Eco-Friendly Gardening

Taking responsibility and creating an eco friendly garden needn’t be expensive, and you don’t have to be fully signed up to Greenpeace to take part. It is simply man embracing nature and working with it in tandem to nurture your little plot of land.

Looking after your soil is probably the best place to start. Using synthetic nutrients, which can damage your soil in the long term, can be replaced by using manure. Manure will benefit the whole ecosystem in a much more effective and natural way than a nutrient which is solely focused on one task. Crop rotation is an effective method allowing your soil to replenish itself. Even changing the type of plant growing on a particular piece of land will encourage soil replenishment.

Recycle any peelings or waste organic matter, and create your own compost pile. Why spend money at a garden centre when good quality compost is at your finger tips?

Growing your own fruit and vegetables will help reduce carbon emissions by reducing your reliance on supermarkets for fresh produce. Growing your own can be incredibly fun and satisfying. There is something innately great about harnessing your inner farmer.

As many of you are aware, the bee is going through a tough time at the moment, with numbers dramatically falling over recent years, so why not give this crucial little creature a helping hand and create a garden that is bee friendly? Planting wild flowers such as lavender and poppies can provide bees with a varied diet of nectar.

Creating a haven for wildlife and insects will truly bring your garden to life. Wood piles can be great little home for hedgehogs and beetles. Generally allowing your garden to be a little bit wild can be massively beneficial. Even a few nettle patches will encourage butterflies.

As unbelievable as it sounds, in 2012, much of England was classified as being under drought conditions.  Saving rainwater is an excellent way to prepare for those summer hosepipe bans. Use an old bath, barrel or trough to collect rainwater. This can be utilised during summer months to keep your garden moist and healthy. It can also provide somewhere for thirsty creatures to get a drink during those summer months.

Finally, being energy efficient by using a manual lawnmower and manual tools to trim up your garden, will help to reduce your footprint, whilst promoting physical activity.

There are plenty of little ways that we can become more eco friendly in our garden, and day to day lives in general. Feel free to share your views and experiences.

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