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Eco Gardening
Climate change and sustainability were the buzzwords at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. But what can you do to be greener in your garden?
Surprisingly, just by being there, your garden can provide a habitat as rich for wildlife as the countryside. But what can you do to enhance your eco credentials and make your garden even greener? Here are six ideas that will help you garden with a clearer conscience. Start with one or two of the easier ones and you can progress to the others in time.
Water
Even if it's raining outside as you read this, it'll soon be dry again and we should all be collecting water and not using expensively-cleaned drinking water on our plants. Nowadays, there's a size, shape and style of water butt to suit everyone. You could also consider using 'grey' water from washing up or the bath. Use a bucket or buy a siphon at www.droughtbuster.co.uk
How and when you water is important. A good soak once every few days is much more beneficial than frequent sprinklings. Water in the cool of the morning or evening and make sure it gets to the plants' roots (plant in a slight dip or sink an empty pot in the ground beside the plant and water into this).
For moisture retention, the condition of your soil is important. Improve it by adding plenty of organic matter (mushroom compost, well-rotted farm manure, your own compost which will also feed your plants. When planting, dig to twice the depth of your spade to encourage the plant's roots to go deeper into cooler soil.
Mulch
Once you've got that precious moisture in your garden, keep it there by applying a mulch (a layer of material laid on the surface of the soil). This will stop water evaporation by wind or by sun and, as a bonus helps prevent weeds and improve the condition of the soil.
Mulch plants in pots and containers with gravel or pebbles. It looks good and keeps the plants' roots cool. In borders and beds, use a good depth (5-10cm) of composted or chipped bark. Less attractive but just as effective are grass cuttings, straw or even plastic sheeting for vegetables (planted through slits). One point, though: don't mulch if the ground is dry. It's always best to mulch after a decent spell of rain.
Encourage wildlife
In return for the home you provide, good wildlife will help you combat many of the worst pests such as snails, slugs and aphids (greenfly and blackfly). Hedgehogs, slowworms, frogs, toads, birds and insects (ladybirds, lacewings, hoverflies, bumblebees) are all your friends.
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