Green gardening involves cultivating plants in an environmentally friendly way to provide for community needs while improving the environment for future generations. It focuses on building good soil, minimizing pesticide and herbicide use, using organic fertilizers and amendments, appropriate watering, and selecting plants suited to the climate. Proper soil care, plant selection, and maintenance can help gardens thrive with fewer problems. Hawaii has unique climate zones and soils that require observation-based gardening suited to each area.

1. Green GardeningGreen Gardening
Kathy Becklin R(S)Kathy Becklin R(S)
Founder, Grow Some GoodFounder, Grow Some Good
Educational School Gardens on MauiEducational School Gardens on Maui

2. What is GreenWhat is Green
Gardening?Gardening?
Definition: Garden - NounDefinition: Garden - Noun
1.1. aa plot of groundplot of ground,,
usually near a house,usually near a house,
where flowers, shrubs,where flowers, shrubs,
vegetables, fruits, orvegetables, fruits, or
herbs are cultivated.herbs are cultivated.
2.2. a piece of ground ora piece of ground or
other space, commonlyother space, commonly
with ornamental plants,with ornamental plants,
trees, etc., used as atrees, etc., used as a
park or other publicpark or other public
recreation area: a publicrecreation area: a public
garden.garden.
3.3. aa fertile andfertile and
delightfuldelightful spot orspot or
region.region.
Kathy’s Definition Green Gardening:Kathy’s Definition Green Gardening:
Verb: To provide community needsVerb: To provide community needs
while making the naturalwhile making the natural
environment better for futureenvironment better for future
generationsgenerations
 FoodFood
 BeautyBeauty
 Culture / TraditionCulture / Tradition
 Shade / Cover / MaterialShade / Cover / Material
 Terms to understandTerms to understand
 OrganicOrganic
 SustainableSustainable
 PermaculturePermaculture
 Xeriscaping

3. What Does Your ClientWhat Does Your Client
Want?Want?
 Live off the landLive off the land
 Chickens and BeesChickens and Bees
 Organic land / bedsOrganic land / beds
 Rich soil / garden bedsRich soil / garden beds
 Tropical fruit treesTropical fruit trees
 Tropical oasisTropical oasis
 Lush and perfectly manicured byLush and perfectly manicured by
someone elsesomeone else
High Green-Focus
Low Green-Focus

4. Could you sell thisCould you sell this
House?House?

5. Could you sell thisCould you sell this
House?House?
www.facebook.com/GrowFoodNotLawns
Lawns consume resources. Be a producer, not a consumer.

6. The BasicsThe Basics
 Building Good SoilBuilding Good Soil
 Minimize Use of Pesticides/HerbicidesMinimize Use of Pesticides/Herbicides
 Use Organic Fertilizers and AmendmentsUse Organic Fertilizers and Amendments
 Appropriate Water UseAppropriate Water Use
 Plant SelectionPlant Selection
 = Easy Maintenance= Easy Maintenance

7. Good Soil = minimalGood Soil = minimal
problemsproblems
 Great Soil = Healthy PlantsGreat Soil = Healthy Plants
 Healthy plants survive white flies,Healthy plants survive white flies,
cabbage moths, nematodes, powderycabbage moths, nematodes, powdery
mildew, aphids and hundreds of others.mildew, aphids and hundreds of others.
 Lots of mulch and compostLots of mulch and compost
 Millions of living organisms in soilMillions of living organisms in soil
 Don’t treat your Soil like Dirt!Don’t treat your Soil like Dirt!
TIPS: Get your soil tested at CTAHR for about $20. Makes a great
closing gift!

8. Pesticides andPesticides and
HerbicidesHerbicides
 Pesticides kill bugs – goodPesticides kill bugs – good
and badand bad
 Read and follow the labelRead and follow the label
 Knowing your problem is keyKnowing your problem is key
 Herbicides kill plants – goodHerbicides kill plants – good
and badand bad
 Easy solution is never good longEasy solution is never good long
term (i.e. Weed and Feed)term (i.e. Weed and Feed)
 Organic and natural pesticidesOrganic and natural pesticides
 Better but still use cautionBetter but still use caution
Tip: If in doubt, don’t use it or hire a professional

