So what makes a garden sustainable?

Kris Burns, Chairperson of the WSU/Jefferson County Master Gardeners’ Secret Garden Tour, shares a checklist of some sustainable garden features.

A sustainable gardener conserves water by:

• Mulching around plants
• Applying water only as needed according to soil conditions, plant age and type
• Using soaker hoses or drip irrigation

A sustainable gardener designs by:

• Clustering plants with similar needs together
• Placing the part of the garden requiring the most care closest to the house
• Taking advantage of microclimates
• Incorporating edible plants in the landscape
• Planting with wildlife in mind

A sustainable gardener attends to soil tilth by:

• Composting garden and household vegetable matter
• Protecting the soil from erosion
• Defining walkways and driveways to prevent compacting the soil
• Mulching by using readily available materials like straw, compost or gravel
• Revitalize soil with organic fertilizers and compost

A sustainable gardener chooses plants that:

• Attract beneficial insects
• Are non-invasive (each county has invasive species lists)
• Are appropriate to the area’s climate like natives and their friends (or related ornamentals that blend with the surrounding landscape)
• Can be maintained with less use of power tools
• Are for texture and multi-season interest
• Are grown locally whenever possible

A sustainable garden conserves the gardener’s energy by:

• Using the leaves that fall as mulch on the beds
• Appreciating a plant’s natural form and planting the right size plant in the right place
• Understanding the role of insects in the garden
• Tolerating minor imperfections
• Using mulch to reduce weeding and prevent disease
• Returning plant pots to nurseries who will reuse them