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Another trend we talked about earlier in February is gardening with the earth in mind. When most people think about helping out the earth and climate change they nor- mally think of solar panels, eco-friendly cars, and windmill power to name a few. These are all great at reducing the amount of carbon we emit, but what if we look at how to actually absorb the carbon that's already there. It's been said for a long time that we should plant a tree to help the environment and this does help. But trees are actually the less efficient option we have. In fact, a 1,000-square-foot garden does a better job of trapping carbon then planting a half dozen trees. Here are some more interesting facts about the plants and what they do: 1. Trees and shrubs — They are sponges for CO2 emissions and help filter pollution, hold soil together, absorb excess water and shade our homes to help reduce energy. 2. Perennials and prairies —– Unlike trees and shrubs that store CO2 in their leaves and exchange it for O2, prairies store the CO2 in the soil and trap it there, and they do this at about twice the rate as a tree does. 3. Lawns — You must weigh the good with the bad here. Lawns can be quite effi- cient in filtering CO2 as well, but if you use a lot of fertilizer and chemicals you're defeating the purpose by killing the soil environment. Also, let your lawns go dor- mant in the hot summer. That is what they are designed to do. 4. Annuals — They take a lot of synthet- ic fertilizer to look good and also require a lot of water. They do very little to filter air compared to the energy to keep them going. Use sparingly to add color. Large blocks of annuals look good, but aren't the best for the environment. Now that we understand a little bit about the plants in general and what they do, let's look at some things we can do as gardeners to sequester carbon in the environment around us: ■ Protect your soil. This includes things such as avoiding tillage, which caus- es the soil to release carbon and destroys soil structure. This includes using digging forks and shovels. Try to minimize the impact when planting and caring for the garden. Boost the amount of organic mat- ter in your landscape. Remember, carbon is also trapped in soil and not just plants. A healthy soil creates a healthy microbial environment, which works more efficiently to reduce carbon. Use less synthetic fertil- izer, which destroys the natural bacterial, funga and insects that are so important for soils to process carbon efficiently. ■ Focus on perennial plants, especial- ly natives, when planting and creating new beds. As noted above they do a much better job than trees. Also, plant densely as to mimic a natural landscape. The more biomass, or top growth, you have, the more carbon absorbed. October is a great month to plant. If at all possible, avoid the use of carbon emitting equipment when doing your gar- dening. Go no-till in your veggie garden, or look at an electric or manual lawn mower. Even if you have a large yard, find a mower that is more eco-friendly. Just like cars, they're out there. If we all garden to reduce our own carbon foot print, it will greatly benefit the world around us, one little garden at a time. Happy gardening! (Michael Timm is a horticulturalist at Ebert's Greenhouse Village in Ixonia.) OCTOBER 2019 HOME 7 Genesee Nursery and Landscaping S29 W31189 Hwy. DE, Waukesha 5 Miles west of Waukesha on DE (Sunset Dr.) Kerry "Buzz" Elwood 262.968.4383 www.GeneseeNurser y.com Locally Grown Trees, Shrubs and Perennials. Sourced from all Northern Grown Stock. Hours: Saturday & Sunday 9-5 or by Appointment Boughs & Grapevine Wreaths for Christmas! Handcrafted rustic/artistic furniture - one of a kind pieces! Rough Sawn lumber - large variety of sizes & species with unique character! See website for samples $ 10 OFF ANY NURSERY PURCHASE OF $50 OR MORE Not valid with other offers. Valid only with this coupon. Genesee Nursery and Landscaping 265787001 MICHAEL TIMM Trends of 2019 and beyond: Earth-friendly gardening Many think of planting trees as a way to absorb carbon dioxide emis- sions. While great for the environment, a garden can do an even better job of trapping CO2. Fall is a great time to plant for next year and the years beyond.

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