5 Ways to Create a More Eco-Friendly Garden

Gardens are lovely additions to our homes, offering us aesthetics, fresh produce, and outdoor fun opportunities. However, many standard gardening practices, such as pesticides, can harm the ecosystem of gardens.

But the good news is that you can do many little things to create a more eco-friendly garden so that you can celebrate Earth Day every day.

So, here are our five tips to make your garden more eco-friendly:

1. Plant the Natives

It is always the best idea to go with the native plants. Native (also called “sustainable”) plants are ones that grow naturally in your area. Since they are well-adapted to your area’s weather, soil, and rainfall patterns, they usually require less care and maintenance.

Plus, they are also home to different insects and are a food source for birds, supporting the idea of an eco-friendly garden.

So, when buying plants, try to find types that attract pollinators like butterflies and bees. Native trees, shrubs, and plants are also excellent choices.

2. Make Your Compost

There’s nothing wrong with using fertilizer in your garden. However, the harsh chemicals found in these commercial products can pose risks to the environment, wildlife, and even human health.

A much better approach is to make your own nutrient-rich compost. It is a chemical-free way to make your garden eco-friendly.

All it takes is to put down browns like dead leaves and greens like fruits and vegetable peels in a simple bin. There will soon be plenty of your own “black gold” to mix into your plant soil!

3. Save Your Seeds

Saving seeds from your garden is a great way to cut down on waste and guarantee a steady supply of plants for the coming seasons. It also helps to preserve plant varieties for a more sustainable and eco-friendly garden.

Seed saving is a simple thing to do. You can save seeds from many plants, such as annual flowers like marigolds and sunflowers, and veggies that reproduce, like tomatoes, beans, and peas.

4. Water Smartly

Another approach to an eco-friendly garden is to water your plants smartly. The best time is to water them early in the morning or late in the evening. This helps make sure that more of the water gets to the roots of the plants and doesn’t evaporate into the air.

You could also install drip irrigation or soaker hoses, which deliver water straight to the soil around your plants’ roots.

5. Mulch Your Garden

Mulching is a way of covering your plants with leaves or wood chips, which helps the soil keep its moisture. It also reduces the need for weeding and watering. As the mulch breaks down, it adds nutrients to the soil that your plants will use with no manual fertilization.

Just be sure to apply a 2–4 inch layer around your plants, being careful not to let the mulch touch the stems or trunks.

Conclusion

No matter your level of gardening expertise, by using these five tips, you can cultivate a visually appealing garden.

So, let’s use these mindful gardening tips as a first step towards a more sustainable future.

Which one of these tips are you excited to try? Let us know in the comments!

Happy gardening!