When it comes to decoration and design, most people tend to focus on their home’s interiors. This often results in your exterior garden space becoming neglected, overgrown and an unusable eyesore. Avoid this. It’s time to give your front yard and backyard a little TLC, turning them into eco-friendly havens for you, your family, guests, friends and the local wildlife to enjoy in harmony.
Why Go Eco-Friendly?
Creating an eco-friendly garden space plays a major role in reducing your carbon footprint. The past decade has highlighted the major importance of slowing the process of global warming and taking individual and personal measures to reduce the negative effects that you’re placing on the world and the environment around you. So what better place to start than the green space closest to home?
Wooden Projects
You want your garden to be a green space, but you also want it to be aesthetically pleasing and to have the option of relaxing in it. This is where you should consider using wood to create structures and buildings. Wood is a natural product that can be used in a multitude of ways to enhance any garden space. Some structures that you might like to consider are sheds, kennels, tree houses, and decking. You may need to request planning permission to create these, so always double check before you begin building. You need to choose high-quality woods like those supplied by George Hill Timber. Hardwoods are naturally rot-resistant and will stand the test of time, but so will many low-cost preservative-treated kinds of wood. Discuss the type of timber that will best suit your project with your supplier. They will be able to make the best recommendations and give advice in regards to all further aspects of your purchase.
Composting
Composting is an inexpensive and natural process that allows you to recycle waste in your own back garden. This reduces the amount of waste that your household sends to the landfill and will also provide you with nutritious fertiliser for your flowers and plants. All you need to do is invest in a composting bin. There are certain products that you can use and other products that you should avoid putting into your compost bin at all costs. For a complete guide, check out the recycle now website.
Hedgehog Highways
You probably don’t see hedgehogs as regularly as you used to. It’s not surprising. Their numbers are dwindling. One of the best things that you can do for these spiky little creatures is to allow them free access in and out of your garden. How do you go about this? By creating a hedgehog highway. This allows them to follow their nose and find food without fencing being a major obstacle. Use a small saw to create a hedgehog sized hole in the bottom of one of your fences on each side of your garden. It’s as simple as that!
Water Preservation
So much water is wasted each year through irresponsible gardening techniques. You should aim to use as little water as possible while maintaining the health of your flowers, plants, trees, and grass. There are a few ways to go about this. Use a hose that will allow you to stop watering as soon as you have completed the job. This avoids leftover water being left to go stagnant in watering cans. Water the soil at the base of the plant, allowing it to reach the roots with as little wastage as possible. You can also install drip irrigation systems to water plants directly and consistently with small amounts of liquid.
Give Bees a Chance!
Bees are dying out fast. The reason? Loss of habitat. They need every bit of support they can get along the way, so do your bit for local wildlife and make your garden a haven for the little fuzzy creatures. Plant wildflowers in your flowerbeds, as these provide bees with the pollen that nourishes them. They are also fond of crocus, hyacinth, calendula and wild lilac. So get planting! You can also create a small bee home that can be placed up and out of the way in the corner of your garden. Make one of these by bundling together short bamboo sticks or other circular tubes. Natural materials are always preferable.
These are all small steps that you can undertake while investing minimal time, expense and effort. But they will all go towards making your garden a more environmentally friendly space. You will sleep soundly at night knowing that you’ve done everything possible to make it the most comfortable and accommodating space possible.
*collaborative post
