How to make your garden sustainable?
Lately there has been a lot of talk about sustainability and the environment. We all need to live more sustainably and energy efficiently. That is a fact. There are many ways to do that. In this blog we focus on - how could it be otherwise - making gardens more sustainable. If you do not know, but in your garden you can do a lot to sustainability. Think of less spraying, making your own compost and not putting up a fence, but a hedge. The latter is also good for biodiversity. This blog will give you a number of tips.
Hedge plants that remove CO2 and particulates from the air
Many gardens are surrounded by fences or hedges. Nice and easy. But absolutely not sustainable. If, on the other hand, you plant a row of hedge plants, you are doing something sustainable. The hedge plants take CO2 and particulates from the air, like the Thuja or Cupressocyparis conifers (Cupressocyparis Leylandii). Which is great for two reasons: a hedge looks good in your garden and it improves the air quality.
Choose hedge plants for more biodiversity
And three... A hedge also increases the biodiversity of your garden. It attracts many insects, birds and butterflies. So what exactly is that: biodiversity (or biological diversity)? It is the variety of living organisms found in a particular area. In this case, your garden. It includes all the animals, plants and microorganisms that work together in an ecosystem. Each organism plays their own specific role in it. Most hedge plants are suitable for bringing more biodiversity to your garden. If you choose a garden fence with laurel (Prunus Laurocerasus or Prunus Lusitanica), yew, ivy (Hedera Hibernica), privet (Ligustrum) or a mix of these plants, there is always life in your garden. These hedges attract many birds in addition to bees and butterflies. Very cozy chirping and chirping, but they also keep enemies away. Or rather: they get rid of them. Think of caterpillars. These usually do no good to your Buxus or other plants.
Use less water
A long period of drought is not good for plants and trees. We wrote about this in our blog last month. Plants need more water during that period. Not really sustainable of course. Because water is scarce in a long, hot summer, so we need to use it as wisely as possible. Reducing water consumption is therefore an absolute must. But how do you do that during the drought when you need more water? Or think you do...
Spending less on water
There is a solution: Installing a drip system to provide your plants with water on time. For example, you have a drip hose that immediately waters the roots. So there is no wastage. It is also possible to install a drip system underground. This is the most sustainable. You will see that it also makes a huge difference to your wallet. Win-win. Using less water and thus being more sustainable and having money left over for other things. Of course you will have to purchase and install the system first, but those costs will be recouped after a few years.
Making your own compost: less waste, less expense and healthier soil
What is also very sustainable and cheap: making your own compost. You can do it on a compost heap or in a special compost bin. The vegetable and fruit waste you no longer throw away, but you let it compost and use it again in your garden. This way you have less waste to collect and your hedge plants and other plants will certainly not mind a regular layer of compost thrown on their 'feet'. It improves the soil enormously. And you no longer need to buy fertilizer.
A few more tips for more biodiversity in your garden
Replace the tiles in your garden with grass or borders with garden plants. It's a nicer sight. Greener too. But you'll also find that more butterflies and bees will find your garden. Isn't that wonderful? And besides, it's also very good for (the preservation of) those critters, which are increasingly threatened with extinction.