2023: The Hottest Year on Record

Bad news. The 2023 Global Climate Report from NOAA (2023) has come to the conclusion that this past year was the warmest year on record, since recording started in 1890. Another scary metric, every single month of 2023 was one of the hottest 7 on record.

What can you do in your garden to help?

• Planting Trees and Shrubs: Trees are natural carbon sinks, meaning they absorb CO2, a major greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere. Planting trees and shrubs in your garden can help reduce the overall carbon footprint.
• Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Garden: By planting a variety of flowers and plants that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, you support biodiversity. Pollinators are crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems and for food production.
• Using Organic and Sustainable Practices: Avoiding chemical fertilizers and pesticides in favor of organic methods reduces pollution and soil degradation. Composting kitchen and garden waste not only enriches the soil but also reduces methane emissions from landfills.
• Conserving Water: Implementing water-saving techniques like rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, and using mulch to reduce evaporation helps in conserving water, a precious resource that’s often overused in traditional gardening.
• Growing Your Own Food: Cultivating a vegetable garden reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting food from farms to supermarkets. It also promotes a more sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle.
• Choosing Native Plants: Native plants are adapted to local environmental conditions and require less water and maintenance. They also provide essential habitats for local wildlife. Tee’s Plants sells numerous native plants.
• Reducing Lawn Space: Lawns are often resource-intensive, requiring regular watering and mowing. Reducing lawn space in favor of garden beds, native plants, or edible landscapes can have a positive environmental impact.
• Encouraging Soil Health: Healthy soil sequesters more carbon. Practices like crop rotation, cover cropping, and reduced tillage can enhance soil health.
• Educating and Sharing with the Community: Sharing knowledge and practices with neighbors and the community can amplify the positive impact of your gardening on the environment.
• Supporting Sustainable Landscaping Policies: Advocating for and adhering to local and regional landscaping policies that promote sustainability can have a broader impact beyond individual gardens.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

A Wise Gardener