Kansas Green Guide Your Bi-Weekly Guide to Sustainable Living

Green Gardening May 11, 2012

How you maintain your garden or landscape can have important positive or negative effects on the health of the soil, air, water and vegetation that we all use. Purchasing products made from recycled materials or using yard waste for mulch will help reduce waste and cut the amount of natural resources used to make products. Here are some sustainable gardening techniques that will help you conserve and protect our natural resources. 1. Mulching Mulch helps keep water in the soil and available to the plant, rather than evaporating into the air. This can help reduce water consumption. As mulch breaks down, it provides nutrients to the soil, which can help reduce or eliminate the need for additional fertilizers. Be sure to use mulches that are from sustainable forestry practices, and that are free from pests and diseases. Another option is using rubber mulch made from recycled rubber tires. It is long lasting and will last for 10 20 years which reduces waste. 2. Reducing Lawn Areas Grass lawns often require chemicals and frequent maintenance. Gaspowered lawnmowers contribute to air pollutants. Since lawns are often made of only a few types of plants that most animals do not consume, they do not provide a lot of value for wildlife. Replacing grass lawn with native wildflowers, bushes and trees provides the food, shelter and cover that helps maintain a healthy, natural ecosystem. It also reduces your time and labor working on the lawn. Be sure to check with your neighborhood associations before making any changes though. 3. Xeriscaping Xeriscaping is an approach to landscaping that minimizes outdoor water use while maintaining soil integrity through the use of native, drought-tolerant plants. The state grass, Little Bluestem, is a great example of a native, drought-tolerant plant. For a thorough list, visit the Kansas Native Plant Society website. 4. Removing Invasive Plants and Restoring Native Plants - Native plants are better for the environment than exotic plants, generally requiring less fertilizer and other additives, less water, and less effort in pest control. When non-native plants are used, they often times upset the delicate balance of a local ecosystem and sometimes even out-compete native species to the point of extinction. Wildlife benefit more when native plant communities remain intact, or are restored to their natural habitats, providing the best source of food for wildlife. Challenge Pick two of these sustainable gardening practices to implement this year! Soil and Water Conservation: Controlling Exotic Species: Organic Practices: Capture Rain Water from Roof Practice Organic Pest Management Eliminate Chemicals - For example BurnOut II Weed Killer, made from Xeriscape (water-wise landscaping) Remove Non-Native Plants and vinegar, lemon juice and natural oils, Animals Drip or Soaker Hose for Irrigation such as clove, kills common weeds. Soft Use Native Plants Limit Water Use soap or tobacco mixed with water Reduce Lawn Areas Reduce Erosion (i.e. ground cover, and applied to plants with a spray terraces) bottle is a great insect repellent. Use Mulch Compost Rain Garden
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Kansas Green Guide May 11, 2012