We are taught from a young age that looking after the environment is everyone’s responsibility, especially in the face of the crises the planet is currently facing. It’s now more important than ever to live an eco-friendly lifestyle, from the everyday items you buy to your garden.
Eco-friendly gardening does not need to be difficult or expensive. Rather, with a little bit of creativity you can easily create an eco-friendly garden.
- Use Recycled and Repurposed Materials
Material selection is critically important when it comes to making an outdoor moss wall, structures, and other design elements. You can use a range of recycled and sustainable materials to construct a stunning outdoor design.
Recycled and repurposed materials are very important for sustainability for two reasons. Firstly, reusing materials means that they don’t get sent to landfill, helping to combat the world’s critical waste problem. Additionally, by using recycled materials, you’ll minimise the strain on the earth’s precious resources.
Here are some examples of recycled and repurposed materials you can use for your garden:
- Use reclaimed wood as borders and edging
- Repurpose wooden pallets as the base for living walls
- Use old tires for planters
- Water Conservation
Gardening without water is nearly impossible. You can compromise on practically anything else, but you can’t grow a beautiful garden without water. Water conservation should always be a top priority, and we should make every effort to avoid wasting water. This will not only limit your water consumption and help you save on your water bills, but it also greatly benefits the environment.
Only water your garden when necessary, and avoid water run off due to over watering. Never water your plants at the hottest time of the day, as this will waste water through evaporation. Instead, do your watering first thing in the morning or during the evening. Additionally, collect rainwater that you can use to irrigate your garden. This could be simple as leaving some containers out to collect water when it rains, or a full system that diverts water from you home’s cutters into a large rainwater tank.
- Recycle Plastic Waste
Plastic is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. Not only are plastics made from non-renewable petroleum, but this material is non biodegradable, taking decades or even hundreds of years to break down. When it does eventually break down, it turns into harmful and toxic microplastics that pollute soil and waterways, and can poison wildlife.
You can do your bit to combat this issue by repurposing single-use plastics and using them in your garden. For example, you can turn old plastic bottles into planters or use them to shelter young trees and seedlings, stopping them from going to landfill.
- Choose the Right Plants to Grow in your Garden
Choosing the right plants will minimize your water usage and help you to avoid using herbicides and pesticides, making your garden more eco-friendly. Go for hardy plants that don’t need too much care or maintenance. Generally speaking, opting for plants that are native to where you live rather than exotic species is your best bet for sustainable plants.
- Attract Good Bugs
There are a variety of bugs that might destroy your garden, but attracting bugs that are beneficial for your garden will help you to keep the undesirable ones at bay. To attract the right kinds of bugs, it’s important to grow plants that they like.
Ladybugs, for example, are drawn to plants like chives. These critters are worth attracting because they help to keep aphids out of your garden. So if you want ladybugs to come to your garden, plant chives and other ladybug-friendly plants.
There are a number of other bugs that help to keep your garden in good condition, and each is attracted by different types of plants. Do a bit of research, and cultivate the plants that will attract the bugs you want.
- Make your own Compost
Compost is a fantastic tool for any sustainable garden. Rather than using chemical fertilizers, you can get the same, if not better results with natural, organic, and eco-friendly compost. Furthermore, you can rest assured that the fruit and vegetables you grow are free from chemicals. All you need to do is set up a compost bin and with a minimal amount of maintenance, you’ll soon have your own compost!
- Plant Buddy Plants
Buddy plants are species that support each other by providing a favourable growing environment for the other plant when planted next to each other. For example, growing daylilies next to your carrots will protect your crop from rabbits. Similarly, many different sorts of plants have a buddy relationship with other plants. This is an excellent, simple, and purely natural way to promote better plant growth.
Creating an eco-friendly garden is not only great for the environment, but these solutions are often easier and more affordable than traditional methods like chemical fertilisers and pesticides!
