A garden is an incredible opportunity to get outside and grow your plants. Not only do you get to nurture flora, but you also get benefits like increased physical activity and stress reduction. However, not all gardens are created equal. The best gardens are sustainable, eco-friendly ones.
There are several actions you can take to form an eco-friendly garden. Keep reading to learn more about some easy steps to turn your outdoor area into one that’s also good for the environment.
1. Use Natural Pest Control
Pesticides are easy to spray on plants, but they typically cause more harm than help. According to one study, some chemicals in certain pesticides are connected to the neurons involved in Parkinson’s disease. Not only that, but the chemicals are terrible for the environment and can leach into the soil and poison animals.
Instead, opt for natural pest control. The most popular options include diatomaceous earth, ladybugs, and neem oil. There are also eco-friendly companies that sell natural pest control options, such as Earth Ally. Als, check out our list of best gardening tools for seniors to learn more.
2. Utilize Local Plants
Adding native plants to your garden is an excellent way to create an eco-friendly place for flora to flourish. Native plants are helpful to the birds and bees, dig deeper into the soil, and blend in with the natural wildlife in your area.
Native plants are also adapted to the conditions, so they won’t require as much water and care as other selections. They will support a much healthier ecosystem than non-native plants.
3. Conserve Water Wherever Possible
It’s vital to conserve water because water is the foundation of all life on the planet. There is an especially limited and often dwindling supply of fresh water, so an eco-friendly garden should be designed to use as little of this precious resource as possible.
One of the best ways to conserve water is to use a rain barrel or watering can to catch liquid when it rains. Once full, you can use this water to care for your plants instead of turning on the hose.
4. Water Less
At the same time you’re conserving water, so consider watering less. This doesn’t mean starving plants that need water, but instead choosing flora that doesn’t need as much liquid to survive. There are ample native plants in many regions that are hardy enough to go on for a long time without much liquid.
These plants have adapted to survive in drought conditions. Popular choices include Russian Sage, Yarrow, Coneflowers, Agave, Rosemary, succulents, and more. Research plant options native to your area and make drought-ready selections.
5. Grow Food Plants
Care for the environment and your own home by growing plants that produce food. If you choose to grow from your home, you have control over the pesticides and other chemicals on the plants. It’s healthier for your body, those you love, and the soil and animals that could be contaminated.
Growing plants with food also results in less food waste and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. You can always start small with a tomato plant and work your way up into more options once you understand the techniques. A small window box is ample room to grow some herbs or small plants.
6. Compost
Many individuals purchase their compost from the store, resorting to options created by larger brands. However, driving your vehicle to buy compost from a plastic bag formed in a greenhouse-emitting factory isn’t the ideal selection for your sustainable garden.
Instead, make your own compost for the sake of the environment. Natural compost is a mix of food scraps, water, and dry materials broken down and turned into a dirt-like texture for the garden. It’s ideal for the environment because it can reduce the amount of waste tossed into the trash can, particularly with food scraps. Grab a compost bin from Amazon to get started.
7. Provide for Pollinators
As mentioned above, the plants chosen for your sustainable garden matter. In an eco-friendly garden system, there will be ample pollinators flitting from one plant to the next. To bring in as many birds and bees as possible, we recommend providing for pollinators with the plants chosen.
Ideal plants for pollinators include the following:
- Coneflower
- Milkweed
- Goldenrod
- Asters
Different plants grow better depending on where you live. Read our list of best plants to grow for your gardening zone to learn more.
Unfortunately, loss of habitat is something very common to animals in our world today. Offering plants for pollinators increases the area they have to live and feed.
8. Start Small
To avoid harming the environment, it’s best to start small with your garden. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it doesn’t make sense to invest in a large plot of land with ample plants. You won’t be able to care for them all and will waste water and other resources attempting to keep them alive.
For example, consider beginning with a simple row of carrots or some flowers. If you succeed in keeping those alive, add more selections to your garden.
9. Plant Hedge Boundaries
Many individuals choose to place fences around their yards or gardens. Instead of this man-made selection, consider planting hedge boundaries. These plant-made barriers look incredible and provide places for animals and bugs to live throughout the year.
Hedges also provide sun protection, which is vital to defend from cancerous rays and heat stroke during the warmest times of the month. It’s an excellent boundary around your garden and will care for the ecosystem at the same time.
10. Add Trees
One of the simplest ways to create an eco-friendly garden is to plant a tree. They look incredible, but the best thing they do is reduce the CO2 emissions around them. They are vital for the atmosphere.
You can also add trees to your garden with enough shade on your home to help with cooling costs in the summer. They are a practical and environmentally-conscious choice and you can grab some tree bags online (or saplings in-store) to get started.
11. Grow Flower Bunches
Finally, consider growing your flowers at home to reduce the energy taken elsewhere to pull together your bouquets. Several times a month, you can snip the stems and gather the florals into a vase.
Not only is this tactic easy, it will save you money. Plus, flowers will brighten anyone’s day – especially if you grew them yourself. Rest easy knowing you’re being kind to the world.
Learn more about gardening in a Gardener’s Beginner’s Guide.
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