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Gardening trends change over time as we learn more about the soil, the plants we’re keeping, and growing strategies that work. Fine-tuning our growing techniques makes our gardens better, but it can also reduce waste, facilitate pollinators, and simplify plant care.
In this guide, gardening pros share what they believe are the gardening habits to break this year if you want to grow a healthier, happier, and more eco-friendly garden.
Meet the Expert
- Alan Mitchell is the head gardener at Dr. Neil’s Garden, located in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Josh Nelson is the development director at Wild Ones, a non-profit organization that promotes eco-friendly landscaping.
- Jack Kertesz is the landscape coordinator at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA).
Onfokus / Getty Images
Neglecting Soil Health
“As a gardener, consider yourself as an employer, caretaker, or a benefactor,” Jack Kertesz, the landscape coordinator at Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), says. “Your first priority is to nourish and provide habitat for a myriad of soil organisms.”
Soil microbes break down organic matter and improve the health and growth of plants. However, enhancing soil health can also reduce drainage issues, limit weeds, and provide other benefits to your garden. The best part is that building vigorous soil can be as uncomplicated as adding an annual application of compost or aged manure or exploring no-till gardening techniques, like lasagna gardening.
Maryviolet / Getty Images
Leaving Garden Beds Bare
Kertesz also advises against leaving soil bare and exposed to the elements and stresses the importance of covering the soil with a mixture of organic materials. Kertesz explains how this will facilitate preserve moisture, release nutrients over time, and keep microorganisms engaged.
However, as Alan Mitchell, the head gardener of Dr. Neil’s Garden, notes, not all soil coverings are created equal. Mitchell advises against using plastic astroturf or other plastic-based soil coverings and recommends using natural products instead.
“Plastic products break down quickly in sunlight and become millions of pieces of microplastics,” Mitchell explains. “It’s far better to have a lawn, flowerbed, gravel bed, or something that is going to be permeable to water and reduce flooding potential.”
Matt Tillett / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Not Planting Native
Mitchell adds that he’d also like to see more gardeners replace non-native plants with native ones since they’re often the best suited to local conditions.
Josh Nelson, the development director at Wild Ones, agrees and adds that increasing the number of native plants in gardens is the number one change he’d like to see in the future.
“Native plants are the foundation of ecosystems and they strengthen our shared environment,” Nelson says. “They also conserve water, thrive without harmful chemicals, and provide vital habitat for wildlife—all while transforming yards into spirited, climate-resilient spaces.”
Nelson adds that native planting is one of the best ways to preserve biodiversity and support local food webs. If you want to make your garden more pollinator-friendly, planting native is the way to go.
Steve Whiston – Fallen Log Photography / Getty Images
Choosing Double-Bloom Flowers
Aside from growing native plants, Mitchell has another suggestion for growers who are interested in pollinator gardening: avoid double-bloom or hybrid flowers.
Mitchell explains that double-bloomed flowers offer minimal pollen and nectar to insects. Instead, Mitchell suggests choosing plants with many compact flowers since they often provide more food for wildlife.
It’s also wise to look for plants with wide open flowerheads, as well as different flower colors and shapes, and different bloom times. This will attract more pollinators and add complexity to your garden design.
McKinneMike / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Relying on Chemical Pesticides and Herbicides
The overuse of chemical pesticides and herbicides harms pollinator populations and can lead to issues like run-off. That’s why Mitchell also emphasizes the importance of growing organically when you can.
Mitchell notes that growing native plants naturally reduces pest issues. But you can also thwart pests with row covers and gardening techniques, like crop rotation and companion planting.
For natural weed control, try no-till gardening, dig out pesky weeds with a hori-hori gardening knife, or spot-treat weeds with vinegar spray.
F. D. Richards / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Watering Inefficiently
Reducing pesticides and building soil health creates more earth-friendly landscapes. But eco-minded gardeners can also make their yards a little “greener” by making a habit of watering more efficiently.
This can look like swapping out wasteful overhead sprinklers for more proficient drip irrigation lines. But you can also save water by capturing rain in a rain barrel, growing drought-resistant native plants, mulching, and watering in the morning when water evaporates slowly. Not only will these changes make your garden more water-resilient, but they’ll also make watering much easier.
