To sustain means to keep going or continue, and sustainable is the ability to carry on an activity
indefinitely with minimal impact on the environment.
The concept of sustainable gardening has evolved as a result of current environmental concerns about the broader effects of our gardening practices on: water availability, off-site water quality, energy use, landfill space, fire-safe landscaping, soil degradation, and the spread of invasive plant species and protection and enhancement of wildlife habitat.
All of these issues are critically important today. Gardening practices are only one of many issues affecting the sustainability of human activities, but they are practices that most people can implement immediately. Using sustainable gardening practices can increase our understanding of the broader effects of all our activities on the environment as a whole.
Garden Design and Selection of Materials
When you choose plants for your garden, be sure to select plants that are well adapted to your climate zone and those that are not considered invasive species.
Another design feature includes the use of low-volume irrigation where feasible, such as drip and micro sprinkler. Consider using a “smart” controller that uses weather or soil information to determine how much water to apply.
An important way to reduce off-site green waste removal is to design the garden so that plants are not crowded when mature, so less pruning is required. This may mean planting farther apart and using wood chip mulch to reduce weed growth until the plants fill in.
Landscapes can be used to help sustain certain wildlife and insects, and choosing the right plant
species may enhance pest management. Many flowers attract insect predators and parasites that feed on insect pests, possibly reducing the need for insecticides.
Sustainable landscape practices are gardening practices that not only save you money by saving energy, water, and time; they will help to improve environmental quality.
Read the entire article at cagardenweb.ucanr.edu
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