Sustainable Tips that Make Gardening Easier

Gardening is affordable and good for the environment, and all you have to do is take the time to think.

1. Choose the right plants for the climate and put them in the proper place.

Find out which plants do best in the type of weather and soil that you have in your area. Don't dismay if you have a sandy yard, you can create a tropical paradise of yuccas, agaves, cacti, and many other xeric and saliva species that will thrive in sand. Many gardeners decide to dig up gardening plots and replace them with soil, but for a large garden, this is a big undertaking!

2. Natural pest repellents

We all know the troubles of pesticides. Match your plants not only with their environment, but also with companion plants. Companion plants are those that drive away pests that can be dangerous to their neighboring plants. To prevent this feast, check out http://www.gardentoad.com/companionplants.html and ask around. Gardening neighbors and farmers might have some great ideas for companion plants that are unique to your region. Companion plants not only promote the health by deterring harmful insects and welcoming beneficial ones, they add variety and a natural look to your garden.

3. Maintain a compost pile

Less garbage will be going out your house and more beauty will spring from it! Compost is the best and easiest way to make your soil and plants healthy. Anything organic that you would otherwise throw away (pet waste, kitchen scraps, garden trimmings) keep in a moist, mixed pile. The pile should be as far away from your house as possible for obvious reasons, they're not very aesthetically pleasing and the fermentation process may stink a bit. For sandy soils, apply compost during the spring. For all other soil types, apply during late fall. Avoid adding compost during a heatwave or a hardening-off period. The hardening-off period is between late summer and when leaves start to fall. Plants are beginning to get ready for "hibernation" and stimulating plants during this time may cause growth that will not have enough time to harden and protect itself before winter.

4. Check up on your plants and soil