How Sustainable Is Your Landscape?

Answer a few simple questions to find out how you can make your garden more earth-friendly

Smart gardeners everywhere are jumping on the sustainable bandwagon . And when you consider all the final payment of a sustainable landscape painting , it ’s not hard to interpret why . It typically uses less urine , requires less labor , costs less to sustain , and puts few toxin into the environment . Not to cite , it also attend as beautiful as a schematic garden .

The challenge for many gardeners is figuring out how to conform green methods into their modus operandi . make just one elementary change is often enough to get results . Take aboriginal plant , for instance . By planting several aboriginal species in your garden , you provide a home for pollinators and other good dirt ball . skilful pollenation mean more flowers and higher vegetable yield , while more predatory bug help keep pestilence in check , reducing your need for insect powder . Many of the practices that follow offer similar chain reactions . By taking this quiz , you ’ll likely come up unexampled way to save time , switch off costs , and tread lighter on the earth .

Take the Quiz

For each interrogation , clean the resolution that estimable trace your garden . Then contribute your points to see how your garden bar up .

1. What’s your driveway made out of?

a|Pervious concrete or permeable pavers(3 points )

b|Gravel or simple dirt(2 item )

c|Impermeable concrete or schematic paver blocks(1 point )

d|Old - fashioned asphalt(0 points )

➤ Why it weigh : Traditional paved surfaces cause urban flooding , direct pollutant into public streets and waterways , and keep plant and territory organisms from using rainwater that they ’d otherwise have admittance to . mineral pitch driveways are the worst offender because , in improver to being impermeable , they also sporadically require reapplication of toxic sealer . The healthy , most sustainable option is a paving that ’s permeable or an impermeable surface with unpaved gaps , which lets rainwater and oxygen put down the soil .

2. Do you group plantings according to water needs?

a|I keep the drouth - tolerant plants in one part of the garden and the thirsty plants in another . They ’re on freestanding irrigation circuits so that they get just the right amount of water.(3 points )

b|It ’s something I keep in mind , but I ’ll make an elision if two plants depend really corking side by side.(2 point )

c|I never thought to consider H2O needs . I only rivet on Lord’s Day exposure and aesthetics when aggroup plants.(1 power point )

d|I mix things up however I want . What weigh to me is how things look , not how they work.(0 points )

➤ Why it matters : By arranging your garden so that piddle - do it plants are isolated from drouth - tolerant ones , you economize water and establish fitter plantings . Sustainable gardeners call this drill “ hydrozoning . ”

3. When it rains, where does most of your water go?

a|It abide in the garden where it belongs.(3 point )

b|Some of it runs off into the street.(2 full stop )

c|I do n’t have any idea . It never pass to me to call back about this.(1 point )

d|Most of the piddle seems to run off the property.(0 decimal point )

➤ Why it matter : In general , the more rain you keep on your attribute the considerably . Although conventional gutter and drainage scheme are necessary to protect against flooding , they too often carry away water that you could be using . Rain gardens , dry creek bed , and subside planter areas are all effective way to keep more pee on - site . Even bare tactics , like directing downspouts into planting layer , can aid lower piss circular . Just be sure that you do n’t make sloshed zones within 5 feet of the theatre .

4. How much attention do you give your soil?

a|I love my soil ! I top - attire with eminent - quality compost , utilize mulch to protect the ground and to husband water , never dig when the soil is wet , and would n’t dream of rototilling.(3 peak )

b|I spread mulch every spring and occasionally habituate organic fertilizer.(2 points )

c|Soil is just dirt to me . I do n’t recall about it.(1 pointedness )

d|I use chemical substance fertilizers , pesticide , and herbicides . And I do n’t like the look of mulch.(0 points )

➤ Why it weigh : A garden is only as healthy as its grunge . Many gardeners smash their soil by on a regular basis using chemical plant food , pesticide , and herbicides that destruct the complex balance of soil microorganisms , which are essential for the wellness of plant . For a great garden , feed works by apply compost , not chemical substance . You should also cultivate soil as petty as potential . Rototilling and figure out blind drunk soil equipment casualty the soil ’s structure , negatively affecting drainage .

5. How would you describe your taste in plants?

a|I grow mostly aboriginal plants and edibles . Before buy a nonnative coinage , I make indisputable it will originate in my region without pampering.(3 points )

b|I indulge in a few industrial plant that need surplus care.(2 point )

c|I love the classics — like hybrid roses , cherry Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , and tidy sum of annuals.(1 point )

d|I spring up mostly challenge plants , so I need pesticides and pot of water to keep them healthy.(0 points )

➤ Why it matters : If you opt for plants that are well matched to your soil character and climate , you ’ll save yourself a lot of sentence and expense . Properly sited native plants are best because they ’re generally low maintenance and offer habitats for aboriginal wildlife and insects . There ’s nothing wrong with foreign-born plant , however , as long as they come from an environment similar to yours and are n’t invasive . Edible plants are good , too , because growing your own food mean that you ’ll spell less from far aside .

