As we see more and more climate change and awareness spreads it is not surprising that more gardeners are turning to sustainable gardening not just as a trend but as a way of life. Creating a sustainable garden means healthy food (or flowers) for the gardener and a more sustainable and reduced carbon footprint.
What exactly is sustainable gardening?
Sustainable gardening is simply put, gardening using healthier non-environmentally damaging methods. It’s growing your own food and flowers without the use of pesticides, chemicals and environment damaging fertilisers. Instead, everything is done with the environment in mind. In short, it is gardening in tune with nature.
Companion Gardening and Composting.
- An example of this is utilising companion gardening to help prevent pests and other issues, as well as making use of each plants ability to create a healthy soil. Growing beans around corn helps provide them with the nitrogen they need without having to add anything to the soil. Instead, the beans pull it from the air and deposit it into the soil for the corn to utilise.
- It’s also the practice of creating compost from your food scraps to give back to the garden. It’s completing a more closed cycle in a small space to ensure that you and your plants are given everything they need without harming the environment around them.
- If you’re really game – you can even use diluted urine (Yep you heard right!) as long as you are not taking any medications it will give back moisture and nutrients to your garden. A one to ten ratio urine to water is the typically recommended dilution.
Lawn Care
- Your garden isn’t just the only place you can practice sustainability. Lawn care can be sustainable as well. Instead of using chemical fertilisers, you can spread your own compost thinly across your lawn to give it the nutrients it needs to succeed and be lush and green.
- It also means doing things like watering your lawn with rainwater from a rain catchment device such as a rain-barrel or water tank. This prevents having to use tap water to water it and helps to give it back many of the nutrients that may be stripped from treated, drinkable water.
- Setting up your lawn in an area where water naturally flows to can be another sustainable practice which can ensure your lawn is getting the water it needs without having to be watered manually. We suggest having an expert check your area if this is your intention, as too much water can also be problematic for lawn growth.
Sustainability might be a trendy word, however, the practice itself is far from a trend and is increasing all over the world. For more ideas and tips on how to garden with sustainability in mind, and for methods for your lawn our team at Greener Lawns would be happy to help. Visit our website or give us a call today to see what ways you can create a sustainable world.