to reduce weeds and also is recycled into the soil and therefore enriches it.
3. Mow the lawn less. Gasoline powered mowers are polluters. We water and fertilize the lawn so it will grow more and then have to mow it more often. Add more beds to your lawn. Do not get disturbed if you have a few weeds in the lawn. If your lawn is small enough, you can use manual equipment rather than gas powered machinery.
4. Rethink fertilizing. Most gardeners fertilize much more than is needed. Regular fertilizing is important only when container gardening. Vegetable gardens only need moderate fertilizer applications. Better yet, use compost and manures from your own compost heap made from recycled yard waste and kitchen scraps.
5. Leave the leaves. When shrubs or trees drop leaves, either leave them where they are or rake them and put them in the compost heap. That way instead of bagging up the leaves and putting them in the landfill, you can recycle them right back into your garden and save on buying more mulch. Gardening greener is easier than using chemicals. It makes our environment cleaner and our gardens safer.
Don't forget to buy my book, "A Practical Guide to Building and Maintaining your Pond." You can download it here.
And we talk about ponds on my website. If you have questions or answers, join us at pondlady.com
