Are you a green gardener? We all know how important it is to protect the environment and this is not difficult to do in the garden. It’s certainly not hard work to undertake environmentally friendly gardening; you just need to plan a little.
Go Organic
What can be more satisfying than growing your own organic fruit and vegetables, knowing you’re doing your bit for both the health of your family and the environment? Organic gardening is becoming increasingly popular; from using natural methods instead of pesticides and chemicals to green manuring and composting.
Pest Control
At the first sign of garden pests it’s far too easy to purchase chemicals and spray them liberally to control the problem. Before you do this stop and think about the harm you’re doing. You only need to read the label on a bottle of weed killer to see the strength of its contents.
The key to controlling garden pests is prevention rather than cure. There are many ‘friendly’ insects that can be encouraged into the garden to help control the pests, such as ladybirds, spiders and bees. To encourage these plant lupins, sunflowers and daisies. Wildflowers also attract insects, so why not consider a wild flower area in your garden?
To read more on organic pest control click on http://www.gardenguide-uk.co.uk/garden-controlling-pests.html
Save Water
Water is so precious and we cannot afford to waste it. How will you water your pride and joy if there’s a hosepipe ban in the summer? Invest in water collection containers and you’ll be both saving money on water rates and be recycling a valuable commodity.
The average sized garden can make use of 2 or 3 water butts. For larger gardens it’s worth considering an irrigation system that can be connected to your water collection facility. Consider this as a long term investment.
Bonfires
Even burning garden waste on the bonfire can release toxic gases that damage the environment. It’s best to dispose of garden waste properly and most town councils now offer a garden waste collection facility. Doing it this way will ensure you’re not adding to the world’s environmental problems and will keep the neighbours happy!
Bonfires can also be a danger to wildlife, such as hedgehogs, who love to make their homes in the waste.
Energy Consumption
If you’ve got a greenhouse have you considered how much power you use to keep plants at a constant temperature? Whilst it’s important to care for tender plants in this way most can cope with a degree or two less of heat, which will lower your fuel consumption and reduce your bills.
With a little thought it’s easy to garden organically and the benefits are immensely rewarding for both gardener and the environment.