Happy Earth Day! Now is the time to help preserve and protect our planet. Keeping our planet happy and thriving directly impacts our health, our families, and even our livelihoods. Let’s take some positive steps in the right direction. Check out these 5 easy ways to celebrate and support our beautiful Earth!
1: PLANT FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Plant Edibles
Start your own Victory Garden and plant edibles! The term “Victory Garden” started during World War I when a food crisis hit the world. Americans were encouraged to contribute to the effort by planting fruits and vegetables as a means of supporting their families and allowing America the ability to support and feed the troops. Victory Gardens were created to help during a time when essentials where in high demand. This produced a solution and built a more positive and sustainable life for the people of our nation.
Growing your own fruits and vegetables provides for many benefits. It can help you eat better, relieve stress, and it can enrich the Earth. Vegetable gardens help our planet in many ways. Locally grown vegetables can reduce carbon emissions, cut back on plastic consumption, and can lower pesticide use. When you grow your own food, you can also enjoy the peace of mind in knowing that your fresh veggies were created naturally and organically.
For your gardening success, use Calloway’s Organic Garden Compost or Calloway’s Organic Container Potting Soil.
Plant Seeds
Planting seeds is a great and easy way to get started in gardening. Get your family together and have some fun with seeds! From pumpkins and vegetables to wildflowers, you can find a wide assortment of quality varieties at your local Calloway’s and Cornelius! Seeds help the environment in many ways. They are light and use less energy in their transportation. They use less packaging and water in their production. Seeds can thrive and produce numerous native flowers that create a healthier ecosystem.
When you grow your own seeds, you can control the type of soil and fertilizers you use. Keep your garden organic and use Black Gold® Natural & Organic Seedling Mix. It is an excellent growing medium for newly germinating seedlings! This highly refined organic seedling mix is porous, water retentive, and it includes an organic wetting agent to promote root growth. For your gardening success, pick up seed starting pots and strips by Jiffy®. These pots are biodegradable, organic, and OMRI listed. They can be transplanted right along with the plant to reduce transplant shock and keep your roots happy.
Need ideas on how to plant your seeds? Check out this fun family activity here!
Plant Trees
Planting a new tree in your yard can greatly impact our world in many positive ways. Trees help reduce surface temperatures by 20-45 degrees and provide shade for other forms of vegetation. They clean the air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Trees can also reduce noise pollution and prevent flooding and soil erosion. Trees hold soil together while allowing water runoff to soak into the roots, preventing other chemicals and fertilizers from washing into local streams and into our water system.
2: Support Beneficial Pollinators
Plant for Pollinators
Beneficial Pollinators like bees and butterflies are crucial to our environment and ecosystems. They play a vital role in plant reproduction. Without them, we would have limited flowers and even fewer fruits and vegetables in our world. All gardens need pollinators. Plant with these helpful creatures in mind and choose native plants and flowers that attract pollinators like:
- Zinnia
- Coneflower
- Coral Bells
- Salvia
- Black Eyed Susan
- Lavender
Learn more information on attracting Beneficial Pollinators to your garden!
Lights Out Texas
April 22 – May 12 is a peak migration time for our feathered wildlife. Do your part and take action by turning off all non-essential lights outside and inside from 11 pm – 6 am.
3: Save Water with Mulch
Did you know that the quality of our topsoil can directly impact the food that we eat, the water that we drink, and the air that we breathe? This soil must be protected and maintained. Mulch is a great solution. Mulch conserves moisture in our soil. It protects your plant’s roots from the Texas sun while also feeding the Earth. Organic mulch supports plants, earthworms, microbes, and other beneficial soil life. It encourages better plant growth and strong root development by insulating and protecting the soil from drying out. It creates the optimal the soil temperature for your plants while preventing erosion, and soil compaction.
Use Calloway’s Premium Organic Mulch for your gardening success. Our mulch is 100% organic for all your plants. Plus, it is attractive which makes your flowerbeds look even more beautiful and complete!
4: Natural Pest Control
For a natural approach to pest control, use beneficial insects! Releasing beneficial insects is a safe and effective way to prevent pests from invading your landscape. Ladybugs and Lacewings are hardworking options. Adult Ladybugs go to work immediately eating certain pests. Lacewing eggs hatch in 3 to 10 days, the larvae consume a wide variety of pests. Beneficial Nematodes are also effective. They are a microscopic organism that attacks over 230 soil dwelling and wood boring insects. They are safe around your family and pets.
Once beneficial insects are released into your garden, give them shelter like a Ladybug House from Organic Control, Inc. A Ladybug House allows your beneficial insects to rest, stay safe, and it helps you keep them in the area. It is bio-degradable and easy to mount!
5: Plant for the Environment
New from Proven Winners®, look for our annual selections available in a game-changing compostable pot! Proven Winners® Eco+ Grande™ containers are made right here in the USA. They are created from starchy renewable plants like corn, switch grass and sugar beets. They have organic nutrients built right into its walls and can be planted directly into the landscape! These organic nutrients are rich in phosphorus, calcium, and nitrogen which are so good for your plants and the soil. As this container breaks down, it releases these nutrients and proteins directly into the roots. This helps the plants grow bigger and faster all season long.
For more information about these fabulous, environmentally friendly pots, click here!
SHOP FOR PLANTS WITH EASE
At Calloway’s and Cornelius, every day is Earth Day! Let’s grow together and support our one and only unique Earth! Shop our community plant stores or shop online for Curbside Pickup or Delivery!
Stop by today! Questions? Ask our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals; they are here to help!
