Sustainable gardening requires that people change the views that they have had about what constitutes a perfect garden. The perfect looking, lush green lawn that is free of any weeds or insect damage, just like the perfect vegetable garden that yields  fruits or vegetables that are free of any kind of blemishes, comes at a cost. To achieve that, it would inevitably be necessary to use chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides or other products. 

 

What sustainable gardening does, or tries to do, is to create a balance between what is put into a garden, and what the ultimate outcome will be. Sustainable gardening involves reducing the artificial inputs  that are necessary to make the garden thrive in what we perceive as that perfect state. 

 

There are several important, but very simple things that any gardener can do to create a sustainable garden that will ultimately result in a healthier garden, a healthier environment, and better overall growing conditions. It can also be considerably more economical in the long run. 

 

 

Sustainable gardening requires that soil have the proper pH , good drainage, and that it also have adequate fertility. It should be as weed free as possible. According to Oregon State University's Extension Service, "research has shown that nearly 80% of plant problems are related to poor soil." Soil testing can reveal any deficiencies that can compromise plant growth. 

 

The types of plants that one uses in a garden is also important. The best types of plants to use are those that are adapted to the area. Plants that thrive in the conditions where they will be grown is also essential. This includes everything from the climate to sun exposure, and ultimately the amount of rainfall an area has. Another important thing to look for is types of plants that are disease and insect resistant, because this will lessen the need to be dependent on artificial insecticides and/or fungicides. 

 

 

Another aspect of sustainable gardening involves learning to conserve resources in whatever ways possible. This means taking pruned limbs, leaves , grass and other garden waste (except for diseased plants and/or soil from diseased plants,) and using them for compost. Once they turn into compost, they will provide a continual supply of nutrient rich organic matter that can then be used in the garden. 

 

Improving drainage and soil fertility 

 

Poor drainage can result in soil infertility. by adding compost to the soil, a home gardener can cheaply and easily improve the both the soil fertility and drainage. 

 

 

Mulch covers the bare soil around plants, trees and shrubs, and it can be very beneficial. It can reduce moisture evaporation and run off, allowing water to be used more efficiently and reducing the amount of water that is wasted. It can also be effective for suppressing weed growth, thereby eliminating the need to use chemical or artificial herbicides. It can also prevent weeds from consuming water that plants need to grow. 

 

Mulch is also beneficial for preventing large fluctuations in soil temperature, and this can reduce potential damage to plant roots from shifting soil temperatures. Organic mulches (such as compost,) add organic matter to the soil and improve its fertility, and in the process, improve overall soil quality. 

 

 

Xeriscape is a type of landscaping that uses plants that are drought tolerant, or that have minimal water needs. This minimizes the need for additional water, but because the plants used in xeriscaping are typically native to the area, they can help maintain healthy soil. 

 

Grass requires a considerable amount of maintenance, and that can include chemicals. Moreover, lawns in the typical home garden are made up of plants that aren't useful to most wild animals that home gardeners are likely to encounter. The replacement of grass with native wildflowers, bushes and trees can provide birds and other wildlife with abundant food supplies, while also providing a cover for the ground. All of these changes in gardening habits can help to maintain a healthier eco system, while also reducing lawn work. 

 

The final thing that one can do to create a more sustainable garden, and one that is recommended by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF,)  is to remove invasive plants and replace them with native plants. Native plants are better suited for the environment in which they are going to grow because they have been adapted to the climate. In addition, they won't require the addition of artificial fertilizers, insecticides or pesticides. 

 

Organic gardening requires that only natural or biological supplements or insecticides be used in a garden. This means that products that are derived from nature are acceptable. To a large extent, it avoids the use of artificial or chemical additives, although some people might regard minerals that one might add to soil to amend it, as chemical products. 

 

What sustainable gardening does is to try to improve the overall conditions of the soil and the environment, in an effort to allow plants of all types, to grow in as natural and as healthy an eco-system as possible. The result is that all sorts of wildlife can thrive, and the garden can benefit from using plants or native wildlife to get rid of insect problems, and use natural soil amendments such as mulches to lessen the need for artificial fertilizers. 

 

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