As an avid gardener, you probably already know the good you’re doing your planet by maintaining a garden in your yard.
But, did you know that there are things you can do beyond basic gardening to make your landscape even more sustainable? And, best of all, many of the things you can do are relatively simple and don’t require a ton of extra money or time?
Keep reading to learn the top 4 things you can do to create a more sustainable landscape.
1. Water Your Garden Wisely
Likely, you water your garden when you remember, or when it is convenient.
However, to create a more sustainable landscape, you should be mindful of when you water your garden. Typically, it’s best to water your garden early in the morning. This is because plants are more easily able to absorb water in colder temperatures because water runs down into the soil and reaches the roots of the plant without too much excess water lost to evaporation when it’s warmer later in the day.
Not up for getting up super early in the morning? Consider investing in sprinklers that have timers so you’re able to stick to your watering schedule without even thinking about it.
Also, in lieu of using overhead sprinklers, you should switch to irrigation or a soaker hose. This is because the water from overhead sprinklers doesn’t go straight to the roots, while other options allow you to go straight to the roots while still maintaining dry foliage.
2. Choose the Right Food for Your Plants
As you know, there are a lot of options to choose from when it comes to feeding your garden.
Even with all the options available, one of the best things to do to make your garden more sustainable is to create your own compost from your kitchen waste. Not only are you practicing sustainability by creating organic fertilizer via the use of unwanted scraps, you are also saving money.
Also, many people forget about the importance of fertilizing indoor plants, but feeding is essential to keep them beautiful and healthy. Unlike an outdoor garden where nature provides rain and plants can spread new roots in the search for food, the nutrients available to a houseplant are limited by the amount of soil in the pot and what you give it as a supplement.
3. Save the Seeds for Next Year
After you have grown your plants, think about the expansion and renewal of your garden. By saving the seeds of your plants you can reduce the need to buy new ones year after year.
This is one of the most sustainable ways to garden! You can multiply new plants for free from the ones you are already growing in your garden. Moreover, if you make your own fertilizer, you’ll also get free self-sown plants popping up!
3. Take Your Landscape to a New Level
To take your sustainability efforts to another level, you can add wire rails to your deck or porch. On one side, they are made from stainless steel, which is one of the most recycled materials across the globe, so they and are much better for the environment.
They offer a durable and weather resistant solution for the garden because of their corrosion resistance and are easy to maintain with just a spray of water or gentle eco-friendly cleaners.
On the other side, adding wire rails into your landscape gives you the opportunity to make the most out of natural views. The simple design allows an overview of your entire surroundings, maximum light and air to flow through the space and reduces the need for additional artificial light or AC especially during the summer.
4. Reuse Old Materials
Instead of buying new materials, or throwing away ones that have already been used once, find a way to reuse them.
There are many ways to do this, such as:
- Making plant protectors out of water bottles
- Collecting free stones or other materials from construction companies
- Using old tires as planter boxes
- Creating a veggie patch out of an old bathtub
- Making rustic plant pots out of old tin cans
Wrap Up
As you can see, there are many ways you can easily make your landscape more sustainable!
Let us know in the comments which sustainable methods you’ve been implementing!
