Making a Difference by Doing the Right Thing

Sometimes it feels like the small things we do can't really make a difference in the larger world around us. I listened to a webinar this week about irrigation best practices. They talked about choosing the right parts, looking for a responsible manufacturer, understanding where the parts go at the end of life, but interestingly they started with choosing the right plants. Watering efficiently and responsibly starts with choosing the right plants and putting them in the right spot. They talked about making sure that you choose plants that will thrive in your situation. Since plants are an investment, then we should be mindful to choose plants that should do well and live up to their potential. It is exciting to see that more and more people are choosing to be mindful about the environment they create and the influence it has on the overall environment. With that I found another article on landscape fabric. This time from the Morton Arboretum. The more people research, the more they learn. This article pointed out that the perforated plastic fabrics can actually become clogged and not allow the water to get to the plants. So you can water your plant a lot, and it will still die from lack of water. So often we do things because that is the way they have always been done. Its what everyone else is doing. Then we wonder why it doesn't work so well for us, why are we having all these issues. With landscapes it is always good to stop and look at what is really happening. If you decide to use fabric, check to make sure the water is still going through, check to make sure your plants aren't being strangled by the fabric, check to make sure the soil isn't being compacted. Check your sprinkling system to make sure all of the heads are pointed in the right direction. Understand when your plants want the water the most and when they are dormant or semi-dormant. Be realistic about your plant choices. Are you planting a picky plant that will require more than you will give it, is there a more responsible option. People love Barberries because of the different leaf colors, but you can plant a Ninbark that has different colors, flowers, is hardier, and uses less water. It may cost more for a better plant, but remember the costs for water, maintenance, pruning, and fertilizer too. When you plant more responsible plants, nurture them appropriately and understand the environment around them, you improve the environment. Every improvement made spreads into the neighboring areas and continues out like ripples in the water. They are small steps, but they add up over all.