When you think of a ‘sustainable’ garden what comes to mind? The words bland, boring and unimaginative might crop up. Well, that’s because there’s a misconception of what sustainable gardening is. It’s not always about storing compost in the corner and waiting ages and ages for a few vegetables shoots to erupt from the ground. Actually, it’s quite a holistic approach to what gardening is supposed to be. It’s about celebrating nature and giving wildlife a home. We can only do those things if we’re not damaging the environment in the process. Gardening should be about supporting nature and secondly, being for our leisure. However, it’s now easier than ever to blend the two together.

Vegetable patch

Flower patches are quite popular because they’re very aesthetically pleasing and they are quite easy to create. However, vegetables aren’t as difficult to grow as one might think. The big difference is, having some kind of soil that is packed full of nutrients. Flowers can grow just by watering as they will find the nutrients in the soil. However, vegetables need good mulch to grow dense and juicy. 

There are a number of mulch ingredients you need to create a great mulch for a vegetable patch or garden. Firstly, you need a good compost. Then you will mix leftover food, leaves, grass and vegetables that have gone rotten or just not consumed by the family. This will make a liquidy mulch which will keep the soil moist even during spring. You must cover the mulch with sawdust which provides some animals from wanting to dig in the patch and birds from swooping down to peck around for worms. You will also prevent weeds from venturing near.

How you enjoy your garden

Leisure is a big driving force when it comes to designing our gardens the way we want them to be. However, so many patios have leather seats or chairs made out of synthetic fibers. This not only dislocates the gardens and sustainability drives, but it’s not as lightweight as patio furniture should be. Hence why, wicker seating is the best option. Using natural materials like cotton and wool, you can cover your wicker chairs with throws and cushions. However, you should also try to limit the amount of artificial lighting you have in a sustainable garden.

It’s better to have lanterns that have been made out of glass or better yet, place a stone lantern in your garden. Stone lanterns have lots going for them. They are wind-resistant as they are slightly on the heavy side. But they won’t be pushed over by wind and cause something to catch fire. They also need candles to be used, so you have natural light, a flickering flame that uses no energy at all and it just gives a more tranquil light.

Mother nature is a friend

When we think of modern stylish gardens, we see white pebbles, concrete slabs, and flat lawns with very little in the way of sustainability. You can treat mother nature as a friend by using your garden as a port for storing energy. Whenever it rains, you can collect this water with rainwater tanks. This company does residential water tanks that are under 10 KL. with tapered walls, one piece construction for added strength, and a proven history of supplying rural areas and farms, this is a product your garden can rely on. This means you can place them in the back garden and they won’t take up much space at all. But, you can use the rainwater to water your plants, vegetables and flowers. Not only will you save a lot on your bills, but you will be able to water your garden for all of spring and summer. 

At the end of every spring and or summer, don’t allow your garden to fade away without it being part of your future. Take the dying flowers, plants and vegetables that you didn’t pick or didn’t turn out well, and place them into a compost heap. Recycling nature is very prudent and will cost you less money in the future. Your garden will have nice fresh compost ready for the winter so you can keep some of your gardens alive during the colder months. The rainwater your store can also be used to clean the garden paths from any bird guano.

Make a home for wildlife

Sustainable gardens will give wildlife a chance to flourish. But go beyond the usual water fountain for birds to bathe in and drink from. Make a home for a hedgehog, with simple things like bricks, sheets of bark and logs. A hedgehog home is simply a chamber where the small creature can rest up during winter. They can hibernate in the small cave you have made them and it can also be used by squirrels and chipmunks for much the same purpose. 

Build some bird boxes which all kinds of birds can use for their home during all seasons of the year. You never know you might also get a few migratory birds landing in your garden and making a bird box you’ve built, a nest for their stay. It’s very easy to build bird boxes in actual fact because all you need is a couple of wooden sheets which you can cut and glue together. Cut a small hole in one side as the entrance. You can have great fun with the kids, painting the bird boxes and decorating them in lots of wonderful styles. 

Just remember to place some hay in each home you make, as it’s a very good natural insulator. This also gives the creatures that come to your garden, a place to sleep comfortably and wander around your garden during the day. It makes for great viewing and natural entertainment. Just remember to not put any food in the homes as it can attract larger animals looking for a free meal.

Sustainable gardens are now the best type of garden for the family home. Not only are they so simple to accomplish but you can also get the children involved with the local wildlife. 

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