Eco Gardens | Ten Steps To An Eco Garden

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Eco Gardens \| Ten Steps To An Eco Garden - Read the following do it yourself/diy article to discover more about Eco Gardens \| Ten Steps To An Eco Garden and more about Garden Structures. - Information and article directory provided by S&S Designed Landscaping and The Landscape Design Site.
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Eco Gardens \| Ten Steps To An Eco Garden

10 steps to an eco garden Our 10 top ways to go green in your garden: 1. Save water There are several ways to cut back on the amount of water you use in your garden. Pots and containers are notoriously thirsty, so avoid where possible, and if you are using them, remember that bigger containers will dry out less quickly. Line the garden containers with plastic to help retain moisture (old compost bags are ideal) and add water-retaining granules when planting up. You can also buy specialist container composts that are ready-mixed with water retaining granules. In borders, use a mulch, such as chipped bark, to help keep moisture in the soil – it will keep the weeds downs too, so less work for you! Ditch the hose and sprinkler – hosepipes and sprinklers get through gallons of water. Use a big watering can and you’ll just get the water where it’s needed. Recycle water Get a water butt and collect rainwater. Water butts come in all shapes and sizes – you can even buy some that fix to the wall, so however small your outdoor space, you should be able to squeeze one into your eco-friendly garden. Water from the bath and washing up (rather horribly called grey water) is just fine for the garden. Save energy Modern solar-powered lights are really effective in the eco garden. And because they don’t need wiring in, they’re really simple to install. And of course you’re not limited by the length of wiring, so they can go anywhere in the garden – you can now buy strings of solar-powered lights to drape among tree branches, along hedges, or over a pergola, wherever you want them. Solar lights are also great for marking out paths – and how about installing one in your shed? You can also save power by choosing manual tools over electric ones. Who needs a noisy leaf blower when you’ve got a rake? And a rotary lawnmower will give a far better finish on your lawn. Grow your own Garden organically and the wildlife will thank you. And if you grow your own veg, so will friends and family. Start small if you’ve never grown anything before, by growing a few tomato plants, some salad leaves and maybe some new potatoes in a barrel. Once you’ve tasted how good they are you’ll be hooked, and be ready to go onto bigger and better things. Opt for vegetables that are expensive to buy, such as tomatoes, salad crops and herbs. Use companion plants, such as garlic, onions and marigolds, to deter insects from your crops. Beat the bugs The best way to beat slugs and caterpillars is to go out at night with a torch and pick them off plants – if you’ve got chickens they’ll love them. There are lots of beneficial insects, such as ladybirds and lacewings, which eat aphids, mites and other pests. Encourage them in your garden with specially made ladybird and lacewing houses, or make your own. A bundle of tubes (such as drinking straws) bound together and placed in a catering size coffee tin works well, or drill holes into an old log. Make your own compost This kills two birds with one stone (not a very environmentally friendly thing to do, but you know what we mean!). By using your kitchen and garden waste for compost, you’re cutting down on the amount of rubbish that goes to landfill AND creating a fantastic soil improver that will get your veg and other plants growing in no time. The national organic charity, Garden Organic, reckons around 40% of household rubbish can be used for composting, so give it a try! Just remember to keep your compost a good mixture of greens and browns – ie plant waste such as grass clippings and vegetable peelings and other dry rubbish such as scrunched up cardboard, egg boxes, toilet roll middles and so on. Turning it when you have time will help too. A compost bin will keep it tidy, especially if you’re short on space, but it’s not essential. Send in the worms A wormery is a fun way to create compost. You add all your waste to it, as you would with a compost heap or bin, but a wormery generally works faster than a compost heap and produces fewer odours – and of course the kids will love it too. You can send off for wormery kits from the internet. Encourage wildlife Birds will do you a favour if you encourage them into your garden. They’ll help to get rid of all those pesky bugs (but remember to net your soft fruit or they’ll help themselves to that too!) Just introducing a bird feeder is enough to bring these garden helpers in, and you’ll have fun watching them too. Just remember, once you start feeding the birds, to keep it up throughout the year. Install a pond (as long as you don’t have small children) and you’ll soon find you have frogs on hand to get rid of slugs and snails. Grow British Be patriotic in your garden! Choose native plants, and the wildlife will thank you. Also, because they have evolved to survive in our climate, these native plants will thrive, so you won’t waste time and effort trying to get them to grow. Swap plants and seeds with friends and neighbours to save money. And remember to put plants in ideal conditions. If they like full sun, plant them in the right place, and if they need damp conditions, find them a shady spot, or you’ll waste time and water trying to keep them happy. Buy eco-friendly wood If you’re buying any new wooden product, such as furniture or planters, make sure it conforms to green standards. Look out for the FSC logo, which means the wood has come from sustainable sources. And look after it by protecting it from the elements so that it lasts longer and you don’t have to replace it. Find out more at http://www.gardeneco.co.uk/ This Article Was Written By: Garden Eco
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