Myths of Green Gardening

Garden Guru, Mark Cullen, Battles the Myths of Green Gardening with Mark Cullen

With Mark Cullen

Coast-to-coast Canadians are searching for new ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Springtime provides an opportunity to extend environmentally-friendly practices to the outdoors, but many homeowners question whether they can achieve lush results without pest-fighting chemicals.

"There's a myth that eco-friendly gardening equals sparse lawns and feeble plants," said Mark Cullen, Home Hardware's gardening expert and author of The Canadian Garden Primer. "Homeowners can create a healthy and natural environment by focusing on eliminating toxins through pesticide-free solutions and incorporating robust native and indigenous plants that do not need an abundance of water to survive the summer heat."

Mark Cullen gives gardeners the facts when it comes to gardening:

Myth #1 - It is impossible to conserve water in the summer months.

False. Conserve water by using mulch to keep soil moist, capturing rain fall in water barrels and placing soaking hoses in your garden to uniformly soak the soil. For best results, install hoses beneath a layer of mulch to further reduce moisture loss.

Myth #2 - Exotic plants are better-equipped to handle the summer heat.

False. Think local and cultivate native and indigenous plants to increase natural biodiversity cycles. Best suited to survive local weather conditions, native plants also have a greater tolerance towards local pests.

Myth #3 - It is difficult to grow vegetables and herbs in a standard garden.

False. Cultivate an organic food source and grow vegetables and herbs in your garden or in a container. Not only is this a practical approach, but the plants will complement your overall garden and ease the pressure on your bottom line.

Myth #4 - Pesticides are vital to keep grass green, plants lush and flowers blooming.

False. Use compost materials to help cultivate your garden by naturally enriching the soil with nutrients that will enable your plants to thrive.