New year, new resolutions? You can’t have seen any of the news recently and wondered how on earth you could really make any difference to your environment. This might help; doing just one of these is something.
The two best things you can to green up your garden are to reduce inputs and outputs - water, fertilizer, compost, plastic, pesticides and increase bio-diversity - grow more, encourage wildlife, be less tidy.
1 - Get a water butt
I know, this isn’t going to eliminate the need for running a hose in your garden, especially given how hot recent summers have been here in London. But, 350 litres of water, filled several times by torrential downpours, will make a difference. And they’re not all unattractive and they are also pretty easy to install.
2 - Make your own fertilizer
You’ve seen this plenty of times on Gardener’s World - steep comfrey leaves in water for a few weeks. You know it’s done when the smell gets really bad, then water your tomatoes and flowers with it. And get or make a compost bin.
3 - Mulch
What to do with all those autumn leaves? Collect them and store them in bags with a few holes, or wire cages. The resulting compost can be spread on your flowerbeds in spring. This helps keep down weeds, improves the texture of your soil (especially clay) and reduces the need for watering.
4 - Recyclable plant pots
As you probably know black plastic plant pots can’t be recycled. It’s something to do with the black colouring. But many nurseries are moving to using taupe-coloured pots which can be recycled kerb-side. You can also buy plants in compostable pots. If you’ve got a choice make the right one. And if you haven’t then try and re-use your black plastic pots rather than chucking them away.
5 - Natural pesticides and herbicides
It’s easier to work with nature rather than fight it. Encouraging birds, hedgehogs, frogs and toads will help with insect control. Weeds in your patio means it needs re-pointing not weedkiller. And weeding your flowerbeds is good for you. It doesn’t matter if you don’t get them all. Use companion planting to help keep pests off your veg and if things are really bad try using nematodes to get rid of persistent pests like vine-weevil. Pheromone traps are good for preventing the box tree moth from breeding.
6 - Grow more
If your garden is a desert of plastic grass or concrete or even strictly-mown lawn then any plants will make a difference. It doesn’t really matter what you plant - most flowers will attract pollinators. Almost all trees are hosts to many beneficial insects and birds, produce flowers and often some sort of edible fruit and leaves for mulch. They provide shade which helps reduce evaporation and heat, and many trees help reduce airborne pollution. Growing your own fruit and veg is healthy, tastes great and saves you money. All plants lock up carbon. Trees lock up the most and for the longest.
7 - Encourage wildlife
Feed the birds, consistently, all through the winter. And plant things they will like - trees and plants to attract insects. Install a bird bath or mini pond - an upturned dustbin lid will do. Birds will use it to drink and wash, even insects need to drink, frogs may spawn in it and hedgehogs, bats and voles will enjoy it too. Install bird boxes and insect hotels. As long as they’re in the right spot they will get used.
8 - Be untidy
The easiest thing of all. Keep a corner of your garden untouched. Let the weeds grow, leave it undisturbed. Many mammals and invertebrates will make it home. Others will forage for food and nesting material. Don’t be in a rush to tidy up your the rest of your garden in the autumn. Leave flowers and grasses standing until the spring - seedheads provide food, dead foliage is used for nesting, standing stems create a micro-climate out of the worst of the winter weather.
Do one thing.