Green Services Direct

Spring is sprung and it’s time to give our neglected gardens some love

Gardening can be a rewarding hobby and great exercise, but it can also have a significant impact on the environment. Changing our horticultural habits is something we can all do to make a difference. With climate change the biggest threat to our planet, gardeners should be prepared to make more sustainable choices.

Collect rainwater

Water is a precious resource. Britain had the driest start to summer in modern records in 2022 which led to hosepipe bans and parched reservoirs. Luscious green lawns turned brown, rivers ran dry and crops withered as Europe was on the verge of a catastrophic drought. So, what can we do as gardeners? 

One solution is to save water. Invest in rain barrels or underground tanks to collect rainwater. Rainwater is free and contains no chlorine or other chemicals found in tap water, making it a healthier option for your plants. Use drip irrigation or a soaker hose to save water and nutrients by allowing the water to trickle slowly to the roots of plants either from above or buried below the surface.

Mulching bare soil between plants or under shrubs can help to lock in moisture and stop weeds.  By using rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation and mulch we can reduce our water usage and still maintain a healthy garden. 

Plant native species 

Growing as many plants as possible may seem like a good way of slowing climate change. Because plants suck up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere via open tiny pores on their leaf surfaces and convert it into food, gardens are important mini carbon sinks.  But there are some things we can do as gardeners that increase our carbon footprint. Some plants, especially exotics such as Canary Island Date Palm. can be imported many thousands of miles before they get to your local garden centres. Non-native plants require high levels of fertiliser, watering and extra heat and may end up with a huge carbon footprint, especially if they are imported.

So, pick natives whenever you can, for example primroses, hellebore, snake’s head fritillary, golden shield fern and lily of the valley, to name but a few. Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions and require less water and fertiliser than non-native species. Native plants are also what our pollinators have evolved to feed from and really want. 

Work with nature not against it

Choose plants that will thrive in the conditions you can provide whether that’s a dry, chalky soil or wet, heavy clay. Award-winning gardener and author Beth Chatto was the most vocal proponent of this “right plant, right place” principle.  Remember a sustainable garden works with nature rather than fighting against it. Choose moisture loving plants for heavy clays and pond areas, such as hostas, daylily and bearded iris. There are also woodland plants that thrive in shade, such as native ferns, bluebells and snowdrops. 

Now our climate is more unpredictable it makes sense to choose plants that can cope with periodic flooding and drought such as those with varying root depth, including trees, shrubs and fleshy-leaved perennials.  Lavender is reckoned to be the ultimate drought resistant plant. Other drought tolerant plants include Osteospermum otherwise known as African daisy and Eryngium or Sea Holly. Try to reduce your use of plastic pots by recycling them for your own seedling or buy buying coir pots, for example from the Hairy Pot Company.

Go peat-free

Peatlands store carbon, controls flooding and create homes for wildlife, says the National Trust. When peat is dug up and popped into plastic bags of garden compost this CO2 is released back into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change. Look for peat-free compost. Bags are usually clearly labelled. Ask garden centre staff if plants have been grown in peat-free compost. The Hairy Pot Plant Company grows a fabulous range of eco-friendly, sustainable plants and herbs grown in hairy coir pots in peat-free compost. Alternatively, sow seeds directly into the soil to reduce the need for pots or compost.  

Collect fallen leaves and let them rot into leaf mould, which makes a great homemade compost. Moss is usually removed from lawns through raking and needlessly thrown away, but it’s composed of organic material just like any other plant. Moss will break down in the compost pile, adding nitrogen and other nutrients to the mix. Moss can take longer to compost, however, so it’s best added in thin layers and well mixed with other materials.  

Use natural pest control 

We all love quick fixes from spraying the pesky aphids on roses to poisoning slugs to stop them in their tracks, but all too often they are chemical. Using insecticide for one species is likely to kill beneficial creatures too, including bees. Instead, make your garden more attractive to natural predators, such as hedgehogs, frogs, spiders, birds and beetles which eat these pests. Installing a tiny pond or even an old Belfast sink can attract frogs, for instance. 

Other home remedies to deal with slugs in your garden include sprinkling crushed eggshells or coffee grinds or dried seaweed around your plants. Companion planting can also work well. Many experienced gardeners claim marigolds keep bugs away like tomato hornworms, cabbage worms and whiteflies. Marigolds are bright and colourful, so likely to attract beneficial insects that prey on the bad bugs. 

Choose organic fertiliser

The aim of any fertiliser is to increase the amount of nutrients in the soil to make it more fertile to grow plants. Chemical fertilizers are important for the cost-effective production of crops to feed our growing population. But there are hidden dangers. One of the problems with chemical fertilisers is they seep through the soil and into the groundwater and other water sources. Excessive use of chemical fertilisers has led to river pollution, encouraging growth of algae that can result in reduced oxygen levels, killing off fish and other aquatic life. Other harmful effects include chemical burns of crops, acidification of the soil and loss of soil nutrients over time. Instead, use organic fertilisers, such as compost, well-rotted manure, kelp seaweed, bone and blood meal to nourish your plants.

Grow your own

Sign up for an allotment to grow your own fruit and veg. Most cost less than £30 a year. Or, if you have a decent sized garden, set aside an area for a veg patch and a few fruit trees. If you live in a flat and have a balcony, you might like to grow tumbling tomatoes or  strawberries in a hanging basket. Even a window box can be useful for growing herbs. Berries, such as raspberries, blackberries and red currants, are easy to freeze and can make wonderful breakfast smoothies. Freezing berries costs a lot less and has a smaller carbon footprint than buying imported fresh berries. 

Propagating your own plants from cuttings or seeds will also save you a small fortune. Many plants can be grown from seed. Find local seed swaps where gardeners meet to exchange seeds, promote food growing and encourage resilience in our food system. Swapping can also be arranged online or by mail. 

Create your own mini nature reserve

A garden rich in colourful nectar-rich flowers is a haven for wildlife, says the RSPB. There’s a greater acreage of gardens than nature reserves in England, making our own outdoor spaces vital for providing habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife, TV celebrity gardener Monty Don urges people to keep feeding birds in spring. In a blog he writes: “Most birds are nesting this month (March) and many will start laying too, This is a time that puts great demands on their energy and there is not much natural food around so keep feeding the birds all month concentrating on high energy items such as fat, peanuts and sunflower seeds.” 

Many creatures such as hedgehogs, bats, dormice, grass snakes, toads, newts and butterflies come out of hibernation in spring. Try not to disturb natural hibernation spots, especially if you are raking leaves after a long winter. Letting your grass grow not only encourages wildflower growth, including primroses, but helps protects some of the small mammals, creepy crawlies and amphibians that could be harmed by mowing your lawn. Perhaps the key tip to a more sustainable garden is simply to do less.

In turn with nature, ecology and its surroundings, a sustainable garden that makes a positive planetary impact is something we can all achieve.