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In a nutshell, sustainable gardening means gardening with the reserved use of fertilizer and pesticides. Probably the most important part of sustainable gardening is thorough research into what kind of climate and soil you have. For instance, if you live in the piedmont, where the summers are intense and clay soil abounds, you probably don't want to plant something that needs a maximum temperature of 70 degrees. However, if you have just fallen in love with a plant that has issues with bad drainage and attracts a variety of pests, there are several things you can do not only to allow yourself the freedom to buy that plant but to give that plant a healthy environment in which to live.
Composting
Azaleas and blueberries love coffee grounds, which usually find their way into the trash can. And some of your other food scraps make great compost for flowers that enjoy a more basic soil. Raked leaves and old pine straw doesn't need to be bagged-it provides brown material that adds nitrogen to your compost. And after you cut the grass, rake that into your compost bin as well. The Folkways Homestead Living site has directions for building your own compost pile.
Cover cropping
Cover cropping involves growing certain plants for the purpose of protecting and fertilizing the soil. Cover crops attract beneficial bugs, many of whom eat the pests who destroy your plants. They also can prevent erosion and hold off weeds.
Double digging
Also known as "double trenching," this is a soil cultivation process that involves digging parallel trenches more than a foot deep, adding compost and mulch, and replacing the soil from one trench to the other.
Companion planting
When you get your plants and begin planning your garden, consider which ones like a more shady environment and perhaps are shorter and which will grow to be tall. Some plants enrich the soil with nutrients that other plants need. Other plants repel insects that destroy others.
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