by Denise Grant, author of The Gardener's Rake
Green Gardening is the new “garden term.” But what does it really mean and why is green gardening important? And how does it differ from organic gardening?
photo credit: The Shane H
Gardening has a valuable purpose of supplying food
and growing plants of all varieties help the environment. But
gardening, even done properly, manipulates nature and changes the
environment. If gardening is poorly planned it can cause erosion. Heavy
chemical use in the garden can harm plants, animals, and the soil and
water. It also will lead to weaker plants.
The easiest way to explain green gardening is
when the gardener works more with nature. It has the same principles as
organic gardening but with green gardening you try to match plants more
with location and often use no dig methods to protect the soils
structure. The less you disturb your soil and backyard garden area the
greener your garden will be. Here are a few steps that will help you
keep your garden environmentally friendly.
The best principal of Green Gardening is “to Keep it Simple”
Selecting your garden site
Your garden needs to be located in an area that
receives 6 to 8 hours of sunlight and that has adequate drainage. You
also need to check the soil and add nutrients if needed. A poor soil
creates sickly plants, which leads to more insects and plant disease.
It’s also important to select plants for your
garden that will grow in the climate that you live in. If you want a
tropical plant but it will not grow in your garden climate consider
having it in a container and on the patio or indoors. You will also
want to plant sun loving plants in the sun and shade loving plants near
buildings or trees for best results and healthy plants. Plants that are
grown in the wrong area and poor soil will require more time to keep
them healthy.
Know your soil.
Have your soil tested so that you understand what
it is made of and what it needs to grow healthy plants and drain well.
You can purchase soil-testing kits at most garden centers. You can
improve your soil by adding nutrients, compost and by using the no-dig or lasagna gardening methods.
Stronger synthetic fertilizers will improve the
soil quicker but they hurt the soil and nature Organic soils building
methods take longer but build a better soil that will only improve over
the years.
Annual flowers or vegetables exhaust the soil
nutrients faster than other plants so you will need supplemental
feeding during the growing season. Again you can find natural organic
fertilizers but natural methods are preferred for green gardening and
over extended time.
Organic matter, compost, and mulch will all add
nutrients to your soil and build your soil from year to year. And side
dressing your gardens adds the extra boost during the growing season
for your flowers and vegetables.
My soil is a heavy clay base. I always keep
mulch on my ground and work it in at the end of every growing season.
This practice alone has dramatically improved my soil and drainage.
I also have used no chemicals on my land in at
least 12 years. I live too close to a creek to take the chance of any
chemical working into the creek, plus I don’t like chemicals on food,
plants or my land.
If you do have an insect problem there are many natural insect controls and natural home insect sprays you can try.
Green gardening is friendlier to your yard, garden,
pets and family. It’s also a healthier way to live. If we all try at
least one green gardening idea we can help our communities and our
world.
