analysis: Top 8 Tips For A More Sustainable Garden

“Going Green” Gardening

Notes:

• Climate justice has been the urgent message and plea of many climate activists worldwide. Reducing the carbon footprint in all ways possible and the mobilization of various movements to preserve mother earth and to persevere in averting the looming crisis and the crippling impact of a warming planet for the sake of the future generation is more important now.
• Because of this, sustainability can be witnessed in many aspects of people’s lives now, in travel, beauty, fashion, household, and even gardening.
• If you’re fond of gardening and would like to participate in this global movement, here are tips you can do for more a sustainable garden and landscape:

  • Start a Compost:

    You might be wondering what is composting?

  • Composting turns ordinary food scraps and recycles organic matter into valuable fertilizer that enriches the soil and grows healthy organic plants.
  • Creating your compost is much better than buying ready-made fertilizers. Instead of throwing your food waste into the garbage bin, which will be dumped into landfills that may end up in the ocean, you’re collecting food waste and making it valuable as garden feed.
  • Recycling organic waste lessens the burden on the environment as it cuts toxic methane emissions from landfills. Replacing synthetic fertilizers with homemade ones from compost reduces the risk of poisonous chemicals released into the soil. Using compost increases the soil’s water retention, thus requiring less water to feed the plants.
  • Using compost increases the soil’s water retention, thus requiring less water to feed the plants.

  • What’s Needed:

    Compost is what it means – it is discarding food scraps and outdoor browns into a bin to break down into compost. You need to right elements – sun heat – air – and worms.

    Bins can be a makeshift crate enclosure stationed in the yard or a compost bin you can buy. There are three basic ingredients in composting:

    Browns:
    These can be dead leaves, twigs, and branches.

    Greens:
    These are vegetable and fruit waste, coffee grounds, and grass clippings.

    Water:
    Meanwhile, it provides moisture to break down the organic matter.

    Another important element are worms. Worms play important role in garden compost process.

    Worms will eat scrape materials that become compost as it passes through the worm’s body.

    Composting    (google images)
    	– how to compost	view
    	– composting diagram	view
    	– composting process	view
    	– about vermicomposting	view
    	– composting bins	view
    	– composting tumblers	view
    	– kitchen composters	view

    You need to remember not to include scraps or waste that produce foul odors like meat and fish bones, dairy products, and pet wastes since it will attract insects and rodents that might contain parasites, bacteria, and viruses.

    You don’t need a large incinerator to make compost. Small ones are available now and made from eco-friendly materials that will provide the right amount of compost for typical household gardening.

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    copyright image by envato.com

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  • Collect Rain Water:

    Instead of using new water, you may position a storage vessel right below your gutters so that rainwater can be collected to water your plants and your lawn.

  • Rainwater harvesting is not a novel idea but has been around since ancient China. But even first-world countries like Germany and Australia are now embracing the idea of collecting rainwater not just for gardening purposes but also for household use.
  • Homes that harvest rainwater typically reduce their consumption of treated water by 30-50 %.

  • Advantages of Rainwater Harvesting:

    Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting, preserving and storing rainwater. It provides a free and independent water supply that offers several ways this water can be utilized.

    

    copyright image by Pixabay

    Rainwater harvesting provides about 50% of a family’s water needs. This helps save water, money and reduces an impact on the environment.

    Rain Harvesting    (google images)
    	– what is rain harvesting	view
    	– rain harvesting diagram	view
    	– rain harvesting systems	view
    	– rain harvesting tanks	view
    	– rain barrels	view

    Collect Household Water:

    Often referred to as “gray water” where some ingenious households installed cisterns to collect water from bathing, washing clothes, and washing dishes to water plants in their garden.

    Use this water along with you rain collection to reduce water consumption and save the planet.