,summary should tell what is discussed or gonna be discussed in article and give heading to this section “Introduction”. please dont add any introductory text or any instruction because this introduction paragraph is directly getting published in article i dont want it to look like copy paste or AI generated
Gardening trends change over time as we learn more about the soil, the plants we’re keeping, and growing strategies that work. Fine-tuning our growing techniques makes our gardens better, but it can also reduce waste, facilitate pollinators, and simplify plant care.
In this guide, gardening pros share what they believe are the gardening habits to break this year if you want to grow a healthier, happier, and more eco-friendly garden.
Meet the Expert
- Alan Mitchell is the head gardener at Dr. Neil’s Garden, located in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Josh Nelson is the development director at Wild Ones, a non-profit organization that promotes eco-friendly landscaping.
- Jack Kertesz is the landscape coordinator at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA).
Onfokus / Getty Images
Neglecting Soil Health
“As a gardener, consider yourself as an employer, caretaker, or a benefactor,” Jack Kertesz, the landscape coordinator at Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), says. “Your first priority is to nourish and provide habitat for a myriad of soil organisms.”
Soil microbes break down organic matter and improve the health and growth of plants. However, enhancing soil health can also reduce drainage issues, limit weeds, and provide other benefits to your garden. The best part is that building vigorous soil can be as uncomplicated as adding an annual application of compost or aged manure or exploring no-till gardening techniques, like lasagna gardening.
Maryviolet / Getty Images
Leaving Garden Beds Bare
Kertesz also advises against leaving soil bare and exposed to the elements and stresses the importance of covering the soil with a mixture of organic materials. Kertesz explains how this will facilitate preserve moisture, release nutrients over time, and keep microorganisms engaged.
However, as Alan Mitchell, the head gardener of Dr. Neil’s Garden, notes, not all soil coverings are created equal. Mitchell advises against using plastic astroturf or other plastic-based soil coverings and recommends using natural products instead.
“Plastic products break down quickly in sunlight and become millions of pieces of microplastics,” Mitchell explains. “It’s far better to have a lawn, flowerbed, gravel bed, or something that is going to be permeable to water and reduce flooding potential.”
Matt Tillett / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Not Planting Native
Mitchell adds that he’d also like to see more gardeners replace non-native plants with native ones since they’re often the best suited to local conditions.
Josh Nelson, the development director at Wild Ones, agrees and adds that increasing the number of native plants in gardens is the number one change he’d like to see in the future.
“Native plants are the foundation of ecosystems and they strengthen our shared environment,” Nelson says. “They also conserve water, thrive without harmful chemicals, and provide vital habitat for wildlife—all while transforming yards into spirited, climate-resilient spaces.”
Nelson adds that native planting is one of the best ways to preserve biodiversity and support local food webs. If you want to make your garden more pollinator-friendly, planting native is the way to go.
Steve Whiston – Fallen Log Photography / Getty Images
Choosing Double-Bloom Flowers
Aside from growing native plants, Mitchell has another suggestion for growers who are interested in pollinator gardening: avoid double-bloom or hybrid flowers.
Mitchell explains that double-bloomed flowers offer minimal pollen and nectar to insects. Instead, Mitchell suggests choosing plants with many compact flowers since they often provide more food for wildlife.
It’s also wise to look for plants with wide open flowerheads, as well as different flower colors and shapes, and different bloom times. This will attract more pollinators and add complexity to your garden design.
McKinneMike / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Relying on Chemical Pesticides and Herbicides
The overuse of chemical pesticides and herbicides harms pollinator populations and can lead to issues like run-off. That’s why Mitchell also emphasizes the importance of growing organically when you can.
Mitchell notes that growing native plants naturally reduces pest issues. But you can also thwart pests with row covers and gardening techniques, like crop rotation and companion planting.
For natural weed control, try no-till gardening, dig out pesky weeds with a hori-hori gardening knife, or spot-treat weeds with vinegar spray.
F. D. Richards / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Watering Inefficiently
Reducing pesticides and building soil health creates more earth-friendly landscapes. But eco-minded gardeners can also make their yards a little “greener” by making a habit of watering more efficiently.
