Ways to cut down on plastics in your own landscape
These sturdy 1- and 2-gallon planting pots can be recycled and reused, at home, at a community garden or local nonprofit group that propagates plants, or through businesses such as Home Depot. Kathy Morrison
Today, April 22, people around the globe commemorate Earth Day, one of the world’s longest-running environmental awareness campaigns. Since 1970, Earth Day has spotlighted major issues affecting our planet and the ways individuals can tackle solutions at the grassroots level.
An estimated 1 billion people representing 190 countries will take part in some sort of Earth Day activity this year, according to the Earth Day Network.
The 2024 theme: “Planet vs. Plastics.” The proposed goal: Reduce the production of plastics by 60% by 2040.
“Our theme, ‘Planet vs. Plastics,’ calls to advocate for widespread awareness on the health risk of plastics, rapidly phase out all single-use plastics, urgently push for a strong U.N. Treaty on Plastic Pollution, and demand an end to fast fashion,” says EarthDay.org. “Join us as we build a plastic-free planet for generations to come!”
For example, plastic represents 80% of marine trash, note Earth Day experts. Besides polluting rivers and oceans, plastic waste has negative impacts on wildlife. A recent study showed that birds accidentally eat a lot of plastic, especially those living near water. About 90% of seabirds consume plastic as part of their daily diet, which can lead to disease and death, says the National Geographic. (Plastic does not digest.)
For gardeners, every day can be Earth Day. How can you reduce the use of plastics in your garden?
* No black plastic mulch or landscape fabric. Designed to cut down on weeds, black plastic absorbs too much heat and cooks the roots of plants that it surrounds. And it does nothing for the soil while eventually ending up in landfills. Organic alternatives – such as dried leaves, wood chips, compost, shredded bark or straw – do more than suppress weeds; they also feed the soil and roots while retaining soil moisture and keeping roots comfortable.
* Reuse and recycle plastic pots. The sturdy 1- or 5-gallon pots that come with new plants can be reused for years. If you have too many, don’t toss them. Ask your local nursery or community garden if they need them. These pots are recyclable. The Home Depot launched a recycling program to accept any plastic garden containers (not just the big pots and regardless of their point of purchase). Look for the green recycling signs in Home Depot nursery departments.
* Use plastic alternatives. Instead of plastic pots, use egg cartons, cardboard or paper pots to grow seedlings.
* Cut down on garden chemicals. The more chemicals you use, the more plastic containers that pile up in your garden shed. Eliminate the use of pesticides and herbicides in your garden, and your plastic use goes down, too.
* Pay attention to packaging. Buy plants grown in paper pots. Select fertilizers or amendments packaged in paper or cardboard. (Note: Rodents will chew on paper containers given a chance. A large covered plastic tub for storage can act as a barrier and still cut down on the other plastic use).
For more inspiration: https://www.earthday.org/.
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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3
November still offers good weather for fall planting:
* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.
* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.
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