There’s no doubt about it – we all need to do our part to help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. One way to do this is by creating an eco-friendly garden. It doesn’t mean that your garden has to be ugly or uninviting – on the contrary, a well-designed eco garden can be just as beautiful as any other type of garden! This article will discuss some tips and tricks for creating an eco-friendly garden.
What is an Eco-Friendly Garden?
It is a type of garden designed and managed to minimise the impact on the environment. It includes using sustainable gardening practices such as choosing native plants, choosing drought-tolerant plants, mulching, composting, and using eco garden products.
Why Create Sustainable Gardens?
There are many reasons why you might want to create a sustainable garden. For one, it can help you save money on your water bill. These gardens are designed to be drought-tolerant, so they will require less water than a traditional garden. Additionally, eco-friendly gardens can help to attract wildlife such as birds and butterflies. And finally, by using sustainable gardening practices, you can help to reduce your carbon footprint and do your part to mitigate climate change.
Tips for Creating an Ecological Garden
If you’re interested in creating an environmentally friendly garden but don’t know where to start, try our sustainable garden ideas below:
Use Recycled Materials
Gardens with elaborate landscaping designs often involve installing new structures with various materials. While there’s nothing wrong with building garden structures, the main concern is the origin, manufacture and installation of those materials, which often involve using practices that harm the environment.
One way you can support going green without harming the environment is using recycled materials for garden paths, walls and patios. Source your materials from reclamation yards or local junk yards. By using these materials, you can exercise your creativity and bring character and unique elements to your garden.
Practice Succession Planting
First of all, what is succession planting? It is the practice of combining garden plants that complement each other while blooming at different seasons. If you ensure that your garden has successional blooms throughout the year, you will have a steady stream of pollinators flocking to it, keeping it thriving no matter the season. By doing so, your garden can also entice beneficial insects that keep pests away from your crops.
Use Companion Planting
You can also try companion planting if you’re curious about more landscaping plant ideas. It is done by planting different crops next to each other for various reasons. It could be for pollination, pest control, maximising space or providing habitat for beneficial insects. All in all, doing so boosts crop productivity while minimising chemical use.
Plenty of flowers and crops work well when planted next to each other. For instance, you can grow onions or garlic in-between carrots to mask its smell and deter carrot root flies. Thanks to that, you can improve the health and yield of your crops without using pesticides.
Choose Eco Materials
Sustainable garden designs often incorporate green materials. Sourcing locally made ones support nearby businesses in your community and reduce your carbon footprint. Moreover, you can give your garden a sense of place, linking it to the local surroundings. You can also use new materials made of recycled concrete aggregate or recycled plastic decking made to look like natural wood. But when buying these materials, keenly consider cost versus durability, and seek advice from suppliers and artisans.
Install Water Collection Measures
Gardens need plenty of water to keep plants healthy and thriving, especially if your property is on a larger scale. So, imagine how much water you use in a year. But one way to be more sustainable is by conserving water using more efficient watering methods, such as installing irrigation systems. Another way is by installing water collection measures for when it rains.
Place barrels or green plastic tubs on every downpipe. Or, if you have more space, think about installing an underground rain tank. If you can install a larger one, you can easily supply water for an average garden. Moreover, you can also set up the tanks so that it provides water for flushing your toilet. Lastly, you should also choose drought-tolerant plants while using water-wise methods.
Use Native Plants
Do you want a garden that attracts more wildlife? Then fill it with more native plants. Besides being easier to grow and maintain, native plants are naturally drought-resistant and more resistant to pests. Moreover, they are ideal for attracting crucial pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. Pollinators are essential in a garden since most plants need them to reproduce.
Improve Soil Health
Your garden soil holds the key to a sustainable garden as it traps and stores carbon and provides a home for essential soil organisms that help maintain the earth’s health. You can improve soil health by covering it with a thick layer of compost or leaf mulch. Worms and other soil organisms will feed on that and release the nutrients into the ground, which plant roots absorb. By keeping your soil nutrient-rich, you are also giving your plants what they need to flourish.
Let Your Lawn Grow
Manicured lawns may look pleasing to the eye, but slightly overgrown lawns with blooming wildflowers also have charm. Letting the grass on your property grow reduces lawn mowing and allows nature to do its thing. Taller grass also provides homes for beneficial wildlife. And when you do mow your lawn, switch to electric mowers to lessen the use of petrol and try cutting only from June to September.
Make Your Own Fertiliser
If you have time and are dedicated to making your garden entirely eco-friendly, you can also try making your own fertiliser. You can use everything from fallen leaves to grass cuttings, pulled-up weeds and leftover food. If you soak weeds in a container for a few weeks, you can also create a nutrient-rich solution that you can use to water plants. Another method is grasscycling, where you leave grass trimmings on the lawn after mowing.
Use Natural Pest Control
It’s common knowledge that although pesticides help keep pesky insects away, they are also harmful to a garden’s natural inhabitants and humans. Luckily, you can keep pests away without relying on chemicals. Instead, you can use natural methods like the ones listed below:
- Keep away slugs using copper slug rings
- Cover your crops with garden fleece or fine netting
- Put up birdhouses to attract nesting birds that can help with caterpillar control.
- Plant dill and fennel to attract hoverflies that eat greenflies.
- Build a small pond to attract beneficial animals and insects that can help with pest control.
Create a Stunning Garden with the Help of Green Oasis Landscaping
We are professional landscapers in Perth with a good eye for design and functionality. As experts with over 15 years of experience in the industry, you can rely on our expertise to help you create simply stunning landscaping designs that complete your property. We cater to residential and commercial properties, providing comprehensive services that you will love.
So, if you’re planning on creating an eco-friendly garden, choose our seasoned contractors for the job. We offer the most competitive prices in the area, with free on-site consultations and quotes via email. Get in touch with us today.