Not everyone knows the negatives

Gardening practices that might actually be causing more harm than good.

We are all doing our best to build healthy gardens that support birds and bees. However, we are constantly learning better practices, like understanding why we should grow native plants instead of the flashiest bloom.

Here are a few more things to think about:

Potting soil often contains peat. Peat is a non-renewable resource that is harvested from peat bogs, destroying the bog ecosystem. Peat bogs are very old and hold enormous amounts of carbon which is released into the atmosphere when they are disturbed. Growing native plants in soil or compost reduces the need for peat.

Greenhouse grown plant material also has hidden costs. While greenhouses help plant growth by providing extra light and heat, these buildings often are climate controlled with big fans, supplemental lighting, and heaters to compensate for poor weather. All this climate control costs energy, increasing the strain on our fuel supply and polluting the atmosphere. Native plants can be grown outside in natural conditions.

Greenhouses also may import pollinators such as bumble bees to pollinate inside the greenhouse but these farm raised bees can have pathogens like mites that spread to natural populations of native bees. Ladybugs may also be imported for pest control and introduce new deceases to native populations when they escape. The alternative to ladybugs is pesticides treatment. Some pesticides degrade by the time it is placed in the garden but many stay active lang after the plant is sold. Neonicotinoids are particularly dangerous for insects as they are in the plants tissues and can cause damage for as long as the plant lives.

Plagues of pests are common when garden plants are raised using traditional farming methods that eliminate diversity and grow species as a monoculture. Any species grown in monoculture is more likely to be infected with disease and is more susceptible to being eaten. New pest species have historically been accidentally introduced through the landscaping industry when plant material is shipped across natural boundaries such as the Japanese beetle, spotted lantern fly, and jumping worms.

Irrigation on a small or large scale can use limited resources. Many of us water our lawns from the spigot using treated water. Municipal water has been treated with chemicals to make it safe for drinking but the chemicals like chlorine can be harmful to plants. Diverting drinking water to irrigation is another problem for drought-stricken communities that are pumping water from depleting aquifers and rivers. When water is diverted for human use, it can cause water shortages in natural systems leaving not enough water for plants and animals. Beyond the chemicals used to treat drinking water, there are other chemicals that are flushed into our yard from rain or flooding. Gardens are often damaged along streets from rainwater carrying deicing chemicals, oil leaks, engine fumes, chemical drift, excess fertilizers, and small pieces of trash. These chemicals can damage plants by contaminating the soil and changing soil chemistry.

Microplastics are another way that chemicals can enter our gardens. Microplastics can be found in mulches, potting soil, and even tap water. Microplastics can leach chemicals into plant root systems like PFAS (forever chemicals), endocrine disrupters or carcinogens. Plastics don’t have to be micro to be a gardening problem. Black plastic plant pots can not be recycled in community recycling centers and need to be taken to special facilities for recycling. Not all communities have the ability to recycle garden pots so many are thrown into the dump.

Shopping at big national chain stores can put smaller local stores out of business. Money going to big box stores is often funneled out of communities to support share holders instead of the local economy. The larger a business, the further materials may be shipped and the less accountability the store has to its employees and the environmental impact of production. Native plants need to be purchased locally for best results. The rest of your gardening supplies should also be purchased in your community from retailers who take responsibly for their environmental foot print.

I’m sure there are many other hidden costs of gardening that we all will learn along the way. Caring for a garden is a constant learning process, but we are continually becoming better stewards if we keep an open mind. Making good decisions for a piece of earth we love is a constant balancing act to making forward progress and doing it responsibly. We all want the best for these little spaces we have created for nature now and in the future as well as a healthy planet for all.