9. Fertilizers &Fertilizers &
AmendmentsAmendments All plants need foodAll plants need food
 Slow and natural is the bestSlow and natural is the best
 Compost PileCompost Pile
 3 browns, 1 green + water3 browns, 1 green + water
 Mulch to reduce water use and weedsMulch to reduce water use and weeds
 Fertilizer N-P-K (i.e. 6-5-5)Fertilizer N-P-K (i.e. 6-5-5)
 Nitrogen – makes green / leaves & stemsNitrogen – makes green / leaves & stems
 Phosphorus – develop roots/flowersPhosphorus – develop roots/flowers
 Potassium – overall healthPotassium – overall health
 Organic fertilizers much lower numbersOrganic fertilizers much lower numbers
but longer term effectsbut longer term effects
 Most non-organic fertilizers areMost non-organic fertilizers are
petroleum basedpetroleum based
 Crop rotation – Legumes add nitrogenCrop rotation – Legumes add nitrogen
that most plants use!that most plants use!
TIPS: Stir compost once a week – scares critters away and provides
better aeration. The bigger diameter – the more breakdown!

10. Appropriate Water UseAppropriate Water Use
 Planned planting – put plantsPlanned planting – put plants
with similar water needswith similar water needs
togethertogether
 After plants established, waterAfter plants established, water
deep and less frequentlydeep and less frequently
 Drip IrrigationDrip Irrigation
 Rain GardensRain Gardens
 Gray Water SystemsGray Water Systems
TIPS: Drip systems use much less water and minimize weeds.
Sprinkle in the morning when wind is low and moisture can
evaporate through the day.

11. Selecting PlantsSelecting Plants
 A plan is worth a thousand plantsA plan is worth a thousand plants
 NativeNative plants require less water, less pruningplants require less water, less pruning
and have fewer problemsand have fewer problems
 Many plants require little or no water afterMany plants require little or no water after
established. Bougainvillea and most succulentsestablished. Bougainvillea and most succulents
 Floral plants are not only beautiful – they attractFloral plants are not only beautiful – they attract
bees and other pollinatorsbees and other pollinators
 Need a lawn? Seashore Paspalum grass is salt-Need a lawn? Seashore Paspalum grass is salt-
tolerant. HINT -- Most weeds are nottolerant. HINT -- Most weeds are not
TIPS: Grow from seed where possible. Select the smallest plant 
They have higher survival rates and in a year will be same size.

12. Easy MaintenanceEasy Maintenance
 Don’t overwaterDon’t overwater
 Remove orRemove or
minimize theminimize the
lawnlawn
 Compost – no haulingCompost – no hauling
 Mulch – reduce water and weedsMulch – reduce water and weeds
 Leave Room – Overcrowded meansLeave Room – Overcrowded means
more workmore work
TIPS: A small grassy area or path has as
much impact as a sea of grass.

13. Why is Hawaii Unique?Why is Hawaii Unique?
 Micro-climate zonesMicro-climate zones
 Highest number of soil types in veryHighest number of soil types in very
small areasmall area
 Many endangered endemic species –Many endangered endemic species –
both plants and animalsboth plants and animals
 Long Growing Season – but still uniqueLong Growing Season – but still unique
TIPS: Use observation not traditional seasons. What area gets the
most the sun in winter vs. summer?

14. Beyond The GardenBeyond The Garden
 Gas Permeable surfacesGas Permeable surfaces
 Smaller lots / living spacesSmaller lots / living spaces
 Community gardens / orchardsCommunity gardens / orchards
 Artificial turfArtificial turf
 Tools – Hand, solar-powered, electric,Tools – Hand, solar-powered, electric,
gasgas

15. ResourcesResources
 Maui County Landscape and Gardening HandbookMaui County Landscape and Gardening Handbook
http://www.co.maui.hi.us/documents/22/90/Handbook%20Publication.PDFhttp://www.co.maui.hi.us/documents/22/90/Handbook%20Publication.PDF
 UH – CTHAR - College of Tropical Agriculture andUH – CTHAR - College of Tropical Agriculture and
Human ResourcesHuman Resources
 Extension: Maui Master GardenersExtension: Maui Master Gardeners
 Hotline: 808-244-3242, ext. 228Hotline: 808-244-3242, ext. 228
Email:Email: MauiMg@ctahr.hawaii.eduMauiMg@ctahr.hawaii.edu
 Grow Some Good – Work & Learn DaysGrow Some Good – Work & Learn Days
 22ndnd
Saturdays at Kihei Elementary. Sign up for newsletter atSaturdays at Kihei Elementary. Sign up for newsletter at
GrowSomeGood.orgGrowSomeGood.org
 Maui Association of Landscape ProfessionalsMaui Association of Landscape Professionals
http://www.malp.org/http://www.malp.org/
 Web – Ask Dr. GoogleWeb – Ask Dr. Google
TIPS: When searching, always add Hawaii (i.e. xeriscape Hawaii)