For ‘Greener’ gardening, follow this common-sense advice.
By Judy and David Rogers
Sustainability has been defined as meeting the requirements of the present without compromising the future. The gardener who employs sustainable practices uses lessons from earliest farming and gardening practices: the ways food and vegetation have been grown throughout history.
“Green” gardening is the practice of growing vegetables, herbs, fruits, and lawns in cooperation with nature, using only material found in nature—that is, gardening without the use of harmful and artificial chemicals. Sustainable gardening begins with building healthy soil. Depletion of organic nutrients is the leading cause of unhealthy plants, and unhealthy plants invite disease.
Start with Healthy Soil
Soil depletion has been the norm for too long a time. With the advent of pesticides and manmade nutrients, soils have become out of balance and will be for a long time to come. We should take the time to understand the local environment, learn a bit about soil and biological science and combine that with common sense.
Cape Cod soil is mostly composed of porous sand with pockets of clay on the north side of the Cape and sporadic deep pockets of loam on the Upper Cape. Porous sandy soil encourages quick drainage. Successful gardening depends on soil that drains well, but also on soil that will hold adequate amounts of moisture for optimum plant growth.
How do you know what you need to create healthy soil and healthy plants? Your local Cooperative Extension Office will perform basic pH testing and will provide the resources you need for further, in-depth soil analysis. You can then make the necessary adjustments to your planting areas by applying appropriate natural nutrients. Be aware that your soil may test differently in various areas. Always provide several well-marked samples from each area for testing.
You can easily make compost to enrich your soil from garden and kitchen waste. Humus (decaying plant material), lime and other additives may be needed to help the soil retain appropriate moisture and reach the right pH balance. Feed the soil and your plants will be all the healthier.
When it rains or when snow melts, lawn and garden chemicals run off into streams and rivers that drain into larger bodies of water. Drainage practices directly affect the health of the local watershed. Areas with mostly clay soils generate too much runoff. Sandy soil doesn’t allow enough water to remain. You want your soil to work with you, not against you. Check with your local conservation commission to see what soil type you have and act accordingly.
Plant Sensibly
The importance of weather as it affects our lawns and gardens extends far beyond just the amount of rain. Temperatures, humidity, cloud cover and other factors also play a significant role in your landscape, some of which you can control and some you can’t. Wind will dry out your gardens. Consider a windbreak, such as a fence or hedge.
Mulch has several advantages. It keeps weeds under control, helps with the moderation of soil temperature and moisture retention and dresses up an area. Free “healthy” Cape Cod mulches include beach grass and seaweed. Mulch should not be applied too deeply as it will offer a convenient home to rodents and encourages all types of fungal invaders. Applying mulch too close to the stem of the plant only increases the possibility of invasive disease.
Raised beds are an exciting approach to sustainable landscaping. Raised gardens work for flowers or food. These beds can be formed into a variety of shapes with walkways in between. Pathways of gravel, stone, mulch or clamshells can offer color and texture and eliminate weeds and the necessity to mow.
Plants that have become adapted to the Cape Cod environment are wise choices. Plants such as Clethra, Viburnum, shad, blueberry, sweet fern, bayberry and inkberry all have a proven track record for requiring less water and fewer nutrients, and they have adapted to the extremes of Cape Cod weather. These beautiful tough plants will provide flower, fragrance and berries for the wildlife, as well as help with screening.
Water Responsibly
The average rainfall on Cape Cod is 43.8 inches. Some towns on the Cape institute watering bans in summer, when demand is high. Your gardening practices have everything to do with your ability to use water to its best advantage and efficiency. It is best to water infrequently but deeply, to the depth of the root system. A light spray remains near the surface; it fails to soak to the plant roots. A deep soaking once a week is much preferred to an every-other-day light watering. With only light watering, your plants will be shallow-rooted, weak, and will not reach their full growth potential.
A fixed irrigation system may be for you. It is important that these systems be installed and operated appropriately. There are basically two kinds of systems. Sprinkler systems take into account your plant types, heights and needs and are installed accordingly. A system can be can be monitored with a rain gauge, which will shut the system down when there has been sufficient rain. A drip-soaker irrigation system (a perforated hose buried in a garden or flower bed) keeps the water within the mulch, minimizing drifting spray and significantly lessening evaporation from the ground. Incidentally, this practice will significantly reduce the spread of “black spot” on roses.
Read the Label
When purchasing plant-care products, be careful to avert accidental poisoning of your pets and fellow humans. It is imperative you read all of the directions on any product label and observe the precautions recommended by the manufacturer. Remember, even organic materials should be handled with care.
Plant a Tree
Reports from the National Arbor Day Foundation emphasize the importance of trees as green infrastructure while creating healthier communities. Just three shade trees strategically placed around your home can decrease utility bills by as much as 50 percent. The National Arbor Day Foundation also offers these facts:
• Residential property values can increase up to 20 percent if trees are part of the landscape.
• Crime rates decrease in areas with more greenery.
• Children who have a view of greenery perform better in school.
• Access to green spaces relieves the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder, resulting in better concentration.
• Access to green areas helps reduce stress and aggression in urban environments.
• Each year, an acre of trees absorbs the amount of carbon produced by driving a car 26,000 miles.
“Green” gardening is the practice of growing vegetables, herbs, fruits, and lawns in cooperation with nature, using only material found in nature—that is, gardening without the use of harmful and artificial chemicals. Sustainable gardening begins with building healthy soil. Depletion of organic nutrients is the leading cause of unhealthy plants, and unhealthy plants invite disease. 
moderation of soil temperature and moisture retention and dresses up an area. Free “healthy” Cape Cod mulches include beach grass and seaweed. Mulch should not be applied too deeply as it will offer a convenient home to rodents and encourages all types of fungal invaders. Applying mulch too close to the stem of the plant only increases the possibility of invasive disease.