Gardening Sweet Spots
By Donna Hessel
How is Our Climate Changing?
Experts predict increased temperatures and more precipitation in the future. Ohio is estimated to warm by a predicted three to five degrees over the 21st century. Heat waves will become more common, increasing the risk of heat illnesses and lower air quality. Over the past 30 years the amount of ice covering Lake Erie has declined. Precipitation will increase, but it will not be spread evenly among the seasons. Expect fast, heavy bursts of rain that dump inches of rain in short time spans, increasing sudden flooding of rivers and small streams. Winters and springs will be wetter and summers slightly drier.
Some gardens that previously needed weekly watering now require it daily. Elm, oak and maple trees are struggling to survive in some areas. Native soils are less nutrient rich and carefully amended soil in raised beds is required to grow edibles. Birds and other wildlife will also be affected. Robins, for example, used to leave northern Ohio for the winter. Now they remain and need winter food in order to survive. Other bird species will disappear from our region.
Climate change may bring periods of drought or heavy rainfall and flooding.
Correcting to Support Climate Evolution Benefits Humans and Wildlife
Fortunately, climate evolves slowly giving gardeners the opportunity to evolve with it. Adapting to climate change begins with recognizing and acknowledging that it is happening. People can change faster than plants and gardeners must recognize the challenges and make corrections that support nature’s changes. Healthy ecosystems supply clean air and water, regulate climate, assure pollination of food crops, flowering trees and shrubs and prevent erosion.
Healthy ecosystems regulate climate and support pollinators.
What Gardeners Can Do Now
Gardeners need to plant climate resilient gardens. That begins with selecting the right plants for the right places in order to grow a plant community that can adapt to evolving conditions. Planting a diverse group of plants extends the bloom season and provides shelter and habitat for birds and insects also trying to adapt to environmental changes. The types of plants that thrive in your type of soil and grow naturally in your area will be “native plants.” The current trend toward planting natives has made these plants more available. They will require less maintenance, water and fertilizer and will be able to survive adverse weather conditions in a changing climate. Perennials are more resistant and easier to maintain. Look for plants that have a broad hardiness range. Co-planting a vegetable garden with natives that have deeper root structures deepens the carbon, water and nutrient-retaining soil layer. It will also increase water retention to benefit more tender veggies.
Understanding and Managing the Carbon Cycle
The carbon cycle and climate change are interrelated. Simply defined, the carbon cycle is a natural process that moves carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, land and living organisms. Human activities, specifically the burning of fossil fuels, have significantly increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, trapping heat (the greenhouse effect) and causing global warming.
Plants drive the carbon cycle. During photosynthesis, they draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into carbon-based sugars. Some of these get released into the soil, where fungi and microbes convert them into nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients. This process develops a microbial and fungal culture in the soil from which plants get most of their nutrients.
Mycorrhizal fungi generate a gummy protein called glomalin that is about one-third carbon and very long-lasting. Thus, humus is generated. Humus is both permeable and porous, absorbing water during heavy rain events, and storing it through dry periods. Humus is also about half carbon. Regenerative gardening practices build that top, humus-rich soil layer. The deeper and richer the soil is, the more carbon it retains—potentially for hundreds, even thousands of years. A one-tenth-acre backyard garden could offset the carbon emissions of one American adult per year.
Interplanting edibles with flowering perennials increases benefits for both.
Composting Increases Carbon Capture
According to Great Parks Glenwood Gardens Naturalist Doug Stevenson, composting is the number one thing gardeners can do to increase landscape’s carbon capture. Leaves and lawn clippings and garden waste turned into mulch or compost keeps it out of the landfill and reduces methane emissions, helps improve garden soil and helps to store carbon. Keeping carbon in the ground is also important and this can be done by limiting disturbance of the soil by using low-till techniques and sufficient ground cover.
Leaf mulch and compost help to improve soil nutrients.
Additional Things Gardeners Can Do to Help Control Climate Change
Gardeners can plant trees. Trees are the most efficient means of carbon sequestration. They generate their own microclimates and through evapotranspiration cool their vicinity. Adding a programmable irrigation system to the garden will benefit the garden during dry periods. Rain barrels, soaker hoses and drip systems minimize evaporation and reduce both water consumption and carbon loss. Installing rain gardens in low lying areas will help manage stormwater runoff, reduce flooding and filter pollutants from rainwater; as well as attract pollinators and improve the landscape’s aesthetic appeal.
Rain garden borders in low-lying spots collect and filter pollutants and reduce flooding.
Individual Effort Can Influence Global Climate Change
Climate change has been caused by human behavior, so changes in human behavior must be part of the solution. One gardener undertaking simple practices in the garden can influence events on a global scale and can significantly impact climate change through their choices and actions. Individual actions can inspire others and create a ripple effect. Following are suggestions for individual actions that can be taken in addition to gardening sustainably:
- Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by opting for public transportation, cycling, walking and selecting electric vehicles
- Improve home energy efficiency
- Reduce meat consumption and adopt a more plant-based diet
- Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost food waste
- Support renewable energy development
- Advocate for change; support organizations working on climate solutions
Be the person who initiates the ripple effect that will reduce climate change and make our environment more viable and pleasant for everyone.
Resources:
Bobbie Schwart Blog Post: January 20, 2017 – “Landscaping for Climate Change”
Bobbie Schwartz Blog Posts – November 16, 2022 – “How Can We Make Our Landscapes More Sustainable? – Part I”
November 25, 2022 – “How Can We Make Our Landscapes More Sustainable?-Part II”
December 27, 2022 – “How Can We Make Our Landscapes More Sustainable?-Part III”
From The Columbus Dispatch, May 18, 2025 – “Climate change is already affecting Ohioans. Here’s what comes next and what can be done” – by Nathan Hart
Google search: can individuals affect climate change. AI overview: ”Yes, individuals can significantly impact climate change through their choices and actions…”
Proven Winners Article 12-24 –“Guide to Climate Resilient Gardening”
Proven Winners Article 12-24
“The Butterfly Effect” – by Cedric Rose – March 25, 2022
