HAWAI'I GARDENS
A few tips on how to be an eco-friendly gardener
By Heidi Bornhorst
Q. What is sustainable landscaping? It sounds like an oxymoron, like a sustainable neighborhood — does that mean no more houses, new cars and additional traffic?
— TG
A. Sustainable landscaping is a real thing. You have probably been doing some of this for years if you open your eyes in the garden and pay attention to nature.
It is akamai, common-sense gardening that takes xeriscaping, integrated pest management and other tools and uses them in ways that are good for the garden, our islands and the planet.
There is a new book detailing this, and they have let me use the following concepts.
"Ecology for Gardeners," by Steven B. Carroll and Steven D. Salt, provides 10 Tips for Ecologically Sound Gardening:
1. Choose plants suited to your environment, rather than attempt to re-engineer your environment to suit ill-adapted plants. But don't forget that almost every yard has sites warmer or colder, drier or wetter, or otherwise different than your average conditions, and some plants ill-suited to your general conditions may survive or thrive in these micro-environments.
2. Maintain plant diversity in your garden, both in space and in time. Use vertical layering, companion planting, intercropping, crop rotation and other diversification techniques.
3. Take care of your soil and it will take care of your plants. Especially, maintain a high level of organic matter; prevent erosion and compaction; and avoid contamination with salts and other toxic materials. Obtain a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Survey for your county and learn about your soil.
4. Learn who your garden's friends and enemies are — and how to identify them. Most earthworms, spiders, snakes, toads and birds — and even many insects — are friends, not enemies. Take care of your friends, even if they are creepy-crawlies. And even when you must eliminate an enemy, such as an insect preying on your garden plants, carefully identify it and beware that you do not harm innocent bystanders or the environment in the process.
5. Do your bit for conservation. Plant properly purchased native or rare species in your ornamental garden; raise heirloom veggies in your kitchen garden. Avoid planting aggressively invasive species that may escape and invade local ecosystems.
6. Manage water wisely; plant wetland plants in soggy locations and drought-tolerant ones in dry areas. If you do use irrigation, use it efficiently and don't waste water. Look into trickle/drip irrigation; it uses less than half as much water as other types, especially sprinklers. Don't use sodium-loaded softened water for irrigation; soft water makes for hard soil.
7. Reduce use of pesticides and fertilizers — both synthetic and natural. If you do use these, do so carefully (read the label!) and only to supplement other techniques of pest control and soil fertility management. Have your soil tested so as not to waste fertilizer.
8. Keep a close eye — and ear and nose — on your garden. Scout it frequently. Problems spotted early are easier to remedy. Remember the old saying: "The eye of the farmer (or gardener) is the best fertilizer."
9. Garden locally. Consider your garden as part of your neighborhood. It will trade pollen, chemicals, both good and bad organisms, airborne seeds, odors, noises, and even runoff water with your neighbors. Visit your neighbors, help them, trade seeds and labor, and donate extra produce or flowers. Be a good neighbor.
10. Garden globally. Consider the global impact of all your actions, not just their immediate consequences. Reduce, recycle. Use household wastes for compost or mulch. Re-use containers. Look into gray-water irrigation.
Use hand tools rather than power equipment whenever feasible; they are good for the health of both the environment and your body. If you must use power equipment, use it efficiently and sparingly, and keep it well maintained. Purchase responsibly and ethically produced products.
Be a good steward of the Earth.
Heidi Bornhorst is a sustainable-landscape consultant. Send her your questions at islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com or Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. Letters may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.
