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.
9. Use less water with climate change gardening
There are many strategies for reducing water waste in the garden. These are particularly important with increasing and prolonged droughts and heat waves affecting many parts of the world. Below are 5 water-saving suggestions:
Build soil – A healthy loam soil amended with organic matter is able to hold more water than a sandy soil. Feed garden soil with amendments like compost, animal manures, and leaf mold to help it retain moisture.
Mulch soil – I use mulches on the soil of my ornamental and vegetable beds to reduce water evaporation. Bark mulch is best beneath trees, shrubs, and perennials, while I use straw or shredded leaves around vegetables.
Water smart – Water early in the day to reduce water loss from evaporation. Also consider using a soaker hose, watering wand, or drip irrigation system to deliver water directly to the root-zone of plants. Sprinklers are far less efficient as they waste up to 80% of their water, particularly on hot or windy days. Water from sprinklers also doesn’t penetrate the soil deeply, resulting in shallow rooted plants.
Collect water – Using a rain barrel to collect water from a roof is a great way to capture rainwater for irrigation as well as reduce water run-off from your property. You can DIY a rain barrel or buy one from a garden supply company.
Choose drought tolerant plants – Conserve water by planting drought tolerant, trees, shrubs, perennials, and even vegetables. Many native plants, like coneflowers and yarrow, are drought tolerant and, once established, thrive without additional water. Keep in mind that newly planted landscape plants should be watered their first growing season.
Can these practices impact Climate Change? Why? How can you impact Climate Change?
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