April is such a busy time in the garden. It’s also when we celebrate Earth Day. What better time to reflect on how we as gardeners can help preserve our planet for future generations than now?
We can do many things to help minimize our impacts to the environment in the way that we care for our landscapes.
According to the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) of North America, each year, an estimated 1 billion pounds of pesticides are applied to U.S. farms, forests, lawns and golf courses, with more than 17,000 pesticide products currently on the market. Worldwide, 5.6 billion pounds of pesticides are used each year.
In general, landscapes that use highly cultivated plants require more chemical inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.