This can look like swapping out wasteful overhead sprinklers for more proficient drip irrigation lines. But you can also save water by capturing rain in a rain barrel, growing drought-resistant native plants, mulching, and watering in the morning when water evaporates slowly. Not only will these changes make your garden more water-resilient, but they’ll also make watering much easier.
please generate atleast 4 “FAQs” using
Gardening trends change over time as we learn more about the soil, the plants we’re keeping, and growing strategies that work. Fine-tuning our growing techniques makes our gardens better, but it can also reduce waste, facilitate pollinators, and simplify plant care.
In this guide, gardening pros share what they believe are the gardening habits to break this year if you want to grow a healthier, happier, and more eco-friendly garden.
Meet the Expert
- Alan Mitchell is the head gardener at Dr. Neil’s Garden, located in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Josh Nelson is the development director at Wild Ones, a non-profit organization that promotes eco-friendly landscaping.
- Jack Kertesz is the landscape coordinator at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA).
Onfokus / Getty Images
Neglecting Soil Health
“As a gardener, consider yourself as an employer, caretaker, or a benefactor,” Jack Kertesz, the landscape coordinator at Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), says. “Your first priority is to nourish and provide habitat for a myriad of soil organisms.”
Soil microbes break down organic matter and improve the health and growth of plants. However, enhancing soil health can also reduce drainage issues, limit weeds, and provide other benefits to your garden. The best part is that building vigorous soil can be as uncomplicated as adding an annual application of compost or aged manure or exploring no-till gardening techniques, like lasagna gardening.
Maryviolet / Getty Images
Leaving Garden Beds Bare
Kertesz also advises against leaving soil bare and exposed to the elements and stresses the importance of covering the soil with a mixture of organic materials. Kertesz explains how this will facilitate preserve moisture, release nutrients over time, and keep microorganisms engaged.
However, as Alan Mitchell, the head gardener of Dr. Neil’s Garden, notes, not all soil coverings are created equal. Mitchell advises against using plastic astroturf or other plastic-based soil coverings and recommends using natural products instead.
“Plastic products break down quickly in sunlight and become millions of pieces of microplastics,” Mitchell explains. “It’s far better to have a lawn, flowerbed, gravel bed, or something that is going to be permeable to water and reduce flooding potential.”
Matt Tillett / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Not Planting Native
Mitchell adds that he’d also like to see more gardeners replace non-native plants with native ones since they’re often the best suited to local conditions.
Josh Nelson, the development director at Wild Ones, agrees and adds that increasing the number of native plants in gardens is the number one change he’d like to see in the future.
“Native plants are the foundation of ecosystems and they strengthen our shared environment,” Nelson says. “They also conserve water, thrive without harmful chemicals, and provide vital habitat for wildlife—all while transforming yards into spirited, climate-resilient spaces.”
Nelson adds that native planting is one of the best ways to preserve biodiversity and support local food webs. If you want to make your garden more pollinator-friendly, planting native is the way to go.
Steve Whiston – Fallen Log Photography / Getty Images
Choosing Double-Bloom Flowers
Aside from growing native plants, Mitchell has another suggestion for growers who are interested in pollinator gardening: avoid double-bloom or hybrid flowers.
Mitchell explains that double-bloomed flowers offer minimal pollen and nectar to insects. Instead, Mitchell suggests choosing plants with many compact flowers since they often provide more food for wildlife.
It’s also wise to look for plants with wide open flowerheads, as well as different flower colors and shapes, and different bloom times. This will attract more pollinators and add complexity to your garden design.
McKinneMike / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Relying on Chemical Pesticides and Herbicides
The overuse of chemical pesticides and herbicides harms pollinator populations and can lead to issues like run-off. That’s why Mitchell also emphasizes the importance of growing organically when you can.
Mitchell notes that growing native plants naturally reduces pest issues. But you can also thwart pests with row covers and gardening techniques, like crop rotation and companion planting.
For natural weed control, try no-till gardening, dig out pesky weeds with a hori-hori gardening knife, or spot-treat weeds with vinegar spray.
F. D. Richards / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Watering Inefficiently
Reducing pesticides and building soil health creates more earth-friendly landscapes. But eco-minded gardeners can also make their yards a little “greener” by making a habit of watering more efficiently.
This can look like swapping out wasteful overhead sprinklers for more proficient drip irrigation lines. But you can also save water by capturing rain in a rain barrel, growing drought-resistant native plants, mulching, and watering in the morning when water evaporates slowly. Not only will these changes make your garden more water-resilient, but they’ll also make watering much easier.
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