As the world becomes ever more aware of the impact we have on the environment, one key area of our lives that often gets missed is the garden. We think of this as a green place that supports nature – and this might be largely true – but we can always improve how eco-friendly our garden is and we might even discover that in some instances we’re doing more harm than good. Here’s how to ensure your garden not only looks great, but is also a green sustainable part of your home.
Real Grass vs Artificial
The answer to this is easy – real grass wins every time. Artificial grass might not need to be watered, but other than that it provides no eco-benefits whatsoever. A real lawn gives you the look and feel of a healthy garden, it will grow over time and the grass can be cut down using a garden strimmer. Crucially, it absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, as well as providing a habitat for insects and organisms that form the basis of an ecosystem that attracts birds and animals to your green space. Its artificial counterpart does none of this.
Recycle Your Waste
Creating your own compost is a far more eco-friendly use of green waste than burning it or driving it off to the tip. The materials you’ll want to put into the compost bin are mown grass, fruit and veg waste, leaves and twigs. Over time, it’ll become an excellent soil giving your plants the nutrients they’ll need.
Avoid Plants Sold in Plastic Pots
Plastic plant pots generally can’t be recycled. Luckily, there are an increasing number of nurseries and garden centers using recyclable pots. So always aim to purchase these if you want your garden to be sustainable. If you can’t avoid the non-recyclable kind, or you already have them in your garden, make sure you reuse them as often as you can.
Other single-use plastics to watch for are compost bags, plastic garden netting and cable ties. As with plant pots, more places are supplying eco-friendly alternatives, so look for these.
Collect Rainwater
This makes best use of the abundant rain that Britain is famous for. Water for the garden can be collected in a number of ways. For example, you can use a tank to collect rainwater falling from rooftops or gutters. But you can also use water previously used for cooking or washing, or even have buckets in the shower to minimise wastage here.
Take a look around your garden at what isn’t as eco-friendly as you’d like it to be. You’ll find there are always ways to improve things. It allows you to experiment with innovations in an effort to make your garden as green and sustainable as possible.
