These days, there are sustainable practices for just about any activity, from eating to driving to shopping. But have you ever thought about sustainable gardening? Jennifer Miree Cope recommends 5 sustainable gardening practices that you can start today.
These practices are easy to implement, will reduce your carbon footprint, and will also save you money.
1. Conserve Water
Water is quickly becoming a scarce resource, particularly in dry parts of the world. Conservation of water is an important part of sustainability, and that extends to gardening practices.
There are several ways you can conserve water when gardening. One way is simply to measure and be careful. Research how much water your plants need, measure your water, and don’t give your plants more water than they require.
Another good option is to incorporate drought-tolerant plants like shrubs and perennials. These plants not only look great but will help you save water and money.
2. Practice Organic Gardening
While there are plenty of products on the market that do everything from help your plants grow to kill weeds, some of them are not sustainable. Some gardening products are produced using wasteful processes, and the chemicals in them can harm the planet.
To avoid using these chemicals, start with good soil and add natural compost. You can make your own compost or source it from a local partner. If you need a product for killing weeds or pests, there are organic solutions.
3. Recycle Garden “Waste”
When you pull weeds or dead plants or trim your garden, you can end up with a lot of unwanted material. Instead of taking these items to a landfill, you can compost this waste. Clippings, excess soil, and even dried leaves can be turned into fertilizer in a compost pile.
This fertilizer is excellent for your garden and is much more sustainable than using chemical fertilizers. If you can’t use the compost yourself, check if your local community has a yard waste recycling program.
4. Use Native Plants
When you go to choose which plants to incorporate into your garden, make sure to choose plants that are indigenous to your region.
These plants are suited to your climate, soil type, and rainfall levels, so they require less water and maintenance. Planting non-indigenous plants may end up requiring more water, soil, and treatment, making them a far less sustainable option.
5. Grow Your Own Food
Food production is a huge contributor to waste and global warming. Growing your own food is a great way to not only feed your family while saving money but also reduce your carbon footprint.
In order to grow your own food, you’ll need to be sensitive to which foods grow best in which seasons, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll find harvesting from your own garden is satisfying and easy.
About Jennifer Miree Cope
Jennifer Miree Cope is a renowned landscape designer with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. She is known for her landscaping passion and talent, as well as her superb organization and thoroughness. When not designing, Jennifer is often found volunteering for charity, walking her dog, or hiking.
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