Gardening
Resolutions
Many of you are now contemplating your list of New Year’s resolutions. San Luis Obispo county Master Gardeners have
been giving it some thought, as well.
Why not make a personal commitment to some goals that will benefit our
environment?
Here are some ecologically sound gardening resolutions that are good for
you, your garden, the community, and mother earth:
Reduce your dependence on garden chemicals.
Use the least toxic control measures for controlling garden pests and
diseases before resorting to pesticides.
For example, use adapted, pest-resistant plant varieties wherever
possible. Promote optimum health of your
plants through proper nutrition, irrigation, and garden sanitation
techniques. Properly ID the suspect pest
or disease and monitor closely before determining whether treatment is
necessary. Cultivate populations of
predatory insects (such as ladybugs, green lacewings, and certain beneficial
wasps), which help control the "bad bugs". Find out more about how using integrated pest
management techniques (IPM) will help you achieve this goal.
Reduce your landscape water needs by using water more efficiently. Make sure your irrigation systems are
operating properly by routinely inspecting drip lines and sprinklers for damage. Make any needed repairs immediately. Turn off irrigation control clocks when
rainfall is providing sufficient water.
Encourage deep root growth by infrequent heavy irrigation. Mulch to conserve soil moisture. When selecting plants, choose natives and
other drought-tolerant species.
Recycle your garden waste by establishing a composting program in your own
backyard. You will have plenty of free
material for mulching and amending the soil.
Your garden will be enriched by the addition of plant nutrients. The community benefits through diverting your
garden waste from the local landfills.
Make your backyard a friendlier environment for the birds, bees, and
butterflies. Provide plants and flowers
that are attractive to them, as well as feeders and a source of water. They will reward you by entertaining you in
your leisurely moments; they will pollinate your flowers, and return again year
after year.