Green Techniques for a Greener Garden
You may have a green thumb, hand, or even an entire body but is your garden really that green? Unless you’re an organic gardening Sherpa, chances are that your gardening techniques could be greened up in a place or two. Green gardening techniques lead to happier, healthier, and yes, greener gardens.
Nix the Chemical Cocktails
We all know that a good cocktail can be pleasant in the moment but in the end can create devastating effects on our bodies. The same holds true for those chemical cocktails that some gardens are constantly being forced to sip off of. Pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers may give your garden the appearance of being healthy and happy, but just like when you consume any other cocktail, your vision might become slightly skewed. Using chemicals on your garden can not only negatively impact your garden, but also the wildlife surrounding it and you yourself if you’re consuming the fruits (or veggies) of your labor.
Chemical alternatives
Only about 5-15% of bugs are actually pests so don’t just go squishing everything you see and dousing them with pesticides. Instead try inviting in the birds and predatory insects such as lady bugs or spiders. They have a pretty good way of keeping the pest population under control. If weeds are an issue in your garden, lay down some organic mulch. Grass clippings are my favorite but if you use them, make sure they weren’t grown with synthetic fertilizers. Using organic compost and manure to fertilize your lawn might be a little gross if you like to have kids play there, but they work as wonderful fertilizers in the garden. Create your own all natural compost and you’ll be less likely to hurt the plants and animals that you don’t want to.
Take full advantage of rain
Why let extra water go to waste? Put out a rain barrel and collect some rain water that would otherwise fall onto concrete and go down the gutter. Watering your lawn and garden can become extremely costly so take advantage of what’s free. You can use a screen over the top of the barrel to keep insects and other unwanted things out.
Not Every Pot is Equal
Be mindful of the tools and gardening accessories that you choose to use in your garden. It doesn’t matter if you have the best of intentions and think that planting in an old ice-cream container is a great way to save money. The fact of the matter is that everything degrades over time and non-organic products are going to release undesirable chemical compounds into your garden as they degrade. It’s basically the same reason you don’t/shouldn’t microwave food in plastic containers. When selecting the pots and tools that you are going to use in your garden, go for those that are made of organic material to whatever extent possible. I myself try to stick with clay pots because not only are they cost effective, but they also don’t release harmful chemicals into your plants.
Author Bio:
Mackenzie Kupfer has been a lover of all things green since the age of six when she began gardening with her Nana. She is currently an online publisher for the tomato cage site avantgardendecor.com. In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys attending garden shows, hiking, and collecting ceramic tea sets.
