More and more people are doing what they can to help the environment. Making more sustainable choices is good for your conscience as well as being good for the planet! People assume that gardens, by default, are eco-friendly spaces. After all, they’re green and luscious, right?
Well, not in every case. People can choose garden furniture and features that aren’t so kind to the environment, making their garden spaces a lot less green! Don’t worry though, there are things you can do to make every facet of you garden eco-friendly. Here are a few tips for creating an environmentally-friendly garden.
Choose sustainably-sourced materials
Choosing sustainably-soured materials can really make a difference to the environment. Some garden materials, like tropical hardwood decking, require trees to be cut down and shipped around the world on a huge scale. As well as causing deforestation, the movement of tropical hardwood on huge ships causes a lot of greenhouse gas emissions.
There is a better alternative to hard woods like this though. Composite decking can be made using recycled wood and plastic, making it a much better choice. No trees need to be cut down and some composite decking manufacturers save hundreds of tonnes of discarded wood from ending up in landfill every year, just by turning it into decking!
Collect and recycle water
The water that falls from the sky is perfect for watering your plants, but you can’t always count that it will rain when you need it to. That’s why collecting rain water is a really good, eco-friendly way of maintaining your garden. Not only will you save money on your water bill, but you’ll also be harnessing a free resource and recycling water that would otherwise have been lost to the ground.
Collecting water is simple, all you need is a big container (like a water butt) that’s not under cover. The rain will do the rest! You can use your collected rainwater to fill your water can during drier spells.
Long term investments rather than quick fixes
One of the main reasons why people’s gardens aren’t eco-friendly is because people choose quick fixes and cheap materials over longer-lasting investments. Of course, investing in a higher quality materials like composite decking is going to be pricier to start with, but over time, you’ll actually save yourself money because your deck boards won’t need to be replaced every few years.
By choosing high-quality, durable materials, you’ll be discarding less waste over time. Your garden will last longer and will contribute towards a more sustainable way of living.
Grow fruit and vegetables
Deciding to grow fruit and vegetables in your garden will benefit the environment and your hungry family! Food that’s grown organically in the back garden has travelled a lot less before it arrives on your table. The food in supermarkets is transported hundreds of miles, contributing to greenhouse gases in our environment daily.
There are some obvious health benefits to eating home grown fruits and veg an it’s usually cheaper too! So why not give it a go? You’ll be feeding your family high-quality food and helping to protect the environment too – a win, win situation.
Hopefully these tips will help you turn your garden into an eco-friendly oasis!
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