Harvesting the literal fruit of your labors from a home garden is not only rewarding but it’s pretty sustainable, too. You can take it one step further to create an energy-efficient vegetable garden, which simultaneously benefits the environment and yields an excellent harvest. Here are three ways to maintain an energy-efficient vegetable garden:
Plant Trees for Shade
Depending on your climate zone, sometimes you have to use a lot of energy to shade and water certain plants. Strategically planting trees to add shade will create a microclimate within your backyard to help keep the soil cool and moist during the hot months.
Mind Your Water Usage
All fruits and veggies need water just like we do but it can wreak havoc on your community, especially during a drought. Try planting native plants, watering only during the evening to avoid evaporation, collecting rainwater if possible, and grouping plants with the same water needs together.
Friendly Pest Control
Using chemicals like pesticides can be harmful to the soil, your veggies, and important pollinating bees. Try companion planting tactics like putting tomatoes next to basil, which repels flies and mosquitoes. Marigolds and rosemary are also common plants that naturally deter garden pests.
Taking the steps to enjoy an energy-efficient garden will most likely taste sweeter, too. If you’d like more ideas on how to save energy and be greener in 2021, check out our blog post on just that!
