Earth Day starts in your own backyard.
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008Since its first celebration in 1970, Earth Day has been a single day when concern for the environment is foremost in our thoughts and actions. Nearly 40 years later, sustainability has finally broken free from a single day that we “celebrate” to a way of living.
Yet, as eco-consciousness breaks through to the nightly news and on the cover of every magazine on the newsstand, we garden lovers must remember that being green isn’t merely a fad. There is much to be done on a global scale and much, too, in our own backyards.
We gardeners already know the relationship of climate change to our gardens. Droughts in Georgia and 70 degree January days in New York surely impact not only what and how we grow but the very balance of life on earth. So, where do we start?
Mulch. And then mulch some more.
If you do nothing else this year to make a personal commitment to environmental change, consider the impact of spreading a protective layer of mulch atop bare earth. To help prevent water evaporation, spread shredded bark or compost about 3 inches deep on top of the soil. This will help reduce your water usage and lessen the impact of hot summers and drought.
Healthy-balanced soil.
Adding compost will not only help feed earthworms who help your garden prosper, it will also help keep your plants healthy. Healthy plants are less susceptible to pests and disease, thereby reducing the need for chemical applications. Compost is rich in organic matter – just what a garden needs to thrive.
Organic matter is key.
Monrovia soils are blended with organic matter, such as compost and bark, slow release-fertilizer and mycorrhizae. Mychorrhizae are a group of beneficial organisms that grow along the roots of host plants, enlarging the roots’ naturally-occurring surface-absorbing capacity, making the plant much more efficient in the uptake of nutrients and water. Mycorrhizae help to reduce transplant shock, stress from drought, soil-borne diseases, water usage and the reliance on fertilizers. By adding Monrovia plants – both ornamental and edible – to your garden, you are helping to replenish these organisms in your landscape. Learn more about our soil.
Pick the right plant.
Recreating the English countryside in Phoenix no longer works. Choosing the right plant for your region and the changing conditions caused by climate change – including drought – is one of the best things you can do to do your part in protecting the environment.
Drought tolerant doesn’t mean cactus and yucca (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). Peruse our plant catalog for drought tolerant plants in your cold hardiness zone and I’m sure you’ll be surprised at what you can include in your garden that is just as beautiful as a water-dependent plant, but so much more sustainable.
And while you’re at it, consider adding more edibles to your garden. What could be more sustainable than growing your own food?
So, on Earth Day where do we start? The same place we do every spring: our gardens. This year, I encourage you to act with the determination to keep making a difference and not forgetting that Earth Day is every day and going green is a life change – not a passing fad.
