Light Pollution - Effects and Solutions

Have you heard about light pollution and its effect on people, animals, and our beloved yards and gardens? While there is no need to panic, raising your awareness about sensible solutions might just help you and your garden to thrive in the future.

The Effect of Light
The health of plants and ecosystems is reliant on and directly affected by light. The natural, daily flow from day to night slowly changes throughout the year based on the Earth’s rotation around the sun. We call these natural periodic fluctuations in daylight and temperatures, “seasons”. Living things have evolved and adapted to the changes of the seasons based on various environmental factors, like the number of hours of daylight they receive. Summer solstice represents the longest day of the year (and the shortest night). After this day, the length of our days shortens, and nights lengthen as we move away from summer and transition into fall and winter. The reverse happens when we move from winter back to summer. These purposeful light changes cue the plants in our gardens to initiate biochemical changes. For example, garden plants finish forming the seeds, fruits or roots as days get shorter heading into autumn.

Excessive Light
Light pollution refers to the excessive and/or misdirected artificial light produced by humans. In addition to interfering with our body clocks, affecting our sleep patterns, and hiding the beauty of the night sky, it also negatively affects our gardens and trees by creating an illusion of longer days and shorter nights. In the case of our urban trees, especially street trees, the leaves and buds that experience prolonged “daylight” perceive an endless summer. Affected leaves keep on growing, while the leaves farther away from the light source can start to senesce and change colors. The dormancy of landscape trees is greatly affected by high-intensity light sources, such as high-pressure sodium lamps.

Artificial light is extremely harmful to insects, as well. The light attracts insects that don’t normally move from their habitat, disrupting normal flight activity. Moths are one victim of this. Because of these disruptions to insect life in the evening and at night, our pollinators are being affected. Due to habitat loss, these pollinators are already under pressure to perform. We need them so that we can have successful home gardens.

Reduction of Light Pollution
Light pollution is fairly easy to reduce. Simply dimming outdoor lighting or directing it only where needed can make a huge difference. Other solutions include changing the color temperature of outdoor lighting. Warm tones such as amber-colored bulbs are the least harmful. Timers and motion sensors can also help, since they aren’t lighting up except when necessary. Using streetlights that point light only where needed are also a solution that many cities across the world are implementing.

It is estimated that as much as 30% of the electricity generated to turn on our outdoor lights is squandered by being misdirected into the sky. Using the appropriate light type, just when it’s needed, can go a long way towards saving energy and allowing our plants and trees to bud, flower and fruit appropriately.
 
While some light is necessary if we are going to drive our cars and spend time outdoors at night, it has not been proven that more lighting is better. More light causes glare off the road for nighttime driving. Using only the light that we need will be better for the pollinators and for our trees and plants. 

Are Your Deicers Friendly to Plants, Animals, and the Earth?

 While applying products to keep our walkways clear of snow and ice, it’s important to remember the nearby plant life.  Deicing products, primarily composed of salt, can injure plant material, but is there a safer product to use around desirable vegetation? What about around pets? What about the run-off in our rivers and watershed?

• Salts can cause injury to trees, lawns, and shrubs
• Salt run-off can harm our groundwater
• Salts can corrode concrete
• Salts can do bodily harm to humans if handled improperly
• Salts are hard on the little paws of your four-legged friends

So you may be thinking salt is salt, right? No, not all salt is the same. Think table salts (Sodium chloride) and Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate). If you remember your days in chemistry, salts are combinations of negatively charged anions and positively charged cations. Examples are sodium chloride (table salt), potassium chloride (used as a fertilizer), and magnesium chloride (the one you see trucks spraying on our roads). The most problematic element in these salts is chloride, a corrosive ion that damages metal and concrete. Chloride is also toxic to plants.

Salt damages plants by dehydrating plant tissues, causing burns, or being toxic at high levels. While most plants have some tolerance to salt injury, repeated applications of deicing products during the winter can result in dieback or even death the following spring. Misapplications of deicers (i.e. dumping piles or using too much) can leach through the ground and into the water table or wash into the storm sewers, causing pollution. Before buying or using any product, read the label carefully and use only as directed.

