After a (more) carefree winter, snow squirrels, winter and willows in the garden can cheer you up.
If you're browsing magazines for ideas during the longer, warmer days of March, you'll find a common theme among the "gardening trends" of 2023: climate-resistant gardens, low-maintenance gardens, and the inclusion of the word "native." .” weeds such as rose, verbena, and Joe Pye weed.
All these ideas help save and conserve water. Let's start with this good weed.
First, no one recommends leaving the garden for dandelions. So why not dedicate grass that never looked better to native plants loved by birds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators?
Pennsylvania is home to dozens of different goldenrods, enough to keep you blooming for months. And that means a full season of pollen and nectar to support this important pollinator. Throw in some bright yellow sneezeweed, Joe Pye grass, and lemon balm and you've got some good cut flowers for you and your friends.
Low-maintenance gardening starts with lawn care.
Notice this simple change.
• Do not cut at the edge of the stream. Extensive natural buffers of native plants and grasses look good and protect streams and wetlands from chemically polluted runoff. A buffer of 50 feet is good, 150 feet is even better.
• Clear drainage ditches of debris to allow rainwater to drain onto the site, prevent flooding, and allow groundwater recharge. Let the local vegetation grow there peacefully. Natives like goldenrod are natural water purifiers.
• Reduce the time spent tending and maintaining your grass so it always looks good. Mow less where you want your lawn to be playful or fun. slightly longer grass will cool the roots and keep your grass green instead of burnt brown in the summer heat.
Give yourself another break. do not rake or pocket the unit. They are loose mulches that return nutrients to the soil.
• In addition to mowing the lawn, use less fertilizers and pesticides; Just because it's a little better doesn't mean it's better. They store all the chemicals that pollute rivers and groundwater.
A backyard garden offers you beauty, fruits and vegetables, habitats for pollinators and birds, a place to play and entertain friends and a compost pile, and is suitable for reptiles.
When you apply simple ideas like these to conserve and conserve water, it all adds up to a more climate-resilient and water-friendly garden.
Learn more about native "good weeds" at https://extension.psu.edu/pennsylvania-native-plants-for-the-perennial-garde.
The Broadhead Watershed Association is dedicated to protecting and protecting clean and abundant water.
For rain barrels, rain gardens and other water-friendly ideas, visit www.brodheadwatershed.org.
The Broadhead Watershed Association is a non-profit environmental organization founded in 1989. BWA is committed to the conservation and protection of water resources and the environment in the Broadhead River basin, as well as water quality in the Broadhead, Cherry, Marshalls, McMichael, Paradise and Pocono rivers. Rivers and their tributaries...
BWA supports communities, residents, businesses and groups in protecting natural resources through training, workshops, community programs and river monitoring.
For info: info@brodheadwatershed.org or 570-839-1120.
Thirty different species of goldfish grow in Pennsylvania and water-loving gardens. These beauties are great for cutting and also help clean up rain and runoff. PHOTOS INCLUDED
