Step-by-step Guide to Creating an Eco-friendly Garden

What does an eco-friendly garden look like? What does it look like and what kinds of plants does it have? You might picture a dense, forest-like garden filled with wildflowers, overgrown plants, and insects. This may be your thing, but your eco-friendly garden doesn’t have to look like that if you don’t want it to.

Innovations in technology with the latest gardening techniques has given us many creative ways to transform our backyard into a beautiful garden while using environment-friendly products.

Let’s take a look at how you can build an eco-friendly garden.

Use Eco-friendly Materials

If you want your garden to be eco-friendly, start with choosing materials that contain little to no cement. The cement industry represents 5% of all carbon emissions globally. If you want to build a garden sustainably, use eco-friendly materials and products that have been sourced naturally. Your garden will look as stunning as your neighbour’s backyard, but you will enjoy a greener space.

Do a little research and learn the difference between sustainable and non-sustainable products for your garden. A few eco-friendly materials to try including woven willow, oak, log walls, rammed earth, clay & straw, and straw bales.

Conserve Water

A sustainable garden isn’t only about using eco-friendly products. It’s equally important that you conserve water and use only as much water as you need. Established plants need little water, while those in the initial stages of growth require regular watering. For small plants that are likely to dry out, it’s best to water the roots instead of foliage. Dripper systems are most effective for this. You could also consider setting up an underground tank if you have enough space.

Tip: Roots will dry out more quickly with frequent and light watering. Instead, water your plants deeply once or twice a week. Not only will this conserve water, but it protects the roots and encourages speedy growth.

Use Natural Stone Pavers

Most gardens have walkways that link the garden to the interiors. If you are planning to build a walkway, use natural stones instead of concrete and other artificial pavers. It’s another way to go green with your landscape. There are lots of natural stone pavers available for your backyards. Bluestone, travertine, and granite are the most durable, attractive, and low-maintenance paving options. You can find these stones in a variety of colours, styles, and finishes. Not only do they help you contribute to the environment, but they look incredibly stunning in your garden. Incorporating stacked stones cladding is another option to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your walkway. 

You can also order samples to see which one goes well with your garden.

Avoid Chemicals

You don’t need chemical fertilizers and pesticides now that there are plenty of natural alternatives available. Ditch the chemicals and instead use natural formulas for grounds maintenance. Use organic tonics for plant diseases and try natural remedies to address small problems in your garden.

Recycle and Reuse

Replace plastic pots with recycled or reusable pots. The biggest problem with plastic pots is that once you are done using them, they will be thrown into the trash and eventually end up in landfill.

There are plenty of alternatives to plastic pots. Visit nurseries to find recyclable boxes for growing seeds. You can also use egg cartons and cardboard containers to grow seeds and plants. Wooden pots make excellent options for growing seeds in a sustainable way.

Another creative idea is to use recycled rubber tyres. Not only are they eco-friendly, but tyres are lightweight and come with an anti-slip surface. Plus, rubber tyres don’t crack in hot weather. Likewise, you can search for other pots made of recycled materials for your garden.

Grow Food

Every gardener has thought of growing their own food and veggies in their backyard. In addition to being environment-friendly, a garden full of fruit and vegetables will help to cut down your grocery bills.

Veggies from supermarkets might look fresh, but they travel up to hundreds of miles before they arrive on the supermarket shelves. Once you taste apples or strawberries picked fresh from your own garden, you’ll see the incredible difference they have to supermarket produce. Not to mention that you can know for sure that it hasn’t been grown with harmful chemical fertilizers or pesticides!

Grow Native Plants

Growing native plants in your garden is another interesting way to go green while making your garden colourful. Native plants tend to attract wildlife and can resist pests and insects better than any non-native plant. The best part is these plants will grow quickly and easily in their natural environment. You can also increase your lawn area by putting down some grass seed.

Go for Climbers

Another eco-friendly idea is to invest in climbing plants to cover your walls. Not only do they look spectacular, but these plants will reduce your heating costs by insulating your home.

If you care about the environment and want to be kinder to the planet, it’s important to consider the environmental impact of all aspects of your life – this includes your house, garden, and lifestyle in general. Luckily, there are plenty of ways that you can make your garden eco-friendly!

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