You may think you’re gardening sustainably, but if you’re neglecting these 7 principles, that means you’re garden isn’t as sustainable as it could be. Take steps to avoid these unsustainable gardening habits.

You may hear a lot about sustainability lately, but it’s not just a trend. Living more sustainably is important for a healthy planet – and may even be imperative for our survival as a species!

One aspect of living a more sustainable lifestyle is sustainable gardening. Some equate sustainable gardening with organic gardening, but sustainability practices actually go beyond organic, as discussed in the article below.

Here are 7 unsustainable gardening habits, and how to build more sustainable habits in your garden:

1. You Don’t Companion Plant

Companion planting gives your plants buddies to grow with. It also improves the flavor of your plants and even helps with pest problems….

2. You Use Synthetic Fertilizers

Using man-made chemical fertilizers may not seem like a big deal, but you have to remember everything you put into your soil can be taken up by your food crops or run off into the water supply…. Look around and you’re sure to find plenty of things you can feed your garden: egg shells, banana peels and coffee grounds are all great examples of natural fertilizers….

3. You Forget To Mulch Your Garden

You’re probably thinking, “What’s the big deal about mulch?” Mulch helps retain water in the soil, thus reducing your overall water consumption. Mulch also helps keep weeds under control and even protects your plants’ roots….

4. You Haven’t Started Composting

When attempting to live and garden sustainably it helps to remember the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle. Turning common items into compost for your garden is a perfect way to be more eco-friendly and honor the three R’s….

5. Your Tools Are Electric or Gas-Powered

Whether it’s equipment for tilling the land or your gas-powered weed whacker, there’s one truth you should know: Fossil fuels don’t fit into a sustainable garden. Nonrenewable resources are the antithesis of sustainability. Solar-powered garden equipment is the future of long-term gardening and a perfect way to lower your utility bills….

6. You Don’t Support Nature

By “supporting nature,” I mean creating spaces that encourage natural wildlife to flourish in your garden. Plant flowers and edibles, such as lavender, for bees. The bees will repay you in their own way by pollinating nearby plants. Make sure local birds have a place to call home, and encourage natural pest control, such as bats and ladybugs, by catering to their needs….

7. You Haven’t Included Animals In The Equation

If you have any kind of farm animal and they’re not contributing to your garden, you are doing it wrong! Chickens provide eggs and manure, and both will make excellent additions to your garden. Another benefit is chickens love to eat insects and will happily munch on pests nearby. Ducks will do the same.

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Check out the full article at HobbyFarms.com to learn more…