Here are a few of the salt products you might run into while shopping:

Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA)
It has low corrosion potential, so it’s less damaging to cars, metals, sidewalks, and plants. Notice it’s not a chloride product, the “salt” comes from the calcium-magnesium mix and the acetate replaces the chloride. Plus, it’s biodegradable! Its ice-melting properties are equivalent to traditional deicers, but the cost may be 20-30 times as expensive as sodium chloride products. These are often touted as “pet friendly”. 

Magnesium chloride
Commonly referred to as “mag chloride”. Applied as a brine, it’s the most common product used on our roadways before storms because it lowers the freezing point of soon-to-arrive precipitation. It can melt ice down to -15° F, which is a nice benefit. If applied in moderate amounts, it’s relatively safe for plants and pets. Its corrosion potential is low, as is its pollutant possibilities.

Potassium chloride
It’s expensive and not as widely used as a deicer because of the rising costs of fertilizer. This works best when temperatures are above 15° F. Because it’s most commonly used as a fertilizer, it’s relatively safe to apply near plants.

Sodium chloride
It’s the most widely available and the cheapest. It doesn’t cause corrosion to concrete and melts ice best when temperatures are in the 20s. It is the most damaging to plant material. If you use this product, use it sparingly and in small amounts!

Before using any de-icing product, clear away as much snow and ice with a shovel as possible. If heavy snow is predicted, then try to shovel more frequently. Remember, deicing products are not meant to melt all snow and ice, but rather aid you in your removal efforts. If you want to avoid adding chemicals to your landscape, then consider using sand or kitty litter. While they don’t melt snow, they can provide traction in slippery spots. Sand and kitty litter are also safe for pets and plants and can be swept up when the snow melts.

If you use deicing products near vegetative areas, then use caution with potential salt build-up and consider a soil test in the spring.  If it’s an especially snowy year, you may consider rinsing the areas next spring with clean water. Try not to scoop snow laced with deicing products directly on top of plants, especially if they are sensitive. If you have the opportunity, consider planting more salt-tolerant plants near walkways and driveways. Here's a great publication on plant tolerance to salts.

For more information about sustainable gardening, contact your local University of Idaho Extension Office. 

Mulch or Mess? Does Christmas packaging belong in your garden?

Using cardboard in home landscapes and gardens has become a popular topic on social media. However, this practice dates back to 1944, when Ruth Stout introduced an organic, no-dig gardening method. Her approach gained popularity for creating healthier, more productive gardens with lower costs and a smaller environmental footprint. Over time, this evolved into what is now widely known as the “lasagna method,” often recommended for use in raised beds.

Today, cardboard has regained popularity as an affordable and effective weed barrier and a composting ingredient. While advancements in research have deepened our understanding, the question remains: is cardboard as safe and effective as claimed?

The controversy regarding the use of cardboard in landscape or garden beds centers on two primary concerns: penetration of water and oxygen, and potential soil contamination. Cardboard and similar paper products, when used as sheet mulch, are known to interfere with water penetration and oxygen exchange in the soil beneath, especially if the paper product is waxed. Paper sheeting blocks photosynthesis, which requires sunlight, making it an effective weed and grass suppressant. However, this same blocking characteristic also slows oxygen and water transmission. Keeping the cardboard moist can help with the needed moisture, but in a garden, the uptake of nutrients also requires oxygen in the topsoil layer.

Contamination of the area where cardboard is applied is a second major concern, particularly for organic landscapes. Contamination usually involves non-biodegradable and/or chemical substances. Additionally, some cardboard products are high in cellulose, which may attract termites. The risk is higher if you live in an area where these insects are present.

The popularity of cardboard in landscaping has also led to researched solutions and alternatives. Depending on your soil type and seasonal precipitation, reduced water penetration can be addressed by adding a drip line underneath large areas of cardboard and applying mulch on top to keep the cardboard wet. As this process can take 6–10 months, laying the cardboard in the fall yields an area free of weeds by spring. Your envisioned project can begin once the mulch and cardboard are removed. This minimizes cardboard contaminants in your soil, as it takes 1–2 years for cardboard to fully break down.

