Green Gardening is the new “garden term.” But what does it really mean and why is green gardening important? And how does it differ from organic gardening?
photo credit: The Shane H

Gardening has a valuable purpose of supplying food and growing plants of all varieties help the environment. But gardening, even done properly, manipulates nature and changes the environment. If gardening is poorly planned it can cause erosion. Heavy chemical use in the garden can harm plants, animals, and the soil and water. It also will lead to weaker plants.

The easiest way to explain green gardening is when the gardener works more with nature. Is has the same principles as organic gardening but with green gardening you try to match plants more with location and often use no dig methods to protect the soils structure. The less you disturb your soil and backyard garden area the greener your garden will be. Here are a few steps that will help you keep your garden environmentally friendly.

The best principal of Green Gardening is “to Keep it Simple”

Selecting your garden site

Your garden needs to be located in an area that receives 6 to 8 hours of sunlight and that has adequate drainage. You also need to check the soil and add nutrients if needed. A poor soil creates sickly plants, which leads to more insects and plant disease.

It’s also important to select plants for your garden that will grow in the climate that you live in. If you want a tropical plant but it will not grow in your garden climate consider having it in a container and on the patio or indoors. You will also want to plant sun loving plants in the sun and shade loving plants near buildings or trees for best results and healthy plants. Plants that are grown in the wrong area and poor soil will require more time to keep them healthy.

Know your soil.

Have your soil tested so that you understand what it is made of and what it needs to grow healthy plants and drain well. You can purchase soil-testing kits at most garden centers. You can improve your soil by adding nutrients, compost and by using the no-dig or lasagna gardening methods.

Stronger synthetic fertilizers will improve the soil quicker but they hurt the soil and nature Organic soils building methods take longer but build a better soil that will only improve over the years.

Annual flowers or vegetables exhaust the soil nutrients faster than other plants so you will need supplemental feeding during the growing season. Again you can find natural organic fertilizers but natural methods are preferred for green gardening and over extended time.

Organic matter, compost, and mulch will all add nutrients to your soil and build your soil from year to year. And side dressing your gardens adds the extra boost during the growing season for your flowers and vegetables.

My soil is a heavy clay base. I always keep mulch on my ground and work it in at the end of every growing season. This practice alone has dramatically improved my soil and drainage.

I also have used no chemicals on my land in at least 12 years. I live too close to a creek to take the chance of any chemical working into the creek, plus I don’t like chemicals on food, plants or my land.

If you do have an insect problem there are many natural insect controls and natural home insect sprays you can try.

Green gardening is friendlier to your yard, garden, pets and family. It’s also a healthier way to live. If we all try at least one green gardening idea we can help our communities and our world.

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Container gardening offers you the chance to grow plants anywhere, in a yard or on a balcony or porch. You can take your containers indoors and create you own garden oasis in any room. And with container gardening you can garden in an apartment or city.
photo credit: SDCDeaCerte

Three other positives to container gardening is you don’t have to dig or till a garden spot, it’s easier on the back and knees, and you can easily change the look of your container garden by moving a few containers or pots.

And if you really want to create a unique garden, mix your pots. You can go terra cotta or use an old beat up teapot. My saying is, “If it will hold dirt it can be a container!”  Now it’s time to consider which plants you will grow. Vegetables, trees, shrubs, flowers and fruit all grow well on containers. And mixing all the varieties will add to your garden oasis look.

Steps to create a container garden

plants of choice – chose you plants beforehand to help you pick the pots you will need.
start collecting planting pots and containers – get creative
soilless potting mix, rich soil, or compost
organic Fertilizer
small rocks or pea gravel
photo credit: striatic

1. Are you growing vegetables, herbs, flower or a mix? I suggest mixing them. You get a colorful look and companion planting helps most plants to grow and thrive better. Your choices will be based on your needs.

2. Make sure you containers are clean and dirt free. I usually wash my pots with a light bleach or vinegar and them let them air until they are dry. Also check for good drainage and make sure, particularly if your containers are indoors that you have them sitting on a plate or saucer and reservoir to catch any water. For all indoor containers I use pebbles in reservoir trays to help the plant drain and to add humidity around the plants. Sometimes a plastic container inside the pot is a good idea. And finally when choosing a container remember that the bigger the plant will be, the bigger the container should be.

3. Your plants will only be as good as your soil so buy high quality soil or use compost. Indoors I tend to use more soilless potting mixes. Its cuts down on indoor plant diseases.  And make sure to have organic fertilizer on hand for you plants, particularly vegetables. They will require an extra boost to produce a good crop.

4. Layer ½ or ¾ inch of pea gravel in the bottom of your containers to help drainage and root health. Small clean pebbles can also be used. Next place the soil in the container, pack it down a and slowly add some water, making sure you don’t add too much water or it will overflow and your soil will follow.

5. I let the pot sit for a bit and settle and drain. After the pot sits and drains, its time to add your plants or seeds. When the plant or seeds have started to grow and get used to their pot I will add some organic fertilizer. Read the directions to make sure you apply the proper amount. Your container garden plants are ready to be enjoyed!

Most flowers and vegetable like sun and would benefit form 5 to 7 hours or sun. Place these plants in an area where they will receive the most sunlight during the day. Time will help you decide what amount of sun a plant needs. You can also pick up a good gardening book or search the web for additional information.
photo credit: daryl_mitchell

The advantage of containers is that they can be moved. And when you group them together it makes a very pleasing display. Container gardening lends itself to city and apartment gardeners. And although I don’t live in a city I enjoy my container gardens and potted plants for their ease in growing and their artistic value they add to my home.

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The solar heated greenhouse is up and running. It’s not totally solar heated but I get enough heat with my creative heating techniques to get my vegetables and perennials going and with a few more tricks I heat the greenhouse in mini climate area areas until the temperatures become more consistent in NW PA. With the price of heating it pays to experiment.
photo credit: quinn.anya

Today I started my tomato and pepper plants. Normally you start both of these plants six to eight weeks before your last frost but I like large plants to set out and I trade my plants for perennials so I start my plants now and use the tomato and pepper re-potting method. In my growing zone you normally plant your tomatoes and pepper plants from May 15 to 31. Even in May its wise to be prepared for a late frost and cover you more tender plants at night.
photo credit: rudy.kleysteuber

I also collected more milk jugs from friends and family to fill with water and lined another wall of my greenhouse and one side of the mini greenhouse I setup inside the larger greenhouse. The smaller greenhouse is for my perennials that are requiring a little more heat to grow and this should supply the extra heat needed.

Milk jug solar heating has been my primary heating source in the greenhouse for four or five years but I have to admit this winter has challenged the heating. I may have to break down and add a small electrical heater if this cold doesn’t break soon.

My first batch of perennial plants that I am raising from seed are now 3 inches tall. I will move them into the smaller portable plastic greenhouse I put up inside the larger greenhouse and start a new crop of perennial seeds. I have been giving my perennial seeds a cold treatment in the refrigerator as shock treatment to force them to germinate and wake up earlier than they normally would. My first group of herbs are also doing well.

I also have three batches of compost brewing in the back of the greenhouse. They should be ready in a week, just in time for another round of seed planting.

As spring nears I am slowly starting my plants, perennials and herbs first. Next will be flower that require a longer seed starting period, then on to the regular seeds that take six to eight weeks to be ready to set out in the gardens. It feels great to be back out in the greenhouse playing in soil and making plans for the new gardening season.

Technorati Tags: greenhouses, milk jugs, solar heated greenhouse, starting seeds, transplanting plants