60 Days Until Spring: Get Ready for Your Best Garden Yet!
Hello More Than Gardeners,
Spring is just around the corner—only about 60 days away! While time seems to be flying, there’s no time to waste when it comes to preparing for a better, healthier environment. These uncertain times for the planet require all of us to take action now to promote sustainable, ecological practices that ensure a clean and thriving future for our families and communities.
Start Planning Now for Your Best Garden Yet!
Now is the perfect time to start planning for a garden that’s not only beautiful but also sustainable. Here at More Than Gardens, we’ve been busy:
Listing seeds to buy.
Designing fresh garden beds.
Allocating plants for shopping lists.
Developing a new and more complete care guide for after-planting instructions.
Launching our new YouTube channel! Check it out here.
When spring arrives, we’ll be ready to create our best gardens yet. (I say this every year, but somehow, every year it gets better!) If you need help planning your garden or have big ideas you want to bring to life, now’s the time.
Spread the Knowledge!
Do you know a library, community group, or club interested in learning about:
Native plants?
Ecological landscaping practices?
Building resilient, planet-friendly gardens?
I would be honored to share my knowledge and passion with them. Together, we can inspire others to make meaningful changes, one property at a time.
Invasive Plants: This Week’s Focus
Invasive plants pose a significant threat to natural ecosystems. They choke out native species, disrupt habitats, and alter soil health. While quick fixes like herbicides are tempting, they often cause more harm than good. This week, we’re focusing on sustainable, effective methods to remove invasive plants from your property.
1. Manual Removal
Physically digging up invasive plants by the roots ensures the entire plant—including the root system—is removed, preventing regrowth. This method is especially effective for smaller areas or species with shallow roots.
Why it’s better:
No harmful chemicals are introduced.
Complete control over what is removed, reducing risk to native plants.
An excellent way to inspect soil health and learn about your garden’s ecosystem.
Tips:
Use tools like a digging fork or root wrench for stubborn plants.
Remove plants when the soil is moist for easier extraction.
2. Fire Removal
Controlled burns can eliminate invasive plants, particularly grasses or woody species. Fire removes above-ground biomass, weakens plants, and returns nutrients like nitrogen to the soil.
Why it’s better:
Mimics natural processes, benefiting fire-adapted native species.
Avoids chemical use and reduces invasive seed banks in the soil.
Tips:
Consult professionals and obtain necessary permits.
Works best in open areas away from structures.
3. Repeated Cutting or Grazing
Repeatedly cutting back invasive plants prevents them from flowering and seeding. Goats or sheep can also graze on invasive species in difficult-to-access areas.
Why it’s better:
Eliminates the need for herbicides.
Grazing animals contribute to soil fertility.
Safe for surrounding plants and the ecosystem.
Tips:
Cut plants during their growing season but before seeding.
Monitor grazing to avoid damage to native plants.
4. Smothering
Cover invasive plants with tarps, cardboard, mulch, or other materials to block sunlight and prevent photosynthesis. Over time, the lack of sunlight kills the plants.
Why it’s better:
No harmful chemicals are used.
Mulching adds organic material as it decomposes.
Tips:
Use thick materials that block light completely.
Be patient; smothering can take weeks or months.
Why Sustainable Methods Matter
While chemical herbicides may seem like a quick fix, they can harm the ecosystem, leach into water sources, and kill beneficial organisms. Sustainable methods prioritize:
Environmental health: Protecting soil microorganisms, water quality, and wildlife.
Safety: Avoiding harmful residues for current and future land users.
Biodiversity: Promoting the health of native plants and ecosystems.
By choosing sustainable methods, your garden can become a haven for native biodiversity, supporting a thriving natural ecosystem.
Coming Next Week
We’ll explore how to incorporate exotic plants into your garden in ways that are safe for the environment—without planting them directly in the soil!
Let’s Connect
While the season is still slow, I’d love to chat with you—over tea or email. Let’s discuss how we can work together to make your garden thrive in harmony with nature.
Warmly,
Agatha
Founder, More Than Gardens
Creating ecological landscapes for a sustainable future
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