6 Ways to Be More Sustainable in Your Garden This Year

ICYMI, sustainability is in this year, and unsustainable gardening practices are out. Not only are sustainable gardening practices more eco-friendly, but they are also more affordable and result in a low-maintenance and ecologically balanced landscape.

If you’re new to eco-friendly and sustainable gardening, it can be hard to know where to start. We spoke to two gardening experts to discover what practices can help homeowners be more sustainable in their gardens. 

According to the pros, here are six ways to be more sustainable in your garden this year.

Switching to native plants is one of the best ways to be more sustainable in your garden. Native plants are water efficient, low-maintenance, and essential to the local ecosystem. They provide habitat for pollinators, feed local wildlife, and help combat environmental issues like pollution and water runoff. 

“Choose native plants with different bloom times to provide a continuous food source for pollinators throughout the season, such as columbine for spring, yarrow for summer, and aster for fall,” says Mary Phillips, Head of Native Plant Habitat Strategy/Certifications at the National Wildlife Federation.

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Ashleigh Smith, managing editor at True Leaf Market, says companion planting is one of the most overlooked sustainable gardening practices. It involves planting different plant species in beneficial arrangements in your garden. This can be done with various crops, flowers, herbs, vegetables, and more. 

“By growing flowers and vegetables in mutually beneficial combinations, gardeners can attract beneficial insects to target known pests,