Climate Proof Your Garden

Growing Joy with Plants is the top Home & Garden podcast on Apple Podcasts about houseplants, gardening, and nature-inspired wellness. Plant killer turned Happy Plant Lady (me) Maria Failla , interviews experts on how to successfully care for plants and cultivate joy and calm through doing so.?

Each week this newsletter will share nature-inspired insights, tips, and actionable steps drawn from the conversations.?

Still a plant killer? No worries! We’ve all been there - all plant killers, plant enthusiasts, and plant impartial are welcome. All you need to start is your curiosity. I’ve got your back for the rest.?

Here’s why climate-proofing your plants help you grow joy, cultivate calm, weed anxiety…

Climate change is real and it is SCARY. After working so hard to take care of our plants, the thought of them not surviving because of extreme weather, bugs, or other climate issues is just heartbreaking.

But you know me, I'm never going to ignore a problem! That's why I'm so grateful to my guest today—the gardener and climate expert Kim Stoddart. She has dedicated her work to helping us prepare our gardens, especially our vegetable gardens, for whatever challenges nature throws our way due to climate change and make them climate-proof.

5 Steps to Climate-Proof Your Garden

We have all experienced the frustration of putting our hearts into taking care of plants, only to have them wiped out by an unexpected drought, flood, or pest invasion. With climate change making weather more unpredictable and extreme, it's time to be proactive about protecting our gardens.

Here are 5 key steps to climate-proofing your plot:

It Starts With the Soil

Great gardening begins with great soil—and I mean really great soil. Forget tilling and disturbing those precious underground ecosystems. Instead, go "no-till" by layering on mulches like wood chips or leaves to mimic nature's soil-building processes. As a result, billions of microbes, fungi, and other creatures flourish and create a nutrient-rich earth that can better withstand flooding and drought.

Manage Water Like a Pro

Speaking of drought and flooding, as extreme weather patterns increase, knowing how to manage water flow will be very important.

You can use techniques like digging swales, rain gardens, and laying gravel paths to slow rainwater down, spread it out, and allow it to gently "sink it" into the ground.

Attract All the Helpful Critters

Getting warmer outside means more bug troubles! Create welcoming habitats like tiny ponds for frogs, bundles of branches for ladybugs, and patches of nettles or herbs to attract all those insect predators.

Plant This, Not That

As climate zones change, some plants might have a hard time surviving while others that weren't suited before might actually do really well. That's where seed saving comes in. Always replant seeds from the plants that did great this year.

These tough guys will have a better chance of surviving next season's surprises. Joining a local seed swap is also a fun way to share and score locally adapted varieties. And don't forget clever techniques like polyculture planting (mixed planting) to confuse pests.

Planting rows of trees or bushes close together can create a few benefits:

• Wind protection: These lines act like windbreaks, shielding your plants from strong winds that can damage them.
• Shade zones: The trees and shrubs can grow together to create cool, shaded areas for other plants that don't like the hot sun.

If you want to learn more, pick up a copy of Kim Stoddart's book "The Climate Change Resilient Vegetable Garden."

What's one step you can take this season to make your garden more resilient?

Interested in greening up your workspace to enjoy the benefits of increased productivity and creativity while reducing stress in your workday? Grab my free download here .