Plants and Pollution

ry your best, short of moving to the most isolated areas of the globe you can't escape pollution--and even then you might not succeed! Without leaving home you can contribute less to the overall problem and work with plants to reduce the pollution in your immediate area.

A simple way to reduce pollution is by keeping it out of the trash by composting. Not only will you lower your trash bill, you'll get a free source of some of the best fertilizer and soil builder available at the end.
If you cringe at the thought, try the easy route. Collect fruit and vegetable scraps and turn them into the soil--skipping the compost pile altogether. This method is called sheet composting. As long as you remember the golden rule and avoid any meat or meat products in the mix you will have little to no odor. (And don't add pet wastes unless your compost will be used solely on ornamental plants; using composted pet wastes on edibles might spread disease.)

Compost plant waste and put only diseased plants in the trash to prevent spreading the disease. Don't burn yard waste even if it is legal in your area. Chip or shred branches for your own free mulch.
Not enough chipping to justify buying a chipper? Talk to your neighbors. Maybe the block can go in on a chipper and share it.

Use organic fertilizers (for instance, that compost) instead of chemical based ones. If you feel that you must use the chemicals, prevent runoff--don't let it spill onto paved surfaces or into gutters.
If you must use salt to melt snow, keep it away from plants. If you see plants that seem to be affected by salt, for instance along the roadway, soak them thoroughly to leach out salt.
If you think your garden may have been contaminated by paint residue, from living next to a busy road or pesticides, be sure to have it tested before growing edibles in it. If plants are exposed to car emissions or other pollutants, give them a regular misting with a hose to help clean the leaves.

Noise pollution can be another problem. Are you contributing to the problem with your own garden equipment? Be sure the muffler on your gas-powered tools is working and try using a manual mower and trimmer whenever you can. Make the quietest running tools be part of your prerequisite when replacing or purchasing equipment from now on.

Planting trees can be a beautiful solution to the pollution problem. Trees are natural air filters, absorbing chemical impurities that create air pollution and then releasing oxygen. They trap dust fumes and odor and help reduce the noise level surrounding your yard.

Some trees and shrubs are more tolerant to pollution than others. Ask at your local greenhouse or call your local cooperative extension for more information on native trees that work to clean the air and improve your environment. Here is a sample of trees and shrubs that do well in a heavily polluted area. Bear in mind that the fruits and sap of these species would not be edible because of the concentrated chemical buildup, both in and on the tree.

Trees Shrubs Crab apple Maple Red oak Sweet gum Grey birch Forsythia Juniper Tatarian dogwood Cotoneaster

If you start thinking of plants and trees as filters for the air in and outside of your home, you just might think of yardwork as less of a chore and more like preventative health care. So get out those gardening books and get planting!

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Amy Rawson is a freelance writer, and is the attachment parent leader at http://www.herplanet.com. She also runs a home-based business making homemade salves, oils and balms for babies and mamas at http://www.welcome.to/lvmyboysessentials. This article © 1999-2005 Amy Rawson. Used by permission.