Aren’t gardens, by definition, green?

We’re not just talking about keeping your grass healthy and making a home for a few new plants, however. We take up so much space with our gardens, it’s worth asking whether we’re really using it responsibly.

Make it a home for wildlife

You might think that inviting pests into the garden is a bad idea, but pests aren’t the only critters that might use it for a little refuge. For instance, a lot of people build hedgehog huts or bee hotels to offer shelter for wildlife that needs it. Similarly, having a feature pond in your garden can do wonders for local wildlife, as many insects might use it as a breeding spot, and other animals might use it as a watering spot.

Use recycled materials when you can

When you have a project in the garden that you want to do, such as building a retaining wall or adding some more plants, what resources and materials do you use to do it? You should first look to see if you can find any recycled materials, such as old used stone for retaining walls. There are all manner of objects that can be recycled into plant potters, as well, if you’re willing to look.

Don’t waste water

Your garden needs water to live and thrive. Few people are going to begrudge you for watering your plants. However, if you feel like you’re being a touch wasteful when you’re running your hose over the lawn, think about instead switching to a DIY irrigation system for your garden. Otherwise, you can reuse greywater, which is water that has, for instance, been used to wash the dishes or used in the bath.

Avoid chemical pest and weed control

It can be frustrating to find your hard work being sabotaged by some creepy crawlies nibbling everything up or by weeds that just don’t seem to quit. However, using chemical pesticides can result in serious damage done to wildlife as those chemicals don’t degrade easily, but instead tend to penetrate nearby water sources as well as remaining in the soil. There are a ton of natural pest control methods you can rely on, instead.

Use that green waste

Whether it’s grass clippings, hedge trimmings, unused vegetables, or something else entirely, you should use it to learn more about the magic that is composting. Creating your own compost bin is easy and if you’re looking to grow flowers or other plants in the garden, nothing works better to create a nutrient-rich bed of soil than a healthy helping of compost. If you grow your own produce in your garden, it can even make it tastier.

The next time you’re feeling dissatisfied with your garden and want to change it up, consider changes that might make it a much better use of your resources, not to mention a serious boon for the local eco-system.

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I am always happy you're here and I hope these ideas inspire you. 

Thanks for Fat Joe Publishing for contributing this blog post for my readers.

If you liked this post today please feel free to give it a Share or a Pin so that others can see it too. As always, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest as well.

I am always happy you're here and I hope these ideas inspire you. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Stay tuned for more coming soon.