Creating An Eco-Friendly Garden

Creating an eco-friendly garden is one of my goals this year. Although I love my garden space and like nothing more than sitting outside, enjoying the sunshine (when we’re lucky enough to get it here in the UK!!) I’m not what you’d call a keen gardener. I’m more the ‘maintenance’ type of gardener. But I have decided it’s time to take action and rethink my garden so that it aligns with my sustainable lifestyle goals and supports local eco-systems and wildlife. One of the great things I have discovered is that using plants native to your area means that they will be much easier to look after! Always good news for ‘maintenance’ gardeners like myself! If you would like to join me and make your garden an eco-friendly sanctuary then read on. I have put together 10 strategies I am going to start using in my own garden this year and I hope you will join me in creating an eco-friendly garden of your own.

1. Choose Native Plants

Choosing native plants is essential for an eco-friendly garden. Native plants are naturally adapted to the local climate and soil conditions so they require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides. By incorporating native species into your garden, you can attract a diverse array of wildlife, including birds, butterflies, and pollinators. Consider planting flowering perennials and native grasses to create a vibrant ecosystem within your garden. Check out the Royal Horticultural Society for recommended native plants in the UK and US Perennials for recommended plants native to North America.

2. Use Peat-Free Compost

I have been using peat-free compost for some time now for the simple fact that using peat-based compost contributes to the depletion of peatlands. For a more sustainable option, opt for peat-free alternatives. Peat-free compost is made from sustainable materials such as wood waste, bark, coconut coir, green waste, and composted garden waste reducing the environmental impact of gardening.

3. Plant a Tree

If you have the space, planting a native tree in you garden is not only aesthetically beneficial to your garden but it can help improve soil structure and fertility over time. It also provides a habitat and food for wildlife and helps store carbon from the atmosphere into the soil.

4. Create Habitats for Wildlife

To encourage biodiversity in your garden, designate a wild area where plants are allowed to grow freely. Whilst a large area of mown lawn may look tidy and pretty, it doesn’t offer much shelter for wildlife. Rather than letting your whole garden go wild and look untidy, choosing a amall area that goes wild can serve as a habitat for native species, offering shelter, food, and breeding grounds. Incorporating features such as bird boxes, bug hotels, and hedgehog houses can also add diversity of habitats within your garden. Providing these homes for wildlife, creates a balanced ecosystem.

Adding a water feature to your garden not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also provides essential habitat for wildlife. A pond, birdbath, or even a simple shallow dish of water can attract a variety of creatures, including frogs, birds, and insects. To improve access for ground-dwelling creatures like hedgehogs, create wildlife-friendly features such as log piles, rockeries, and dense vegetation. By incorporating these elements into your garden design, you can create a haven for wildlife while conserving water and promoting biodiversity.

5. Grow Your Own Food

One of the most rewarding aspects of eco-friendly gardening is growing your food. I have grown a variety of food in my garden over the years, from tomatoes and lettuce to broccoli and courgettes, but since moving to this house, I haven’t set aside a space to do this yet. Growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs in your garden, is a great way to enjoy fresh, organic produce. nurture your soil with compost and organic matter to ensure the health and vitality of your plants without the need for synthetic chemicals.

6. Reduce Waste

In terms of sustainability, waste reduction plays an essential role in eco-friendly gardening. Instead of letting rainwater go to waste, collect it in barrels to irrigate your plants. Fallen leaves can be piled up and left to decompose, eventually turning into nutrient-rich leaf mold that enriches the soil. Also, making your compost from kitchen scraps and garden waste not only reduces landfill waste but also provides a free source of organic fertilizer for your garden.

7. Shop Local

When it comes to building and landscaping your garden, opt for locally sourced materials whenever possible. By choosing materials that are readily available in your area, you reduce the energy and emissions associated with transportation.

8. Minimise the Use of Plastic

Consider alternatives to plastic pots, such as terracotta, biodegradable containers, or recycled materials. By minimizing the use of plastics in your garden, you help prevent pollution and protect wildlife from harm.

9. Make Natural Fertiliser

Maintaining soil fertility is essential for a healthy garden, but it doesn’t require synthetic fertilizers. Instead of relying on chemicals, you can make fertilizer from natural sources such as nettles. Nettle fertilizer is easy to prepare and provides essential nutrients for plant growth without the risk of chemical runoff contaminating waterways. Check out these instructions on how to make nettle fertilizer. Additionally, using organic feed and compost enriches the soil with organic matter, promoting microbial activity and improving soil structure over time.

10. Use Natural Pesticides

In an eco-friendly garden, pest management revolves around prevention and natural remedies rather than chemical pesticides. By promoting biodiversity and creating habitats for beneficial insects, you can maintain a balance between pests and their natural predators. Companion planting, such as interplanting herbs and flowers with vegetables, can help deter pests while attracting pollinators. Check out how to do this here. For specific pest problems, consider using natural solutions such as neem oil, garlic spray, or introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings.

Conclusion

I am so excited to begin creating my eco-friendly garden. I am confident it will benefit both the environment and our well-being. By choosing native plants, practicing sustainable soil management, and providing habitats for wildlife, we can transform our gardens into thriving ecosystems. By growing our food, reducing waste, and using natural fertilizers and pest control methods, we minimise our environmental footprint while enjoying the beauty and abundance of nature. So I’m keeping my fingers crossed for some drier months here in the UK so that I can really get to work.

I hope you found some of this information useful and are inspired to create an eco-friendly garden of your own. Simply adopting one or two of these ideas initially will make a big difference. Which ideas will you try first? If you’d like to share your ideas, leave a comment below.

Elaine