How To Garden With The Environment In Mind

Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:35 pm

The goal of energy renovation is to reduce energy consumption and thus conserve important resources. However, sustainable living does not stop at the patio door. There are also a number of things to consider when planning the garden.

More sustainability outdoors

When a house is renovated for energy efficiency, heating costs can be saved, the quality of living can be improved and, as a result, the value of the property can be increased. In order to achieve the goals of an energy-efficient building renovation, all measures must be carefully planned and optimally coordinated. Professional support for such projects can be found, for example, on a craftsmen’s portal. In particular, it depends on the local conditions which measures are actually necessary or sensible. When it comes to energy-conscious renovation, it is often possible to take advantage of various subsidies.

A low-energy house should also include an environmentally friendly planned outdoor area. Gardening sustainably is basically not complicated, so that even laymen can create a natural garden without specialist knowledge. Sustainability does not depend on the size of the garden area. Being environmentally conscious and planting is also possible in the front yard, on the balcony or on the roof terrace. Growing your own vegetables or planting flowers is a popular pastime for amateur gardeners. With home-grown fruit and vegetables, longer transport routes and packaging are eliminated. At the same time, home-grown lettuce is also healthier. The variety of plants and flowers in a natural garden provides a habitat for beneficial insects.

Planting and watering in natural gardens

For trees, shrubs and flowers to thrive, they need loose, nutrient-rich soil. Sustainable gardening therefore includes making compost on your own. This provides green plants with a natural fertilizer. Natural fertilizer provides plants with valuable ingredients and improves the soil. In addition, many kitchen wastes can be recycled and therefore do not end up in the residual waste. In ecological gardening, there is an important basic rule, which is to always consider native plants.

Although exotic plants look visually appealing or extravagant, they are often not made for the local climate and weather conditions. Native plants, on the other hand, are optimally adapted to the prevailing environmental conditions and therefore require less care. Once the plants have grown, they require less water than exotic plants. Problems with pests or diseases occur less frequently with native garden plants. It is advisable to seek professional advice or literature before planting in the garden, if needed.

Plants and flowers should be watered in the morning between six and ten o’clock, as the air is still cool at this time and thus less water evaporates. In addition, late afternoon is also ideal for watering. However, care should then be taken to ensure that the foliage of shrubs and bushes has sufficient time to dry before evening falls. Damp leaves increase the risk of fungal diseases. Planters such as planters and flower pots are used for planting. For planters that are to be placed outdoors, care must be taken to use weather-resistant material. In addition, a planter should have an efficient drainage system so that the plants do not perish from too much waterlogging. Planters that meet these requirements can be found on the Internet, among other places. Resistant, insensitive flower pots are often made of a material mixture of fiberglass and plastic or a rock mixture. This combination of materials is said to help make the planters much lighter than comparable pots made of clay. When using outdoor planters, it is important to make sure that the drainage works well so that rainwater can run off. In addition, the drainage holes must always be kept clear to ensure water drainage inside the planter.

The growth of a healthy lawn

Before planting, a drainage layer should therefore first be laid in the container to prevent potting soil also being flushed out of the tub during the watering process. With the targeted use of drainage grids, separating fleeces and expanded clay, it can be avoided that the roots of the plants are permanently in water and thus quickly overwatered. Planters with integrated irrigation systems, such as these planters, can be used both indoors and outdoors. An integrated water reservoir in the separated lower part of the tub ensures that the soil receives sufficient moisture. In addition to plants and flowers, a natural meadow is also an essential component of an ecological garden. In principle, a natural meadow can be created anywhere. Natural meadows are a distinct form of vegetation that play an important role, especially in sustainable gardens. In a natural meadow, the growth of a healthy lawn is specifically promoted with wildflowers, grasses and herbs. If needed, individual natural meadow islands can also be created next to neatly trimmed lawns. Often it is already sufficient to dispense with fertilization in these areas and to mow the natural lawn only once a year.

What to pay attention to when creating a natural lawn

When mowing a natural meadow, an environmentally friendly lawn mower should also be used. However, only mowers that are operated by hand are considered sustainable. It is advisable to make sure that the garden is not overfertilized. Instead of the usual artificial fertilizer, sustainable gardens usually use natural fertilizers such as composted manure, stone meal or grass clippings. Natural fertilizers do not harm the environment and still provide all the essential nutrients in the soil.

Environmentally conscious gardening also uses only natural means to kill weeds, while completely avoiding chemical maces. Biological control agents such as hot water and weed vinegar are equally effective and can contain or even completely destroy many varieties of weeds. Regular weeding is the best way to complement biological measures against weeds and pests. One method that helps scare away pests is cooperative cultivation, as numerous garden crops help each other control pests. While a traditional lawn requires extensive maintenance with mowing, fertilizing and chemical pesticides, a natural meadow, on the other hand, is low maintenance and attracts many beneficial insects. Trees, plants and shrubs should match the natural conditions in the garden. This can save on fertilizers and pesticides.

Garden paths and paved areas should be designed so that rainwater can seep into the garden. So that the natural garden does not dry out in the blazing sun, but remains green in the summer, rainwater can be used during periods of drought to water the garden area. This not only reduces the cost of watering the garden, but also protects the plants, because rainwater has less lime than drinking or well water.