Discover 6 Sustainable Garden Tips

To make a sustainable garden, simply do your research and bear in mind a few of these tips. Start your new home project today!

A sustainable garden is characterized by the responsible and efficient use of natural resources. These gardens respect the diversity of each plant species and its natural cycles in each area. In other words, they’re ecological and friendly spaces because they’re the product of healthy cultivation practices.

Traditional gardening has a negative environmental impact. The reasons are clear: excessive use of water, the use of pesticides, and the insertion of plant species that can harm others. Therefore, a sustainable garden is a great way to help the environment.

What are the advantages and benefits of sustainable gardens?

Sustainable gardens reduce and optimize water consumption, as they can collect rainwater to water the plants.

They also reduce energy consumption. This is because you can maintain them manually and they require increased use of organic fertilizer. You do your composting with household waste, which allows you to recycle and take advantage of your waste.

Another benefit is that you can grow your food and natural remedies in your backyard. Sustainable gardening means planting your own vegetables, fruits, and condiments. You can also plant medicinal plants, such as aloe vera, lavender, or oregano.

Some sustainable garden tips to consider

How can you start a sustainable garden?

It’s simpler than it sounds. You just have to get down to work and dedicate an entire day to your backyard.

1. Plan your garden

Before putting on your gardening gloves, you should think about your plants and their characteristics. Shade-loving plants should be under large trees or roofs. Those who love the sun should fully get it and those who need a lot of water should be placed in moist areas.

Thus, you need to read about each of your plants to find out where you should place them.

2. Make your own compost

Compost is an organic fertilizer that results from the decomposition of organic material (animal and vegetable waste). Composting is a process of decomposition of organic matter that contains microorganisms that are capable of yielding nutrient-rich materials for soils.

You can make this compost with animal manure, food waste, urban garbage, cereals (rice), soil, and water. To make it, simply shovel a layer of each element on top of another. After that, cover it with plastic to preserve moisture and stir it daily so that the oxygen circulates.

3. Reuse your seeds for a sustainable garden

Reuse the seeds of the vegetables you bought at the supermarket instead of throwing them out. Then, reuse the seeds from the vegetables you reap.

Store them in a cool, dry place and label each of them. This way, you’ll always have peppers, chili peppers, peas, tomatoes, and legumes.

4. Only plant local species

If you plant species from another country in your garden, they could be aggressive with the ones you already have. These plants are known as invasive since they adapt to any environment and begin to multiply and spread out of control.

Invasive species have such a significant ecological impact that they can destroy native species or force them to move, leading to biodiversity loss.

5. Say goodbye to herbicides and chemicals

Herbicides are substances or mixtures used to control unwanted plants. As they contain chemicals, they’re harmful to the environment. Thus, you should manually pull out the weeds instead.

You can make a garlic spray for insect pests. You’ll need a head of garlic, cloves, and two glasses of water. Blend all the ingredients, let the mixture rest for a day, and then add three liters of water. Fill a spray bottle with the natural insecticide, and that’s it!

6. Collect rainwater for a sustainable garden

You can collect rainwater in barrels. Place them at the end of the gutters in your home. Store the rainwater in an airtight container, boil it if you can to prevent it from decomposing quickly, and store it in 20-liter glass water bottles.

A sustainable garden allows you to save time and money

Having your own vegetables in your backyard saves you a lot of money and time at the supermarket. You can also seize the opportunity to grow medicinal plants to make your own remedies.

To prevent damage to the soil, use a natural mulch made of gravel, dry leaves, or wood chips. This minimizes soil moisture loss and regulates the temperature. Spread a two-to-six-inch layer of organic matter.

To make your garden sustainable, simply do some research and get to work in your backyard!

Together, we can all protect the environment.