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    view post: advantages rainwater harvesting   |   copyright image by FandB Recipes

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  • Water Plants As Needed:

    Plants may need not be watered all the time. You may only need to water plants twice a day, which should be early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

  • Though you have to check the moisture of the topsoil, if it’s still a little wet, you can skip watering it until all the moisture has been absorbed. It will also help you conserve water if you choose drought-tolerant plants.

  • Here are some examples of drought-tolerant plants:

    Drought Tolerate Plants
    	Agave	view
    	African Daisy	view
    	Agastache	view
    	Beardtongues	view
    	Black-Eyed Susans	view
    	Blazing Stars	view
    	Bougainvillea	view
    	Bugleweed	view
    	Butterfly Weed	view
    	Cactus	view

    (google images)
    	California Poppy	view
    	Cardinal Climbers	view
    	Cleome	view
    	Coneflowers	view
    	Coral Vine	view
    	Cosmos	view
    	Daylily	view
    	Desert Rose	view
    	Crown of Thorns	view
    	Indian Blanket	view

    As with any plants, make sure to check you growing area on whether any of the plants can tolerate your climate conditions.

    Another suggestion is check with you greenhouse growers. They can suggest the best drought-tolerant plants that do well you in your area.

    Some more drought-tolerant plants to consider:

    	Kaiser’s Crown	view
    	Lantana Camara	view
    	Lavender	view
    	Licorice Plant	view
    	Marigold	view
    	Orleander	view
    	Primula	view
    	Purslane	view
    	Russian Sage	view
    	Salvia	view

    	Sedum	view
    	Succulents	view
    	Sunfowers	view
    	Verbena	view
    	Vinca	view
    	Whiteweed	view
    	Yarrow	view
    	Yellow Alyssum	view
    	Yucca	view
    	Zinnia	view

    Smart Landscaping:

    You’ve heard of smart homes; and how a smart home can help save money, make life easier, and add security to your home.

    But what about smart gardens? What could you do to make your landscaping smart for easier maintenance and beauty.

    

    image by envato.com

    Let’s explore some ideas that can convert your garden landscape into something smart.

    view post: (new win)
    	creating smart landscaping for the future

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  • Use Electric-Powered Lawn Mower:

    Using a gas-powered lawnmower for an hour, especially an old one can release toxic fumes similar to a brand-new car that’s running for 340 miles (550 kilometers) or maybe something around that figure.

  • It can add to the dire state of greenhouse gases, which is why the planet’s temperature is increasing.

  • Keep The Mower Blade Sharp:

    Using a dull old mower blade can lengthen your mowing time and consume more gas if you’re using a gas-powered lawnmower.

    Make sure that you change or sharpen worn blades to ensure the efficiency of the equipment.

    Pull Lawn Weeds By Hand:

    Instead of using a lawnmower that runs on gas and emits harmful fumes, you may try pulling out weeds by hand. This is also great physical exercise for you and a lovely family bonding activity.

    Electric Lawn Mowers   (google images)
    	– about electric mowers	view
    	– electric mower components	view
    	– electric mower diagram	view

     

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    copyright image by envato.com

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  • Avoid Synthetic Insecticides And Pesticides:

    Aside from harming the environment, chemical pesticides also pose a considerable health risk. When inhaled, it can lead to respiratory problems.

  • Today, organic and natural pesticides are available for those who want to make their gardening sustainable. This type of formulation uses ingredients naturally found in the environment, like neem oil.

  • Natural Pesticides    (google images)
    	– bacillus thuringiensis	view
    	– beauveria bassiana	view
    	– kaolin clay	view
    	– neem oil	view
    	– pyrethrum	view

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    copyright image by envato.com

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• CONCLUSION

  Urban gardening has many benefits. It increases your home’s aesthetic appeal, gives you food to eat, and strengthens your body.

• Building a sustainable garden would be even more beneficial, not just for you but for the planet too.

• Quik scroll to more sustainable garden and landscaping ideas …

  

•    ideas to view and compare from the photo above      

  composting binsrain barrelselectric lawn mowers

• What comments can you share about
  your sustainable garden ideas