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We all want our garden spaces to look wonderful, however that shouldn’t come at the cost of the environment. There are a few really simple swaps you can make that will not only reduce the environmental impact of your gardening practices, but on the most part our tips actually save you money, too. Plus, your garden will thrive and it will be a healthier space for everyone.
Use Companion Plants
Our first tip is to get rid of your pesticides and instead use companion plants. Whilst pesticides do kill unwanted bugs that can damage your garden, unfortunately, along with that, your plants and the local wildlife can also be affected. This isn’t just directly if a creature comes into contact with the pesticides, but the chemicals can run into water sources that can then cause further harm. Additionally, when you are always using pesticides, it can actually cause resistance, so the weeds or pests you were trying to get rid of may return for good. Pesticides are most commonly used when growing fruits or vegetables, so you also don’t really want these chemicals on your food, making companion plants a great gardening benefit for your family.
So, a great alternative is to use companion plants. Companion plants are pairings that help to benefit each other in the garden space, usually in order to keep unwanted pests away. For example, if you plant nasturtiums next to your cucumbers and runner beans, it helps to keep aphids and cucumber beetles. If you plant mint, chives or thyme next to your roses, the strong smell helps to deter aphids and blackfly. There are plenty more examples, so if you’re finding that your plants are struggling with pests and you don’t want to use pesticides, look up companion plants.
Collect Rainwater
Something else you can do to make your gardening practices more eco friendly is to collect rainwater. When you rely fully on your outdoor tap to water your garden, not only will it cost you a lot of money over time, but it’s also not great for the environment when there are better options. Instead, collect rainwater! You can get water butts and barrels for your garden that attach to your gutters, then when it rains, it all goes into the collector. If you want something more discreet, then you can pay more to get underwater rain collection systems. You will have a great supply of water to use all across your garden, it won’t cost you any money (aside from the initial purchase) and it’s great for the environment.
Consider Your Garden Tools
It’s also important that you consider how eco-friendly your garden tools are. If you are currently using a petrol lawnmower or chainsaw for example, it can emit harmful chemicals into the environment that contribute to air pollution, as well as being very noisy if you live in residential areas. Instead, why not consider an electric chainsaw or lawnmower instead. If you have anything like solar panels, then this is definitely a fantastic choice to make, in terms of it being good for the environment and cost effective. Even not, it will be cheaper and better for the environment for you to use an electric alternative to petrol power tools.
Plant Native and Wild Flowers
Last but not least, you should plant native and wild flowers. Native and wild flowers/plants provide wonderful environments for pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths and hummingbirds, so your garden will absolutely thrive as a result. Also, there isn’t any transportation involved across the world, so that also makes them better for the environment. Have a look at the plants native to your area and incorporate them into your garden. Native plants and wildflowers are also usually very low maintenance, making them great to have as the bulk of your garden amongst the more demanding ones!
Guest Contributor: Natalie Wilson
