Eco-Friendly Gardening Tips
From pest control to water conservation, learn how to care for your garden without any cost to the environment.
An eco-friendly garden is one that is specifically designed and planted to be appealing to all aspects of a healthy ecosystem- whether that’s by attracting beneficial insects or by using gardening methods that are less harmful to the natural environment.
With sustainable gardening trends like ‘No Mow May’ & ‘Prairie planting’ on the rise, it’s evident that prioritizing sustainability is becoming a priority for the everyday gardener. There’s plenty of ways you can try to be more eco-friendly in your gardening, for both novice & experienced gardeners.
Water Conservation
Conservation of water is really important when maintaining an eco-friendly garden. By regularly monitoring your moisture levels, both in your soil and from the appearance of your plants or lawn, you can tailor your watering to your plant’s needs. To prevent evaporation of the water and to make sure your plant is absorbing as much as it needs, you should water in the morning & at night when the sun isn’t directly overhead.
You should also look to invest in a water butt to ensure you’ve got a constant supply of naturally provided water. This saves on your water bill and means the plant is getting natural rainwater for healthy growth. Naturally collected water doesn’t contain chemicals like treated tap water might, so is better for the health of your plants. Water butts may seem like a big expense but they are cost-effective in the long run and a sustainable alternative to chemically treated tap water.
Planting Native Plants
Native gardening / planting is the act of choosing plants that are native to your local environment / garden so that they can thrive in the best conditions. You should first test your soil PH & assess the local climate during the different seasons to determine which plants would thrive best. Stronger and more stable plants means less maintenance for you in the long run and a healthier garden ecosystem!
Planting a wide range of native plants in your garden means they will thrive in the local climate and attract native animals. Choosing plants of different varieties will appeal to different animals, attracting a wide array of critters with different benefits for your garden.
Certain plants like Lavender, Marigolds and Sunflowers attract beneficial insects like butterflies, ladybugs and bees. They are all a form of natural pest control as they feed on aphids, caterpillars and other small garden pests and are great garden pollinators too, helping bolster your garden’s ecosystem.
Eco friendly Weed Killers
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative to tackle your weeds rather than adding chemicals into your garden, then there are several DIY weed killer methods that you can try, though they are best used on early growth weeds and re-applied for full efficacy.
Boiling Water or Steam:
If applied directly to the weed, the hot water scalds the stems and roots which damages the plant and kills it. Hot water leaves no chemical residue behind and is an easy, sustainable option for weed control.
Salt:
Salt will severely dehydrate the plant, stunting its growth and ability to retain water. However, if it is used in excess, it can potentially damage the surrounding areas as it leaves residue behind in the soil.
You can apply granulated table salt directly onto the weed or dilute it into a brine-based spray for larger areas.
Vinegar or Lemon Juice:
The acidic nature of vinegar and lemon juice will dry out the surrounding area of the plant, shutting off moisture absorption and slowly killing it.
Vinegar or lemon juice are great DIY alternatives as they’re often household items and readily available to use.
Homemade Compost / Fertiliser
Dusing your own homemade compost as a fertiliser means that you’ll have a constant supply of natural fertiliser ready to keep your garden healthy all year-round. Early Spring is the best time to fertilise as giving it a boost just before your lawn and plants begin to actively grow again helps to kick-start the growth process. This means a healthy, dense lawn and strong plant growth throughout the rest of spring and summer.
In terms of DIY sustainable fertiliser, if you’ve continued to compost throughout the winter months with kitchen and garden scraps, you can use your home-made compost as a natural feed to kick-start your lawn with a nutrient boost ready for spring. If you don’t have one ready to go, it’s never too late to start composting- given the right conditions for rapid growth, compost can be ready to use in as little as a few weeks.
To ensure the best quality compost, kitchen scraps like fruit and vegetable peelings should go into your mix alongside leaves and grass clippings to make up 25-50% of your compost Mix, this is often referred to as ‘green waste’. This should also be supplemented with ‘brown waste’- wood, paper, prunings etc to make up 50-75% of the mix.
Other sustainable fertilising options like leftover coffee grounds or pasta water can be an effective, natural alternative to give your soil a nutrient boost!
Pests
Natural pest control methods are a great alternative to chemical-based, synthetic pesticides, which can harm natural garden wildlife like butterflies, bees etc.
Instead, opt for an eco-friendly alternative, by using predator insects (ladybugs, lacewings) for a maintenance free pest control. You can attract these to your garden by planting a small patch of nettles, buckwheat or any form of nectar-rich plant.
You can also use nematodes, which will attack soil-borne insects with no harmful effects on humans, plants, or animals.
If you want to prevent the problem before it’s even begun, organic pest deterrents like garlic spray, citronella/neem oil and insecticidal soap are a great, eco-friendly way to pre-emptively tackle any pests.
Growing Your Own Produce
It may seem daunting trying to find the motivation to start a whole garden kitchen, but a lot of gardeners (both novice and professional) are turning to growing food in their garden to both save money & to create a circular, re-usable system for fresh, home-grown produce.
Opting for crops that grow best in the British climate will give you the best yield, like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers & lettuce. Alternatively, you can keep it simple and just grow your own herbs for seasoning – Chives, mint, thyme and rosemary are all easy to plant, maintain & grow in the British climate, and are easy on your bank account, too.
Eco friendly gardening methods mean less money spent on expensive weed solutions/ compost mixes, saving you money & helping your garden thrive naturally at the same time.
Gardening in a sustainably minded way also means your garden is likely to thrive for longer, meaning less maintenance for you in the long run! So, it’s worth trying to make these small changes, for big benefits to your garden & the environment.
-Chrissie Handley- Gardening Expert & Lawn Care Specialist at Online Turf.
Chrissie Handley is a lawn care specialist for Online Turf- Lancashire’s leading turf supplier. With extensive expertise in turf-laying, outdoor maintenance & seasonal gardening advice, she is dedicated to helping gardening enthusiasts achieve lush, healthy gardens year-round.
www.onlineturf.co.uk
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
