Turning Eco-friendly
Turning Eco-friendly Could Make You A Better Gardener
The world is getting warmer, and as a direct result of climate change, we are facing huge health concerns: lack of clean air, safe drinking water, and sufficient food. Making changes to your garden so that it is more eco-friendly helps on a larger scale to tackle climate change, as it helps to lower the carbon emissions that are responsible for global warming. It will also teach you to be a more conscious gardener, and help you hone and improve your gardening skills.
Compost bins
It is easy enough to head to your local gardening centre and pick up soil, but there really is no substitute for good compost. It provides your garden with all the nutrients it needs, while being cost effective at the same time. Using compost is an eco-friendly alternative to fertilisers that use a chemical base, and is better for the health of the organisms in the soil. You get added bonus points as by making your own compost you are recycling all of your food waste.
Reduce your water
You garden loves water and the last thing you want to do is dehydrate it, so think smart when it comes to your water usage and you will health a green and healthy garden. Water your plants early in the morning or later at night so that the water has a chance to sink in without evaporating, meaning more water for the garden. Even the areas in the UK suffering from the most drought, you can still collect up to 24,000 litres of water every year. Installing a water butt is easy, and the average sized butt will hold 250 litres of rain water.
If you have a water feature, pond or swimming pool in your garden you may have wondered if there are measures you can take to make them more environmentally friendly whilst still getting the full enjoyment and benefit out of them. If you don’t have one, consider it – water helps to improve the purity of the air and remove harmful pollutants, as well as creating a sense of calm and tranquillity.
Grow Your Own
Growing fruit and veg in your own garden will reduce the need for trips to the supermarket. Grocery foods travel an average of 1500 miles before they are consumed, and a dangerous amount of carbon fumes are emitted during the course of the transportation. You will save yourself time, money on produce and a car journey - meaning even less nasty carbon emissions - and cut down on plastic packaging from store-purchased items. Growing food in your own garden, especially if it’s the first time, opens up an incredible learning opportunity; you have the chance to learn about weather, soil conditions and other environmental factors that are important for your crops to flourish, that you may not have been previously aware of.
By adopting environmentally and economically responsible practices in your garden, you will develop your knowledge as a gardener. Being resourceful and conscious of the environment will encourage your creativity and you will be the proud owner of a beautiful, organic, eco-friendly garden.