Climate-friendly gardening involves using natural gardening practices to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Plus, these practices encourage healthier soil by improving the absorption of carbon dioxide – which also reduces the issues with global warming.
What Are Greenhouse Gases?
First, let’s understand the problem with greenhouse gases. While about 66 percent of greenhouse gases are attributed to fossil fuels and cement production, the rest is caused by human use of land. Greenhouse gases are made up of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and black carbon.
So how can the climate-friendly gardener reduce greenhouse gases?
Carbon Dioxide
The way gardeners cause extra carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere happens due to not considering the habitats they’re destroying, or the unnatural cultivation of the soil using fuel-based fertilizers and chemical pesticides.
* Peat moss – Stop using peat moss or any compost that contains peat because it’s damaging to the environment.
* Renewable sources – Use renewable sources for building materials, such as bamboo.
* Cover your soil – Don’t leave your soil naked between growing; use a cover plant that adds the right nutrients to your soil.
* Use human power – Avoid gas and instead use gardening tools that are human or electric powered.
* Use rainwater – Avoid watering your garden with tap water; instead use rainwater catchment.
Methane
This is of more concern to animal farmers than gardeners, but methane production can be greatly eliminated by:
* Keeping soil aerated
* Keeping compost heaps turned and moist
* Getting rid of weeds properly through hand digging or natural competition
* Keeping ponds aerobic
By doing the above, you’ll reduce the production of methane within the ecosystem of your garden, keeping it at more natural levels.
Nitrous Oxide
Gardeners cause too much nitrous oxide to get into the atmosphere from gardening practices such as by using synthetic fertilizers, working in the garden when the soil is wet causing the soil to compact, and burning garden waste. You can cut down on this by using natural practices instead, for example by using the right plants such as legumes as cover plants to increase soil nitrogen and so forth.
Black Carbon
While this is not a gas, it does behave as if it’s a greenhouse gas because it absorbs heat. You can cut down on this problem by not burning weeds – or at least not burning them while they’re wet. Black carbon is also produced by transporting garden products to chain stores. Try buying locally to cut down on black carbon.
Use climate-friendly gardening practices such as planting strategically, weeding properly, keeping soil healthy, and moist without fossil fuels and more. When you can do something naturally to control the environment such as planting shade trees or building water features by catching rainwater, or strategic placement of wildlife attracting plants, you’re going to have a healthier garden plus not contribute to greenhouse gases.