If you are a serious organic gardener, avoid the risk of cardboard contamination by solarizing large areas using clear plastic sheeting to kill weeds during the summer heat. Success can be achieved in just 2–3 months of summer heat. Alternatively, to avoid typical cardboard contaminants, use shipping boxes that lack ink, labels, and dyes. Remove any tape, avoid glues and waxed surfaces, and ensure the cardboard has not been treated with fungicides or prohibited substances, such as, e.g.,“Forever chemicals”.

Should you need to mulch smaller, targeted areas, consider other types of mulch as recommended by the University of Idaho Extension office. If you have a large garden or field crops, biodegradable plastic sheeting is commercially available. While not yet as cost-effective as cardboard, manufacturing improvements continue to lower the price.

While the decision is ultimately yours, a little research might lead to an easy, effective, and affordable way to suppress weeds and create a healthy, thriving base for your raised garden beds and landscape areas.

Repurposing Christmas Trees: A Creative Guide

After the holiday season, many of us are left wondering what to do with our Christmas trees. Why not repurpose them for a variety of practical and creative uses? From enriching your garden to providing habitat for wildlife, your tree can have many new lives after the holidays are over. Repurposing your tree helps reduce waste, benefits the environment, and can even add some unique touches to your garden.

For the Garden

• 

  Mulch: Shred the tree’s branches and trunk into mulch to spread around trees, shrubs, and garden beds. Pine needles are an excellent mulch because they decompose slowly, helping retain moisture in the soil and reducing weeds.

• Erosion Control: If you have bare slopes or areas prone to runoff, use the branches to prevent erosion. The tree’s structure helps hold the soil in place, especially during heavy rains.

• Wildlife Habitat: Consider leaving the tree whole in your yard. It can provide valuable shelter for birds, squirrels, and other small animals during the winter months. For added benefit, place birdhouses or feeders nearby.

Craft Projects

• Woodworking: The trunk can be repurposed into practical or decorative items. Use it to create small furniture pieces like stools, benches, or even simple garden markers. For smaller pieces, you can carve the wood into candle holders, picture frames, or other craft projects.

• Bird Feeders: Coat pinecones with peanut butter and roll them in birdseed, then hang them on the tree’s branches. This makes an easy and natural bird feeder that attracts local wildlife. Plus, it’s a great way to reuse pinecones, which might otherwise go to waste.

Composting

• 
  Compost Bin: After cutting the tree into smaller pieces, add it to your compost pile. The wood, branches, and needles are rich in carbon, which helps balance the nitrogen in food scraps and accelerates decomposition. This is a natural way to enrich your soil for the next gardening season.

Community Use

• Recycling Programs: Many communities offer Christmas tree recycling, turning trees into wood chips or mulch for public parks and landscaping projects. Look for local recycling programs, which are a simple way to give your tree a second life.

• Fish Habitats: In some areas, trees are submerged in lakes or ponds to provide shelter for fish and other aquatic species. Wildlife and conservation groups often organize these efforts, turning old trees into valuable habitats for marine life.

Use as Firewood

• Firewood: Once dried, the trunk can be cut into smaller logs and used as firewood for outdoor fire pits or wood stoves. Pinewood burns quickly and is great for kindling, but be cautious not to burn it indoors due to the potential for creosote buildup.

• Bonfire Material: The branches and needles can be used to start a backyard bonfire, providing warmth and ambiance during cold evenings or post holiday gatherings.

For Animals

• Goat Feed: Some farms accept old Christmas trees for goat feed, as the pine needles are a nutritious treat. Just make sure the tree has not been treated with chemicals or pesticides.

• Animal Bedding: Shredded branches and pine needles make great bedding for chickens or small pets. The natural material helps insulate outdoor enclosures during the winter months. By recycling your tree, you extend its usefulness and make a positive impact on the environment.

