Are you looking to create a sustainable garden and adopt sustainable garden practices? In this article, you’ll learn about the most effective ways to achieve a beautiful garden that will be well-designed and work in partnership with wildlife and help mitigate climate change in the process. Gardening sustainably is also more cost-effective since it uses recycled materials, uses less natural resources, and requires less care. Anyone with a garden, regardless of size, may take measures to convert their area into a thriving, sustainable garden. So if you’re looking for creative tips to be more sustainable in the new year, try some of these simple ways to make an eco-friendly garden that’s both sustainable and a haven for wildlife.
- Upcycled walkways
You will need a good walkway to easily navigate your garden. There are several environmentally friendly alternatives to concrete and other typical walkway materials. These green options are frequently far more appealing and interesting than traditional walkways. For instance, you could install some wooden pallet boards that are accessible and, most importantly, affordable options which you can find on online, inexpensive marketplaces (one of my favorites is https://glowgrounds.com/). To make the walkway, separate all of the planks and glue them together using polyurethane. This will aid in their weather protection. Then, along with your preferred walkway layout, line these up. Consider painting the pallets a bright colour to make your walkway stand out even more.
Other options include tree stumps or logs which you can find in any natural environment or even your local forestry commission; or glass mulch which is made of recycled glass and can create gorgeous sparkly accents around your garden.
- Choose native plants
Consider using native plants to decorate your garden and to continue to support insects and wildlife. A naturalistic planting design that uses the proper native plants in the right places is both environmentally and economically sound since you won’t have to replace plants that don’t function. Using native plants, such as constructing a wildflower patch, will aid and promote a wide variety of species, no matter how few. Additionally, you can also reduce your carbon footprint by leaving your lawn unattended for a longer period of time in order to promote the growth of these native plants. ‘Let a lawn go completely and allow the magic to happen – you’ll find native plants such as self heal, Alchemilla, achilleas, ox-eye daisies and lots more just pop up,’ says landscape designer Lulu Urquhart.
- Upcycle garden furniture
Get creative and repurpose abandoned materials in the garden or veg patch, from containers to tools and furniture. When warmer days arrive, it might be tempting to acquire the latest outdoor furniture; but, there are lots of fantastic pieces at your disposal already – they may only need a little love and attention. Buy some sandpaper and paint at your local hardware shop, then give that dusty old garden bench a good scrub and a fresh coat of paint, and it’ll feel like new in no time. Alternatively, visit your local charity stores to see if you can find any furniture that may be repurposed, such as wooden chairs or birdbaths. This is a fantastic opportunity to support a good cause while also giving used goods a new home.
Do you have any eco-friendly garden tips, I would love to know in the comments below.
