Eco-Friendly & Organic Advice

Do you want to adopt a more organic and environmentally friendly way of gardening? Then why not consider some of these ideas.

1. Good Air Circulation
Opt for a less solid boundary fencing where possible, which allows for good air circulation and helps with pest and disease control.

2. Grow Your Own Fruit & Veg
Not only can growing your own fruit and veg cut down on your air miles but they taste lots better too. If you want to give it a try, go for some raised vegetable and fruit beds, which allow the soil to warm up earlier in the season and extend the cropping period. They are also easier to maintain and can help guard against some pests.

3. Crop Rotation
Take a tip from farmers and rotate your crops. By rotating vegetables on a yearly basis, it is possible to avoid the build-up of soil borne pests and increase the yield. One of the easiest ways to do this is to assign a separate bed for each family of vegetables and swap them round on a yearly basis.

4. Recycled & Sustainable Products
Reusing materials not only makes for a more unique garden but also helps protect resources. Think about using old bricks for paving or railway sleepers for decking. If you're buying wooden furniture or stone paving make sure it's made of material from a sustainable source.

5. Be Carbon Conscious
When it comes to using paints or woodstains, look for products like Sadolin that minimize their carbon footprint by offsetting the carbon dioxide created in their production and distribution.

6. Companion Planting Not Pesticides
Underplant fruit trees with herbs which act as companion plants to these and the nearby vegetables, and help guard against pests and diseases without the use of chemicals. Instead of insecticides, use natural methods such as introducing ladybirds to deal with aphids, or killing slugs with a beer trap. Rather than using herbicides containing chemicals that can be harmful to wildlife, smother weeds with plastic sheeting or block out their light with cardboard.

7. Attract Some Wildlife
Encouraging wildlife to visit your garden not only helps preserve the UK's insect population, but can also be useful when it comes to ensuring good pollination of flowers. Ornamental planting will attract insects like bees and butterflies, while adding a bird box should see an influx of your feathered friends.

8. Mulching
Mulching vegetable, fruit or ornamental beds with organic matter such as composted farmyard manure will help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

9. Clever Composting
Composting is an excellent way to recycle kitchen and garden waste, while also enhancing the quality and texture of the soil. And with some really attractive beehive compost bins out there, there's really no excuse not to get stuck in. Try adding egg shells and coffee grinds.

10. Say No To Peat
Harvesting peat destroys UK bog habitats. If you buy compost, ensure it does not contain peat. Garden compost, manure or wood chip do a better job of mulching, according to the Royal Horticultural Society.

11. Be Water Wise
Collect rainwater with a water butt for watering your garden. You can also save bath and washing water or "grey" water for watering the soil around non-edible plants.

12. Consider Car Parking
If you need to use your front garden to park your car, don't concrete or pave over it but choose a permeable surface, so the water can drain away which helps prevent flooding. Options include bricks, gravel, recycled glass or plastic, a concrete or plastic grid, or paved tracks with low-growing planting.

13. Patio Heaters
Using a patio heater for just one hour can waste enough energy to make 400 cups of tea, according to Friends of the Earth. You can still enjoy sitting outside but to help combat climate change pull on an extra jumper instead.

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