A Gardener’s Christmas

   

´Twas the night before Christmas,
And all through the yard
The branches were bare
And the ground frozen hard;

The roses were dormant
And mulched all around
To protect them from damage
If frost heaves the ground;

The perennials were nestled
All snug in their beds,
While visions of fertilizer
Danced in their heads;

The newly planted shrubs
Had been soaked by a hose
To settle their roots
For a long winter’s doze;

And out on the lawn
The new fallen snow
Protected the roots
Of the grasses below;

When, what to my wondering
Eyes should appear,
But a sleigh full of gifts
Of gardening gear;

St. Nick was the driver
A jolly old elf,
And he winked as he said,
“I’m a gardener myself.

I’ve brought new seeds
And light systems, too,
Give them a try
And see how they do.

To eliminate weeding,
I brought bags of mulch
To attract the pollinators,
I have flowers for best results.

To add to your joy,
I’ve plenty of herbs
And ornamental grasses
For your hell strip curb.

For seed planting days,
I’ve a trowel and dibble.
And a roll of wire mesh,
If the rabbits should nibble.

I have the latest books
Plus some gadgets you’ll love;
Plant stakes and frames,
And waterproof gloves.

Here are sharp shears
And a new compost pit
And, for pH detecting,
A soil testing kit.

With these colorful flagstones,
Lay a new garden path.
For the view from your window,
A bird feeder and bath.

And last but not least,
Some well-rotted manure.
A green garden year-round,
These gifts will ensure.

Then, jolly St. Nick
Having emptied his load,
Jumped in the seat
And took to the road.

And I heard him exclaim
Through the nights quiet hum,
“Merry Christmas to all,
And to all a green thumb!”

I read an old version of A Gardener’s Christmas in the Garden Club of Virginia’s December Journal.  

the author is unknown so I took a few liberties. Merry Christmas! 

Holiday Gifts for Gardeners: Ideas for the Green Thumbs in Your Life

The holiday season is the perfect time to show the gardeners in your life how much you appreciate their love for growing. Whether they have a sprawling vegetable patch or a cozy indoor garden, thoughtful gifts can bring joy and inspiration. In Idaho, where winters can be long and harsh, gardening gifts that work year-round are especially welcome. Here are some creative and practical ideas for gardeners this holiday season.

Gardening tools are always a practical and thoughtful gift. In a climate like Idaho's, where winters can be particularly cold, a pair of heavy-duty gloves is essential. Look for insulated, waterproof gloves to keep hands warm and dry during winter gardening tasks like pruning or snow removal. Pruning shears are another must-have. A sharp, ergonomic pair helps gardeners trim trees and shrubs during the dormant season. A soil thermometer is also a great gift, allowing gardeners to monitor soil temperatures and know when it’s the right time to plant in the spring.

Indoor gardening gifts are perfect for those who want to continue growing through the winter months. A hydroponic kit is an excellent option for growing fresh herbs, greens, or even small vegetables indoors without soil. These self-watering systems are great for gardeners with limited space, like apartment dwellers. A beautifully illustrated gardening book also makes a thoughtful gift. Whether it's a plant care book or an inspiring guide to indoor gardening, these books offer useful tips and creative ideas for keeping plants healthy through the winter. Many indoor gardeners also appreciate grow lights, especially when natural light is scarce. Adjustable LED grow lights create the ideal environment for plants to thrive indoors, even during Idaho’s dark winter months.

A garden journal is another great gift for the gardener who likes to track their planting, growth progress, and seasonal changes. These journals often include spaces to note weather conditions, plant varieties, and lessons learned, making them a valuable tool for planning future seasons. Plus, they’re a great way for gardeners to reflect on their progress and goals. Look for journals that also have prompts for creative gardening ideas or sketches of their garden layouts.

