Gardens can be stunning havens for many people, and if you are lucky enough to have a private garden attached to your property, you might have some ideas of how you want to style it for your pleasure. While there are many fantastic options when it comes to garden design if you would also like to create an eco-friendly space that gives back to nature, here are a few tips you might find useful.
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Make Compost Yourself
One way you can help to make your garden greener, both aesthetically and environmentally friendly, is by making compost yourself. Your compost won’t appear overnight, and it can take up to a year or longer for you to see results, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t worthwhile. Get a large compost bin and start putting in your vegetable peels, fruit cores, coffee grounds, eggshells, tea leaves/tea bags (check they are decomposable), cardboard, and other disease-free yard waste such as cuttings from your shrubs, lawn cuttings, and so on.
To help make sure that your waste is breaking down properly and quicker, place your compost bin on bare earth, and layer the waste by alternating with moist and dry. Adding manure can help, too, and keep the top on your compost bin on to keep it covered. Every few weeks, turn your compost to help it break down more effectively.
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Consider the Materials You Are Using in Your Design
When you’re styling your garden, you’re not just thinking about the different plants you want to have blooming there, but also things like garden furniture, where to place your patio or decking, garden fences, etc. When it comes to these aspects of your design process, make sure you’re considering the materials you are using if you want an eco-friendlier garden. For example, try composite fencing to secure your perimeter or to separate sections of your garden, as these are great environmentally-friendly materials for fences that are durable and look great too.
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Collect Rainwater
Another handy tip if you want to create an eco-friendlier garden is collecting rainwater in large containers that you can use to fill up your water cans. This can be useful during the drier months when your garden needs watering and means you won’t need to rely solely upon the main water supply for your property. Having more than one container will make this water go further, so if you have space, think about getting four or five for your garden.
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Create an Area for Wildlife
You might not want your entire garden to feel overgrown and wild, but having a small section like this can help to provide a safe space for local wildlife. Although you should still make an effort to care for this space and cut some plants back every once in a while, it doesn’t need to be as manicured as the other areas that you use for your leisure time or entertaining. Growing wildflowers, building, or buying bee or bug ‘hotels’ can be a nice touch, too.
If you would like to do a little more for the environment and you want your garden to reflect this, consider these tips to help you transform this space into an eco-friendlier environment.
