Sustainable gardening helps you save money, use fewer chemicals, and create less waste.
What is sustainable gardening?
There’s no official definition, but the idea is to minimize humans' impact on the earth.
Credit: Bryan E. McCay
These sustainable gardening ideas will help you contribute to a happier, healthier planet.
Go Organic
Going organicis an integral part of sustainable gardening.
Using fewer chemicals in your garden is more ecologically sound and more cost-effective.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
If you’re raising food for your family, gardening organically is even more critical.
Start from the ground up bybuilding good soil rich in nutrientsand add compost to amend the soil.
If you discover pests or plant diseases in your garden, treat them with organic solutions.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
In areas with water restrictions, this is especially important.
Additionally, native plant species provide food and shelter for the native insect and bird populations.
Water and fertilizer are needed to keep most lawns looking in top shape.
Credit: Scott Little
Grow Your Own Food
Growing sustainable vegetables, fruits, and herbs is satisfying, easy, and delicious.
Plus, raising some of your own food is an essential part of a sustainable lifestyle.
For asuccessful sustainable vegetable garden, plant intensively and by season.
Beds can be interplanted with hot-weather crops such astomatoesandpeppers.
Plant Perennials
Long-lived perennials are an excellent way to get more bang for your gardening buck.
To save money, buy small perennials; they’ll get bigger and better every year.
Try this withmarigold,sunflower, andmorning glory.
Companion Planting
Growcompanion plantsin your garden to minimize pests and boost pollination and crop yields.
For example, flowers likemarigolds,zinnias, andsunflowersmake great companion plants because they repel pests and attract pollinators.
Support Pollinators
Pollinator gardensare a win-win.
