A sustainable garden conserves water, needs less maintenance, and creates less waste. Here are five sustainable gardening tips to help you get started.
Tip 1: Reduce lawn size.
A smaller lawn is the first step to sustainable gardening. You can reduce the amount of lawn you need by keeping only a small portion of green space close to the house.
Tip 2: Plant native perennial flowers.
Native plants, such as Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliana), are well adapted to our climate. These cheery yellow flowers thrive in unimproved soil and require less water than many other ornamentals.
Tip 3: Plant more xeric flowers.
Perennials from similar climates in other regions of the world also grow well in Mountain region xeriscapes. Ice plants (Delosperma) from South Africa like hot and dry weather in local landscapes, too.
Tip 4: Use organic mulch.
Spread thick layers of shredded bark, tree chips, pine needles, and fallen leaves to cover bare ground and help retain moisture in the soil. Mulch also keeps weeds away, improves soil conditions, reduces erosion, and dresses up the yard in the process.
Tip 5: Right plant, right place.
It's important to plant the right-size plant for the right place in your landscape. Study the mature dimensions of every tree, shrub, vine, and climbing rose to make sure there's room for it in your garden. Planting by size eliminates annual pruning and helps keep garden waste out of the landfill.
Do you have any sustainable gardening tips you'd like to share?
