By Niki Jabbour
Source: Savvy Gardener
Photo Source: Unsplash,
Climate change gardening is a set of tactics that make our yards and gardens more resilient to extreme weather as well as reduce our personal impacts on the climate. There are several ways to approach climate change gardening. You can use sustainable and organic gardening practices that put soil, biodiversity, and pollinators first. You can also plan to reduce plastic waste, up-cycle materials, and collect rainwater. Keep reading to discover 12 strategies for climate change gardening.
12 Strategies for climate change gardening
We can take action to reduce the impact of climate change on our gardens and communities. Below you’ll find 12 strategies to help you increase resilience and adaptability in your yard.
5. Focus on soil health with a climate change garden
In my large vegetable garden maintaining soil health is my top priority. I test my soil every 1 to 2 years so I can better understand my soil and not add unnecessary fertilizers. You can buy soil test kits, but it’s more effective to send a sample of your garden soil off to your local state extension service. A soil test indicates soil fertility as well as soil pH and organic matter levels.
I feed my garden soil each spring by topping the beds with 2 inches of compost or aged manure. Organic matter comes from living materials and improves soil health, water holding capacity, microorganism activity, and nutrient uptake. If a soil test indicates that my soil needs nutrients, like nitrogen, I’ll also add an organic vegetable fertilizer. I avoid synthetic fertilizers which don’t build soils, can impact microbe activity, and don’t provide a long steady feed.
Another option for soil building is to plant cover crops. Planting cover crops, like clover or buckwheat, improves soil structure, reduces compaction, adds nutrients, and increases organic matter. Plus, cover crops are really easy to grow! I like to plant buckwheat seeds in empty beds in mid to late spring, cutting the plants back once they begin to bloom. They’re left on the soil surface to break down for 7 to 10 days and then I’ll replant the bed. Later in the season, I’ll sow seeds for fall rye on beds that are to be empty over winter. This reduces winter soil erosion and builds the soil in spring when I turn it over.
Can these practices impact Climate Change? Why? How can you impact Climate Change?
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