Sustainable gardening involves creating a landscape that is environmentally sound. It’s all about designing, constructing and maintaining your garden in an eco-friendly manner without wasting resources and your money.
Some gardeners think that adding more fertilizers, pesticides and latest irrigation system is the key to achieving a lush landscape. But, a luxuriant and self-sustaining landscape can also be built with the right knowhow and minimal additional resources.
If you want to create a sustainable garden, then follow these 6 useful tips.
1) Reduce the Area
The larger the garden, the more resources are required to maintain it. Maintaining a large, lush and weed-free landscape needs a lot of fertilizer and water. Switch to a more sustainable option by cropping out part of your lawn and creating a smaller garden. Doing so will require fewer resources to maintain and save your money as well.
2) Store Rain Water
Water is a valuable natural resource that needs to be conserved. Collect, store and use rainwater as much as you can to meet the requirements of your lawn. Rainwater doesn’t need any treatment; meaning you can use it immediately to water your garden and houseplants.
3) Trust the ‘Locals’
Native grasses, flowers, trees, and shrubs are accustomed to the climatic conditions of your region. Unlike non-native or foreign plant species, they need less care and water to sustain because the climate, soil type, and rainfall suit them. Planting natives in your garden is also beneficial for local the insects and birds as they provide food and shelter for them.
4) Say No to Chemicals
Using organic fertilizers in your yard benefits both the environment and your pocket. Artificial additions to the garden are harmful to the ecosystem and waterways. Eliminate chemical fertilizers and artificial herbicides from your garden and switch to natural weed preventers and compost.
5) Recycle Organic Waste
Recycling the organic waste generated from your kitchen and garden helps in creating a natural compost for improving the soil quality of your lawn. Collect your green waste such as dried leaves, leftover food, dead flowers, etc., put it in a composter and your natural compost will be ready in a few days.
6) Add Mulch to Your Landscape
Your garden becomes thirsty and dry when the soil loses its moisture, thus requiring more water. The best way to conserve soil moisture and use less water, is to mulch your garden bed. Use coconut hulls, lawn waste from mowing, wood chips, tree barks, etc., as mulch. You can add a mulch layer of 2-3 inches for better results. Mulch is especially effective in areas with limited water supply.
Be on the alert for harmful chemicals and adopt all-natural ways to create a sustainable landscape. It conserves resources, improves soil quality and saves money without harming our ecosystem. Follow these useful tips to create a lush garden in an eco-friendly manner.