The worlds changing climate has many of us questioning what we could do to make our life more environmentally friendly, whether that's in our day to day life, the house or garden, below we have some great tips on how you can create an environmentally friendly garden.
Limit your use of water
Limiting the use of clean water is important for the environment, so why not recycle natural sources that can be used to water plants in any garden by installing a water butt.
To preserve your water, we recommend directing the supply to the roots of plants without wasting it on the leaves or flowers. Removing weeds will ensure the water is going towards your plants and is not being wasted further.
There have been several hosepipe bans in place across the country during the warmest periods of the year. You can help conserve your water usage by using a watering can in its place, and considering the time of day, watering during the warmest part of the day would mean the water is more likely to evaporate in the heat and be ineffective. Prioritise young plants and seedlings over more established plants as these will survive long periods without water.
View our guide to watering in dry weather here
Use drought-tolerant plants
Opting to use drought-tolerant plants, that require less watering, will be better for the environment in helping to save water.
There are plenty of options for any garden. If you’re looking for plants that do well in full sun, we’d recommend shrub varieties like lavender, rosemary and buddleia, or herbaceous varieties like Iris, Kniphofia and salvia. Alternatively, there are drought resistant plants that do well for shaded areas, such as Sarcococca, Hypericum, Euphorbia and Digitalis.
Plant a tree
When it comes to purifying the air, and helping to reduce air pollution in built-up areas, we recommend planting a tree to decrease carbon dioxide levels. Choose varieties with larger leaves and wide crowns to maximise photosynthesis. Trees can also provide additional benefits such as providing a home for local wildlife and reducing noise pollution.
Include native plants
Fill your garden projects with as many native plants as possible to attract wildlife into your garden. Click here to view a list of native trees and shrubs by the RHS.
Introduce pollinators
One-third of our crop supply in the UK relies on bees pollinating our plants. By introducing stock that bees are highly attracted to helps encourage them, and other pollinators, into your garden.
Click here to view the growers choice of pollinator-friendly plants.
Protect wildlife habitats
Looking after our environment doesn’t just mean caring for space itself, but also giving nature a helping hand. The colder months of the year can be a struggle for local wildlife, but by building birdhouses with feeders, log piles for hedgehogs or even insect hotels, we can provide a safe space for them all year round.
Make organic compost
Having an environmentally friendly garden means having space where you are largely self-sufficient. Make your own compost by using recycled elements from your garden or home, including leaves, grass cuttings, branches, natural debris, leftover fruit peels, eggshells and old newspapers.
Grow your own fruit and vegetables
Growing your own food is not only cost-effective but rewarding. The fresh fruit and vegetables taste great while helping to reduce the environmental impact the shipping and plastic waste has from produce sold in supermarkets. Start with something easy to grow. such as carrots, potatoes, apples or berries, before tackling more challenging produce.
Make your garden accessible
Make your garden accessible to decline species such as hedgehogs, modern gardens with walls and fences make it difficult for them and other ground-dwelling creatures.
Posted 4th Jun 9:16am
