Do You Have Green Fingers?

Everything You Need to Know about Creating an Eco-friendly Garden...

Everyone is trying to create an eco-friendly lifestyle. From fashion to food, and now gardening, too.

Gardening is a fun hobby for any homeowner to have and if you have an excellent set of green fingers, it can really boost the curb appeal of the property.

There are many ways that you can incorporate mindful methods into your garden so that it doesn't only look great but that it is environmentally friendly, too.

Here is everything you need to know about creating an eco-friendly garden. 

1) Choose resilient plant varieties

We are fortunate enough to live in a country where certain plants can thrive even in the cold winter months. If you plant these types of plants in your garden, you won't have to worry so much about maintenance.

They also adapt to most weather conditions making it easy to cultivate them throughout the year.

If you are planting fruit or vegetables, make sure that you are choosing varieties that can thrive in wind, rain or sunshine. The last thing you want is for your crop to be destroyed and to create unnecessary waste. 

2) Opt for eco-friendly materials

When designing your garden, make sure that you choose eco-friendly materials.

Green gardens often boast recycled and reused materials that contribute to the overall functionality of the garden. By using these products, you are reducing your carbon footprint and you help preserve the environment around you.

Choose materials that are both affordable and durable so that they can withstand the weather.

Materials like cob, oak, and straw bales are both eco-friendly and they don't cost an arm and a leg.

Avoid cement or materials that contain traces of cement. These materials contribute to about 5% of the world's carbon emissions and are not conducive to an eco-friendly garden. 

3) Reuse water in your eco-friendly garden

The most important element in any eco-friendly garden is reusing and saving as much water as you can.

You can easily catch grey water in buckets when showering or washing dishes and use it in the garden.

When watering the garden, be careful of overwatering. At the same time, you shouldn't underwater for the sake of saving water - you don't want your plants to dry out either.

Watering your plants once a week should be sufficient. If you can't catch grey water in a bucket, find a hose that can help save water.

Alternatively, if you live in an area with high rainfall, you can catch rain in a container and use that to water your garden. 

4) Avoid store-bought compost

An eco-friendly garden is simply not eco-friendly without homemade compost.

It is very simple to make your own compost and ditch the store-bought bags you always rely on. All you do is throw everything into a container and wait for the magic to happen.

The next time you want to throw away your grass clippings, vegetable and fruit peels, cardboard, newspaper clippings, and egg shells, rather put them in your compost pile.

Remember to turn it now and then, and within 6 months you will have a gorgeous compost heap that you can use in your eco-friendly garden. It really is the peak of reusing and recycling!

5) Give a home to the wildlife

We all love watching the birds and bees make their homes in our gardens, but these little animals are so much more important than we think.

They act as natural pest control, eating all the pests that might harm the plants in the garden.

By creating a safe home for insects and other wildlife in your garden, you can ultimately save on pest control products. It is also a much more organic way to get rid of pests because your plants aren't subject to dangerous chemicals.

Invite bees to your garden by planting colourful flowers with open faces. You can also hang a few birdhouses to lure birds in. 

6) Plant hedges for an eco-friendly fence

South African homes simply cannot function without fences. Whether for privacy or safety, very few homes have open borders.

Instead of installing a fence that might be built out of inorganic materials, rather plant hedges that act as fences.

Even though it might require a little bit more maintenance, it will definitely help in creating a sustainable garden. 

Final thoughts

An eco-friendly garden is an easy way to add a sustainable element to your home and to live a lifestyle that considers the environment. With these few tips, you can't go wrong and you will have a beautiful garden without feeling a sense of guilt.  

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