What's all this about sustainable gardening?

"Sustainable" is a word we're seeing everywhere lately and it's high time. Broadly speaking, it applies to activities that can be continued indefinitely - be they energy generation, logging, or agriculture. And today we're looking at sustainable gardening techniques because A, they're the right way to garden, and B, the National Wildlife Federation requires them to be used in the backyards they certify as habitats (and you're all getting your yards certified, right?)   So kudos   to the NWF for recently adding them to their traditional requirements of food, water and shelter for wildlife.   It's a great opportunity to educate the public, especially nongardeners, about gardening practices that are better for the environment and not coincidentally, easier on the gardener.

What is it?

  Most sources define sustainable gardening as the creation of a healthy plant-and-soil system that doesn't need added resources like supplemental watering or toxic inputs like pesticides.   Beyond the basic principles there's disagreement depending on who's talking, so I'll start with these areas of general agreement.

Organic Gardening Methods

• Mulching all uncovered soil for water retention, weed control, and to improve the soil's structure. (Best are leaf compost, pine bark chips, and where dogs can't get to them, cocoa hulls.)

•  Composting garden and kitchen waste. If more fertilizer is needed, using organic sources only, like aged manure, compost tea, and those that are fish- or seaweed-based.

• Choosing pest-resistant plants.

• For disease and insect problems, using preventive practices first (like ensuring good air circulation) and taking action only when a plant has been observed and found to be endangered.   Then using the least toxic methods first, like horticultural oil for scale and mites, Bt for caterpillars, beetles and mosquitoes, baking soda for black spot and powdery mildew, SAFER brand soap for many problem insects, and biological or physical barrier controls like bait traps, hard sprays of water to remove aphids, removal by hand, and diatomaceous earth for slugs. Steering clear of broad spectrum insecticides like Sevin.

• Weeding by hand or using a 10 percent vinegar solution.   In lawns, using a high mower setting, applying an organic fertilizer in the fall, and spreading lime as needed..

Techniques for Water Quality and Conservation

• Using deciduous trees south of the home to create shade, evergreens on the north to stop winter winds.

• Watering smart - directly to the root zone by hand or using soaker or drip irrigation, and preferably in the morning.   Avoiding sprinklers. Watering according to plant needs, not a rigid schedule. Watering infrequently but deeply, saving fine mists for newly planted seed only.

• Grouping plants with similar water needs

• Reducing stormwater run-off using rain barrels and rain garden techniques.   (Rain gardens are depressions in the soil that are planted with water-loving plants.   For help in creating one, just Google the term.)

• Stabilizing stream banks using water-loving plants that reduce soil erosion.

• Minimizing bare soil and stabilizing slopes by planting ground covers.

• Replacing or eliminating lawns. (See last month's column.)

• Minimizing the use of impervious surfaces so rainwater can be filtered before reaching the stormwater system.

• Keeping trash, yard waste, fertilizers and de-icers off paved surfaces.

• Choosing drought-tolerant plants, except in wet spots.

• Weeding regularly (because weeds compete for water with the plants we want).

• Letting lawns go dormant in the summer.

Let's not forget to sustain the gardener

When gardeners themselves talk about sustainable gardening, we sometimes add an often-forgotten element - the human being, the species responsible for the care of this most unnatural of spots that is the suburban lot.   That means considering how much time the homeowner is willing to spend taking care of all this.   Fortunately, the techniques outlined above greatly reduce the maintenance burden on the homeowner, especially mulching and choosing easy-care plants.   Further reductions in required maintenance are achieved by relying primarily on trees and shrubs (rather than perennials, annuals or vines), by planting in sweeps and masses (which looks better, too), and using simple curves around lawn or mowing strips.

Sustaining the gardener also means growing what we like and enjoy so that we'll continue to garden.   After all, as we eco-friendly gardeners are filling up our yards with plants, we're creating far more plant diversity, so gardening is a good thing .   Finally, it means gardening economically, or at least within our budgets, again so we'll keep it up!

Next month I'll provide as many recommendations for sustainable plants as I can wrangle from local gardening experts.   Wish me luck.

Master Gardener Susan Harris writes about gardening for UDC's Cooperative Extension Service and teaches gardening privately; see - thegardeningcoach.com. She also blogs at gardenrant.com and takomagardener.typepad.com.

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