TIPS FOR THE LAZY GARDENER

Kick the Toxics Habit While Kicking Back

By Alan Styles

Spring is in the air, the sun’s getting stronger and I can’t wait to sit in my back yard and marvel at the flowers in bloom and edibles thriving. But wait—doesn’t that mean it’s also the season for a whole lot of work? Weeding, pruning, spraying, watering and hauling yard waste? That’s just not my style. In fact, I’ve found that a beautiful yard can be yours without a lot of effort, if you just apply some of Mother Nature’s gardening techniques, like composting and less toxic pest control.

These common-sense practices leave you not only with more leisure time, they’re also healthier for your family and the environment. Using fewer synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and weed killers creates a safer yard for family and pets, and prevents harm to beneficial insects, birds and other wildlife.

Composting
Lets start from the ground up … literally! Every good garden begins with the soil, and one of the best soil amendments is compost. The best part: you can make compost yourself right in your backyard. How? By letting fruit and vegetable scraps from your kitchen, grass clippings, leaves and other yard waste break down naturally in a pile or special compost bin—you can build your own or buy one. (Please see Resources.)

Composting is easy if you follow a few simple rules. For step-by-step instructions visit www.compostguide.com, or get live advice from a Monterey Bay Master Gardener. (See Resources.)

Less Toxic Pest Control
Keeping your garden free of harmful insects begins with the right choice of plants. As a rule, native plants are less susceptible to pests (and usually need less water, too). You can also pair plants that tend to “cooperate”, so that one naturally wards off the other’s pests! For example, rosemary deters moths, beetles and flies that feed on cabbage, beans, carrots and sage.

The knowledgeable staff at Bokay Nursery (see Resources) can help you select the right plants that thrive on little maintenance and water. This Salinas nursery also carries pest-specific biological pesticides that have minimal or no effect on beneficial insects and are safe for the environment. While you’re there, pick up some of their free fact sheets on eco-friendly ways to deal with specific pest problems. For more local stores offering safer gardening products and expert advice, call the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority (SVSWA) at 775-3000.

If you experience a sudden urge to get rid of all those left-over conventional gardening chemicals in your shed, you’re on the right track to a low-toxic garden! Dispose of any unwanted chemicals safely at the SVSWA’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection facilities. (See Resources.) NEVER pour these types of chemicals down the sink, toilet or storm drains nor put them in the garbage.

Get Inspired
Ready to join the League of Lazy Gardeners? (Don’t get too excited; I don’t think there’s any such thing.) For more inspiration throughout the summer, mark your calendar for the Smart Gardening Faire in Scotts Valley on June 21, as well as the countywide Master Gardener’s Tour on August 9 and 10. Both are organized by the Monterey County Master Gardeners. (See their website, listed in Resources, for details.) The tour showcases eco-friendly gardens, and yours could be one of them! The application deadline is May 19.

Happy spring!