How do I practice sustainable gardening?

2010 UC Master Gardener Sustainable Landscape Series

sustain water availability

reduce off-site water movement into storm drains, lakes, rivers and creeks

reduce energy use

reduce our green waste to landfill

prevent soil degradation

facilitate wildlife, and

reduce the spread of invasive plant species.

To sustain means to keep going or continue, and sustainable is the ability to carry on an activity indefinitely with minimal impact on the environment. 1)The concept of sustainable gardening has evolved as a result of current environmental concerns about the broader affects of our gardening practices on: 1) water availability, 2) off-site water quality, 3) energy use, 4) landfill space, 5) fire-safe landscaping, 6) soil degradation, and 7) the spread of invasive plant species and 8) protection and enhancement of wildlife habitat. All of these issues are critically important today, and harmful impacts of our gardening practices on any of these concerns can potentially affect the quality of our lives, our health, or the health of the ecosystem upon which we depend.

Gardening practices are only one of many issues affecting the sustainability of human activities, but they are practices that most people can implement immediately, and enormous benefits can be gained by a large fraction of households engaging in sustainable gardening. Using sustainable gardening practices can increase our understanding of the broader affects of all our activities on the environment as a whole.

sustainable landscape practices are gardening practices that not only save you money by saving energy, water, and time; they will help to improve environmental quality. Remember, the key goals of sustainable gardening practices are to:p>

Pam Geisel

Chuck Ingels

Our gratitude to Chuck Ingels (Farm Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, Sacramento County) and Pam Geisel (Director, UC Statewide Master Gardener Program) for providing content for the Sustainable Gardening section of the California Gardening web site.