Pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, thrive in gardens cared for sustainably.
For 30 years In Harmony has worked to create and maintain sustainable landscapes. Sustainable landscapes are healthier and more attractive, with less work from the homeowner, and have positive impacts on the natural environment. Our business goal is to build a healthier planet one landscape at a time.
Many people are confused about what sustainable gardening is or how it applies to them. In honor of Earth Day and Earth Month, we are exploring five myths of sustainable gardening, both the misconceptions and the facts.
Myth 1: One person can’t make a difference
In Harmony co-owner Ladd Smith often speaks to homeowners about sustainable gardening practices. A refrain he hears repeatedly is “why should I change how I take care of my landscape when my neighbors don’t?” Ladd explained that “there is a lot of skepticism that one person can make any difference.”
Truth
Ladd is quick to point out that each garden or landscape can either be a tiny source of the problem or it can be a tiny source of the solution. If you doubt that sustainable gardening practices make a difference, consider the changes you will see in your own backyard and their environmental impact.
Sustainable gardening practices do make a difference
| Do This | Benefits in Your Garden | Environmental Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Add organic matter, such as compost, to your soil. | Plants will be healthier and grow stronger. Edible plants will produce a greater harvest. Organic matter holds water and can improve drainage. | Soil will hold more water thus conserving it for other uses. Organic matter filters pollutants. |
| Eliminate the use of insecticides. | Beneficial insects, like lady bugs and green lacewings, and birds will return to eat the insect pests. Pollinators will help your plants produce flowers and fruit, and soil microbes help your plants stay healthy. Your kids and pets won’t be exposed to pesticides. | Helps keep water clean for fish and other aquatic life. Helps keep people, pets and wildlife healthy. Protects beneficial insects and soil microorganisms. |
| Select plants that thrive in your environmental conditions. | Your garden will grow green, lush and beautiful with less work from you. | Plants that thrive will need little or no pesticides, thus reducing these pollutants in the environment. |
| Mulch garden beds. | You will water less often during dry spells, saving time and money. A thick layer of mulch greatly suppresses weed growth, reducing your time spent weeding. It also protects the soil from erosion during heavy rainstorms. | Conserves water, saves top soil from washing away which can clog waterways and impact aquatic life. |
| Right-size your lawn. | Less lawn means less time and money spent on routine maintenance and more space for flowers and foliage, wildlife habitat and edibles. | Smaller lawns and more garden beds helps water percolate into the ground rather than run off into storm drains and waterways. |
| Choose plants that support wildlife. | Birds, butterflies and bees will flock to your garden for food and shelter. | Improves populations of birds, butterflies and bees which are essential for pollination and natural pest control. All are facing dramatic population declines. |
We can help
In Harmony can help you create and maintain a sustainable landscape. Contact us for landscape design and installation or for natural lawn, tree and shrub care services.
