Gardening is a great step towards a healthy lifestyle. However, there are many gardening products and practices that can help keep your garden clean and healthy.
This can be much simpler, and cheaper, than many think. Here are a few things to start considering when converting to a cleaner garden.
Plant More Native Plants
A great way to start cleaner gardening is to be more selective with what is planted. In particular, choosing to grow more native plants can help support the local ecosystem. These plants will provide pollinators with much-needed habitats.
Additionally, gardeners will find that these plants are easier to grow. Native plants are those that have adapted to the region, therefore requiring less maintenance from gardeners.
Choosing Your Pots
When choosing pots to use for plants, it is important to look at what they’re made out of. Terracotta pots are a great choice; the material is more porous, allowing the pot to eventually break down and decompose.
Most plastics, on the other hand, are not able to decompose at all, and would therefore add to the plastic waste crisis we are facing today. So, be sure to choose materials with care— the less plastic used, the better.
Compost
Starting a compost at home can seem unwieldy. However, since compost is decomposed organic material, it can provide gardens with many benefits. These benefits include, water conservation, lowering carbon footprints, and reducing the waste production.
Additionally, compost is a great source of nutrition for plants, allowing gardeners who have compost at home to save their money buying fertilizers.
For those looking to start composting, but not quite ready to take on the challenge of starting one at home, another great way to start is to look into composting sites nearby. Some places will do an exchange, allowing individuals to drop off their compost while providing some already decomposed in return.
Overall, the most important thing to remember is to continue to reuse and recycle as much as possible—even while gardening. If we work together and all contribute to making small, healthy changes, we can help create a cleaner future for all.