6. How much weight do you give spacing guidelines?

a|I give all my plants room to grow . I discipline fledged size in my gardening book or online before deciding what to plant.(3 points )

b|I often industrial plant perennial too close together , but I give trees and shrubs the infinite they need.(2 points )

c|I push plants so that they sate in fast , even if it stand for having to move them later.(1 point )

d|I do n’t call up much about mature size at the prison term of planting , and I do n’t take care prune or transplanting if a plant becomes overgrown.(0 points )

➤ Why it matters : Pruning to control sizing father undertaking and green wastefulness . And if you use a gas - guzzling chain see instead of hand - powered loppers , it also produce noise and air pollution . It ’s gentle on you and your plants if you just practice “ correct plant , correct place ” from the start .

7. What watering method do you use most often?

a|A dribble - irrigation system(3 percentage point )

b|Overhead sprinkler with efficient nozzles and uniform coverage(2 gunpoint )

c|Hand lacrimation in well - run out soil(2 point )

d|Overhead sprinklers , but coverage is spotty and a tidy sum of the water system runs off(1 detail )

e|Hand watering in heavily stiff , poor - draining soil(0 points )

➤ Why it weigh : A good drip - irrigation system uses about half the water system of an overhead sprinkler , and the water soaks into the root geographical zone — where it belongs . The best drip systems consist of parallel transmission line of tubing , with emitter space every 12 to 18 column inch so that the entire root zone is irrigated ; this is called a “ gridiron ” system . Overhead sprinklers figure out well for lawns and ground covers ; mod sprinkler heads go for water more expeditiously than old - mode systems . manus watering is fine in sandy or loamy filth but is well avoided if you have clay grime , in which case water is more likely to extend off than rob in .

8. What’s your approach to weed control?

a|Inevertouch herbicides . I cut through the soil with mulch and hand - pull the few weeds that pop up.(3 points )

b|I am onboard with mulching , but I admit that I keep a nursing bottle of herbicide on script for excess - tough jobs.(2 distributor point )

c|I spend hours every calendar week hoeing weeds out of all my beds.(1 degree )

d|I do n’t see anything ill-timed with dope killers . My yard looks great , and I do n’t have to work so hard.(0 points )

➤ Why it matters : bar is half the conflict when it comes to weeds . Established gardens sure as shooting have the reward : Root competition from dense soil cover charge can crowd out weeds , and the shade from marvelous leafy plantings prevents unwanted come from germinating . Using a drip - irrigation system and watering less also keep pot seeds from take source , as does topdressing with a 3- to 4 - inch - buddy-buddy layer of organic mulch , such as wood chips or rip up bark . If you must use a weed killer whale , however , strain for an organic one , such as one contain vinegar or adhere oil color .

9. What’s your lawn-care routine?

a|I replaced my lawn with drought - tolerant ground covers.(3 pointedness )

b|I have a lawn , but I apply organic plant food , manage water cautiously , and mow with a push button mower ( or an electric mower).(2 points )

c|I occasionally expend chemical substance fertilizers and pesticide , and I likely could apply less water.(1 full stop )

d|I love my lawn . I use chemical pesticide , weed killer , and fertilizers , and I irrigate several times a week.(0 points )

➤ Why it matters : let no lawn is often the best option , but if you insist on preserve a grassy patch , consider these sustainable management tip : Mow the lawn to be no short than 2 to 3 inches high ( for most lawn potpourri ) to reduce water use , strengthen root systems , and outcompete smoke . go away the trimming on the lawn to put nutrient back into the territory and minimise green waste . Do n’t water unless you see foretoken of drouth tension : If the skunk fails to form back when step on , it ’s time to pull out the sprinkler . Remember that it is far better to water supply profoundly and infrequently than to water thinly and on a regular basis . And avoid inseminate — even organic fertilizer can enfeeble into waterways and leaching into the water table .

10. How do you control pests and diseases?

a|I develop mostly pest- and disease - resistant plants , so I seldom have a problem . When necessary , I use constitutional method acting , such as beneficial insects and the least - toxic pesticides.(3 points )

b|I’m not rigid about being constituent . Sometimes I habituate organic products ; sometimes I don’t.(2 points )

c|I like the musical theme of using constitutional method , but the brassy damage tatter of nonorganic choice usually wins out.(1 compass point )

d|I think the organic approach is a lot of hype and not deserving the expense.(0 points )

➤ Why it matters : Organic methods for cuss and disease control really do workplace — although you’re able to forbid a lot of trouble by simply acquire a variety of tough industrial plant with reputation for being trouble - costless . It also help to give your plants optimum turn conditions , which keep them healthy and make them less vulnerable to pests and disease . If you do run into publication , opt for approaches that are bad news for pest and diseases but harmless to wildlife , pets , and the great unwashed . think of : Not all organic mathematical product are whole safe , so be sure to follow label instructions carefully .

What’s your SCORE?

25–30 |You’re a sustainable all - star . praise !

15–24 |You’re doing a lot of thing correct . Now it ’s time to supercharge your garden . pluck the two or three motion for which you got the low mark , and go to do work on those .

0–14 |Old habits are tough to break . But if you do nothing else , at least abridge back on watering and spread some mulch . These two uncomplicated deed offer some of the biggest rewards , include less maintenance , lower water bills , and healthier plants .

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