Happy Earth Day, everyone. I thought today would be an excellent opportunity to talk about tips for being green/greener in the garden. Here are just a few I’ve thought of to get the conversation started.
- Put the right plant in the right place. A plant that requires lots of water and nutrients isn’t the best in a spot that receives little rain and has poor soil. Save yourself trouble of hauling water and amending soil by properly matching the plant and its requirements to its conditions.
- Too much rain and it’s all being diverted into the gutters? Install a rain garden—a depression in the lawn or yard that will catch and hold excess water. Water-tolerant plants within this depression will help take up excess water. The depression will also let the water recharge the water table below, and will give extra surface area from which the water can evaporate.
- Lawns: Water deeply and infrequently, and let them get a bit shaggy. The deep watering will draw roots downward where they have a better chance of finding water in dry periods. And kept at a 3-in. trim, the taller grass will shade the soil surface, preventing it from drying out as quickly.
- Add nutrients with compost tea. Brewed from compost that is rich with nutrients and beneficial micobes, compost tea can give your plants an energy and immunity boost.
- Plantable pots. Not all nursery pot plastics are recyclable in all areas. Luckily more and more garden centers are offering plants in pots that you can actually plant in the ground! This will biodegrade with time (some longer than others). So if your community doesn’t recycle nursery pots, pitch the plastic and ask for the plantables.
Any other suggestions? I’m sure there are plenty.
