Sustainability is an often-heard topic associated with the environment. It refers to securing the earth by embracing safe, eco-friendly practices and activities that minimize environmental damage. A few adjustments in your day-to-day activities can lead you towards attaining a sustainable lifestyle – Landscaping and gardening are the most effective ways to promote sustainable living. Ecological gardening approaches enhance the environment’s value and contribute more than entirely relying on it. Thus, your garden not only adds beauty to your home but also promotes the well-being of your surroundings. Here are some of the great ideas to get going.
Soil Testing
Begin your gardening journey with a soil test. Each plant thrives at different pH levels. Some plants require higher pH levels, while some need lower pH levels. This can be easily performed through a soil testing tool available online or at your local nursery. It will help you determine the pH level of your garden soil. Higher pH levels indicate a high alkaline content which means the soil is too acidic. If so, use fertilizer and compost to balance the pH level. In this case, you can count on organic methods, such as; seaweed-based fertilizer, well-decomposed compost, peat moss, compost tea, and coffee grounds.
Landscaping with Mulch
Mulches act as stunning ground covers and improve the soil’s health and fertility. The application of mulch adds a completed look to your landscape, keeps your soil moist, and suppresses weeds. As mulch allows soils to retain water without evaporating quickly, you need not water the ground often. This way, you can reduce water consumption and preserve it instead. Use sustainable mulching materials that you have easy access to, such as; shredded bark, shredded leaves and grass, pine needles, lawn clippings, straw, and crop by-products like corncobs, hulls, and hay grass for beddings.
Conserving Water Resources
Water is precious, and having a proper water conservation process in place can increase sustainability. The objective is to use natural water resources as much as possible. One method is collecting and storing run-off rainwater from your roof areas. Try this during the rainy season – Collect rainwater in large barrels and save them for future use. Although it requires a proper setup, fixing up a rainwater collecting barrel beneath the downspout will let you collect run-off straight from the roof.
Another easy method is to use kitchen wastewater for gardening. Collect the run-off water from washing fruits, vegetables, and rice and reuse them in your garden. However, never use soap water draining from your kitchen sink as it may contain harmful chemicals that can contaminate the soil and the environment.
Growing Climate-appropriate and Native Plants
Every plant is different and requires different settings to flourish. Some plants tolerate droughts, while some thrive in high rainfall and wind. Before planting, check with your local garden experts for plants that grow in your region. Grow vegetables and fruits that are native to your condition. As they are already accustomed to the type of soil and amount of rainfall in your area, they require less water and soil additives to prosper and produce better crops. By means of growing native and climate-appropriate plants, one may reduce the use of fertilizers and supplements and empower green farming.
Compost
Composting means you are one step closer to a sustainable lifestyle. It can simply transform your food waste, garden waste, including dried flowers and leaves, and grass clippings into green manures that enrich your yard. Moreover, composting your garden and kitchen waste helps reduce trash going to the landfill while adding more organic matter to your soil. This way, you can reduce the trash produced by your household and contribute to the betterment of the environment.
Lawn Care
Proper lawn treatment techniques can highly influence sustainability and lower your carbon footprint. Use a manual or an electric lawnmower when mowing your lawn rather than a gas-powered mower. This method is proven to reduce fossil-fuel energy use. Also, never mow your yard frequently and do it when necessary. Follow organic techniques to control pests and weeds in your garden. If possible, pull lawn weeds often by hand to minimize their growth. It is more effective and less destructive than the usage of chemical herbicides.
