Photo Credit: National Garden Bureau

Planting seeds is what gardeners do in the “green” movement.

Everyone’s talking about “going green.” We’ve got green volunteers, cities and businesses trumpeting loudly, “We’ve gone green!” Even the department store Macy’s has been advertising its “greenness.” But what does it all really mean?

Basically the “green movement” can be defined as being concerned and careful with our environment – husbanding our natural resources rather than wasting them, as well as trying to reduce our impact on our environment. For many people, it means using fluorescent light bulbs, walking instead of riding, turning down the heat and air conditioning, reducing air pollution as best as possible and cutting down on the contributions to landfill waste.

Yet amid all the hyperbole and fluff, what does going green mean to gardeners?

The truth of the matter is, gardeners have always been “green” – though some more so than others. By definition, we gardeners have embraced being green since the beginning of time. It’s what we do, and we should keep in mind that we’re actually charter members of the green movement. Those of us who get out into the sunshine (and rain) to get our hands dirty in the good soil to grow are truly “green.” But that doesn’t mean we can’t do more.

Add Photo to Journal

Photo Credit: Gerald Burke

Succulents can be beautiful groundcovers that take little care and water.

Here are some solid suggestions on ways to become even greener:

Get out and plant. Yes, plant trees, but take care to select the right tree for your area. Locate it where it will provide shade in summer but let the sun shine through in winter. Keep it trimmed, and compost the trimmings if you can.

Also make sure the ornamental plantings in your garden are adapted to your climate and are water wise, as well as beautiful. That means not planting Joshua trees in Minneapolis or dogwoods in the Sonoran Desert. Desert plants will make it with little water where the climate is right; dogwoods belong where their natural requirements are met. A good gardener doesn’t try to grow bananas in Monument Valley, or mountain laurels in Los Angeles. It’s just a waste of water, fertilizer and effort.