Gardening WITH Nature
 Nature
has developed a fine balance among all living things. Humans
may be unaware of the cumulative effects of their actions
on this delicate balance. The successful, beautiful, and easy-to-care-for
lawn and garden are designed and managed with knowledge of
and respect for nature’s rules. Successful gardening
is gardening WITH nature.
Earthkind™ gardening
A program of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service that
combines the best organic and traditional gardening principles
to create a new horticultural system a proven system based
on real-world effectiveness and environmental responsibility.
There is no magic, no miracle product, no secret formula involved;
just sound, workable technology which can be easily understood
and explained. Visit the Earthkind
web site or download
a pdf guide.
To find a TNLA member near you that practices EarthKind
gardening, visit the products
and services section of this web site.
Integrated pest management
This approach relies primarily on non-chemical means (such
as controlling climate, food sources, and building entry points)
to prevent and manage pest infestation. Chemical treatments
are used only in a crisis situation threatening rapid losses
or when pests fail to succumb to more conservative methods.
The program depends on informed observation, early action,
and some tolerance of sharing the landscape with nature’s
critters. Learn
about IPM or visit
the image gallery to learn how to identify insects found
in Texas landscapes.
To find a TNLA member near you that practices Integrated
Pest Management, visit the products
and services section of this web site.
Beneficial Insects
Not every insect is a pest. Learn
to recognize the good guys in the garden.
If you aren’t sure whether an insect is a pest or
a friend, take a picture or visit the products
and services section of this web site to find a nursery
near you who can identify the insect.
Designing WITH nature
The right plant in the right place is the slogan of the
successful gardener. Visit the Design
page of Landscape Texas.org to learn more.
To find a landscape designer or retail nursery design consultant
near you, visit the products and
services section of this web site.
Water
Texas faces a critical water shortage. Even with development
of alternative supplies of water, Texas is still looking at
a water deficit. Consumers and landscape professionals are
working together to ensure wise use of water in the landscape.
To reach this goal, the Texas
WaterWise Council has adopted a list of best management practices
(BMPs) to help implement WaterWise landscapes across Texas.
the first step is knowing about your water. Water
IQ is for kids, but it tells the story in a quick and
easily understand style. The WaterWise Council of Texas provides
information on having your garden and drinking water too.
To find a qualified landscape contractor, visit the products
and services area of this web site.
Plant nutrition
The urban landscape is an unnatural setting for plants.
Their usual method of slowly decomposing to replenish the
soil just doesn’t work in the managed landscape. The
environmentally responsible gardener feeds
the plants, not the sidewalk or the watershed.
To find a nursery or garden center near you that can help
with natural plant nutrition, visit
the products and services area of this web site.
Garden Safety
Used and stored properly, pesticides and fertilizers can be a safe and valuable addition in
the arsenal of strategies for a beautiful garden. These are some basic rules to keep you and your environment safe. (pdf)
Managing lawn and garden waste - composting
Yard trimmings and food residuals together constitute 23
percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream. That's a
lot of waste to send to landfills when it could become useful
and environmentally beneficial compost instead! Composting
offers the obvious benefits of resource efficiency and creating
a useful product from organic waste that would otherwise have
been landfill. But did you know that it also has advantages
that go far beyond the basics?
Texas
Cooperative Extension Program “Don’t Bag It”
To find compost equipment or advice about composting, visit
the products and services
area of this web site. |