DIY garden gifts are always a hit and add a personal touch that store-bought items can’t match. One creative idea is making seed bombs. These eco-friendly gifts can be easily made using native wildflower seeds, clay, and compost. They’re perfect for spreading beauty in any garden or gifting to friends. Another fantastic DIY project is upcycled garden markers. You can make personalized markers from old spoons, pieces of wood, or smooth stones. Paint them with plant names or fun designs for a rustic touch.

For a more elaborate DIY project, consider crafting a homemade potting station. You can repurpose old furniture, like an unused table or cabinet, to create a practical work space for repotting plants or storing tools. Add hooks for hanging small tools, shelves for storing pots, or drawers for organizing gardening supplies. It’s a functional and thoughtful gift that any gardener will appreciate. You could also put together a seed starting kit, complete with DIY seed trays made from egg cartons or cardboard boxes, some organic seeds, and a small watering can.

Another meaningful DIY project is creating a garden-themed gift basket. Fill the basket with an assortment of gardening essentials and homemade treasures. Include items like packets of seeds, gardening gloves, small hand tools, and a couple of gardening books for inspiration. Add in some herb-infused oils, dried flowers, plant-based soaps, or even a jar of homemade jam made from last season’s harvest. You could also toss in a hand-crafted bird feeder, a cozy for a favorite plant, or some garden markers. This thoughtful collection brings a touch of the garden indoors, offering warmth and nature's beauty during the colder months.

Whether it’s practical tools, indoor gardening solutions, or personalized DIY creations, these gift ideas will delight any gardener and help them stay connected to their passion, even through Idaho’s cold winter months. The right gift can inspire new gardening projects and prepare them for the next growing season.

Amaryllis Magic: Winter Cheer

Winter is a magical time for indoor gardening, and the amaryllis stands out as one of the most stunning winter-blooming plants. Known for its impressive, large flowers that can range from pristine white to deep red, the amaryllis adds vibrant color to holiday decor and offers a rewarding gardening experience.

To begin your amaryllis journey, plant the bulb in the fall, ideally in late October or early November. This timing allows the plant to bloom beautifully during the winter months. 

Select a healthy bulb from a reputable source and choose a pot that is about 1-2 inches wider than the bulb. Use a well-draining potting mix, and when potting, ensure that the top one-third of the bulb remains above the soil to prevent rot. Place the pot in a warm, bright location—around 70°F (21°C) is ideal. Water thoroughly after planting, making sure excess water can drain away.

As the plant grows, thick, sturdy stalks will emerge, followed by large, trumpet-shaped flowers. These blooms can last for several weeks, creating a cheerful atmosphere in your home. To maintain the plant’s appearance, remember to turn it regularly to ensure even light exposure and prevent it from leaning toward the light source.

Once the flowers fade, proper care for the foliage is essential. Allow the leaves to die back naturally, as they play a crucial role in photosynthesis, storing energy in the bulb for future growth. When the leaves turn yellow and begin to wither, you can cut them back to the bulb.

For those looking for an easier option, waxed amaryllis bulbs have become increasingly popular. Coated in colorful wax, these bulbs require no soil or potting and can simply be displayed in bright, indirect light. The wax helps retain moisture, allowing the bulb to grow without the need for watering. While waxed bulbs are typically intended to be discarded after blooming, they can be revived with a bit of effort.

After the flowers fade, you can remove the wax and any wire from the bulb. If the bulb is still firm, you can plant it in a well-draining potting mix, treating it like a traditional amaryllis bulb. Plant it with the top one-third exposed above the soil, place it in a warm, bright location, and resume regular care. With proper attention, the bulb may produce new growth and bloom again.

If you choose to save a traditional amaryllis for next year, give it a resting period of about eight weeks in a cool, dark place after the blooms fade. Repot the bulb in fresh soil, lightly water it, and return it to a warm, bright location to stimulate new growth.

With the right care, both traditional and waxed amaryllis bulbs can bloom again, bringing joy and beauty to your home year after year. Understanding their unique needs—from planting in the fall to post-bloom care—allows you to enjoy the spectacular flowers of the amaryllis long after the holiday season has passed, making it a cherished addition to your indoor garden.