We all need to do our bit to look after the planet. In terms of going green within the home, changes to LED light bulbs and recycling are some of the obvious things that we can do. We can also make the switch to renewable energy sources, such as solar panels. But, what about the garden? Are there any steps you can take to make your garden more sustainable and eco-friendly? Here are some suggestions…
Get rid of your garden paving – If you have paving in your garden, you should consider getting rid of it. Removing hard surfaces in your garden and going for flower beds or gravel is advised because rather than rainwater running off into drains it will soak into the soil. This will help to prevent flooding while also replenishing groundwater supplies.
Bring on the bees and the butterflies – From lemon balm to wild lilac and palm trees, depending on where you live, these are just some of the native flowers and trees you can have in your garden. It is advisable to grow a diverse selection of native blooms that bees and butterflies are going to be attracted to. Make sure you have a pesticide-free haven for our pollinator friends. Why is this important? Well, you only need to look at the importance of pollinators to see that this is the case. Not only do they impact 35% of the global production of crops, but also they increase 87% of the output of leading food crops around the world.
Use kitchen scraps to make compost – Instead of allowing your vegetable waste to be sent off to a landfill, you should compost it. This is a great way to improve soil texture, aeration, and water retention, as well as stimulating the healthy development of roots.
Water with care – A lot of people are guilty of using too much water in their garden. You should be smart with your water use, especially during the dry summer months. One of the best ways to cut down evaporation and to ensure your soil retains water is to add compost and mulch to your soil. Also, drip irrigation or soaker hoses will only use half of the water that sprinklers do. You can also harvest rainwater too. Adding a rain barrel is an effortless and inexpensive way to capture mineral water, which is also free of chlorine, making it ideal for watering your gardens, yards, and lawns.
Buy recycled – Last but not least, another way to go eco-friendly in your garden is to buy recycled items. There are many different types of eco-friendly raised garden kits and planters that are available today.
As you can see, there are a number of different ways you can go green in your garden. Follow the advice that has been provided above, and you can easily make a change and improve the eco-friendliness of your property as a whole.