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We all want to be greener, and these days, with many species of plants and wildlife struggling, sustainability is more important than ever. If you’re stuck for ideas, we have a few tips on how to create a sustainable garden that looks great and is a pleasure to spend time in.
Sustainable gardens can come in all shapes and sizes and can easily co-exist alongside decking areas, especially if you choose an eco-friendly option such as our long-lasting composite decking made from recycled materials. Read on for our sustainable garden ideas…
In this article, we will cover:
A sustainable garden is simply an outdoor space that is designed to minimise its environmental impact and actively supports local ecosystems. It involves using plants, materials and techniques that help to reduce waste and provide a miniature environment that thrives in harmony with nature. Creating and maintaining a sustainable garden can be a great side project or hobby and might even become a lasting passion.
It has never been easier to create a sustainable garden, with lots of information, inspiration and sustainable product options to draw on. The sustainable garden design ideas we’re going to show you are relatively easy to implement. They are also low maintenance, and it only requires small changes in lifestyle and garden design to make your outdoor space more sustainable.
From making your own compost and harvesting rainwater to the best plants to choose and what to avoid, here are 14 ideas for a more sustainable garden…
Compost is a nutrient-rich substance made from broken-down organic materials. It’s nature’s way of recycling, and making your own compost at home is a great way to reduce your own waste while making useful compost to help your garden grow.
You can build your own composting bin from planks or decking offcuts, or buy one ready-made. You could also make an open compost heap, but this is more suitable for large spaces away from the house, as they can be smelly and attract pests.
You can put almost any organic and plant waste into compost, from food waste and plant clippings to cut flowers that are past their best. Try to use 25-50% grass clippings, weeds, and fruit and veg waste, with the rest made up of wood chippings, cardboard, dead leaves, paper or straw.
Good drainage and aeration of the soil can help promote plant growth. There are a number of ways to do this, including forking and turning the soil, regularly adding compost and using raised beds in your garden.
When thinking about how to make a sustainable garden, one of the key considerations will naturally be which plants to use. Sustainable gardening involves reducing the resources and materials you use and so low-maintenance, native plants can be a great choice. This is because they tend to require less watering and fertiliser. They are also part of the natural ecosystem and so will help support wildlife.
Some low-maintenance sustainable trees and shrubs in the UK include hawthorn, juniper and dog rose. Flowering plants can be great for pollinators and other insects and could include lavender, bergenia, foxglove and primrose.
Making the most of rainwater is an important sustainable practice, especially in the face of changing climate and weather patterns. Harvesting and reusing rainwater is a greener option than using a hose or household water to water the lawn and other plants. Water butts and other containers can be situated in optimum places to collect rainwater, especially where it runs off roofs and from gutters.
There will be times when you might not have the rain to do this, especially in summer, but conserving what water you can is always going to have a positive impact on the environment.
You should be careful about which native plants to plant and where. If there are too many plants, they can take each other’s nutrients, which can stunt growth, lead to plants not looking so vibrant, and affect the quality of the soil.
It’s generally a good idea to plan your sustainable garden design in advance. Take into account not only the size and spread of your plants when you first plant them, but also the space they might take up when fully grown. Place your plants strategically and check out Dino Decking’s guide to year-round gardening for more tips and ideas.
One of the most important eco-friendly garden ideas is to ditch the chemicals in favour of natural fertilisers and mulch. Some chemical treatments can be very harmful to wildlife, and pests can be deterred using certain plants such as marigolds and sunflowers.
We’re all accustomed to using our recycling bins, but not everything that goes in actually ends up being recycled. There are many household items that can be recycled into your garden, making sure that they get that second life. Shredded paper and cardboard can go to make mulch to enrich your garden. Seedling containers can easily be made from toilet roll and egg cartons, while used plastic bottles can make great seedling protectors. Get creative and think about what can be reused in your sustainable garden.
Reducing energy usage within the garden by using solar energy to power lights is both easier on your purse strings and more environmentally friendly. If you use patio heating in your garden, you can also find greener options, including solar-powered options, heaters that use renewable fuels such as bioethanol, and efficient infrared heaters.
Creating habitats for wildlife, such as bird feeders and ponds, can enhance biodiversity, as well as bringing interesting visitors to your garden. Pollinators such as bees are on the decline, but they can be encouraged with a water source and nectar-rich flowers, especially single-bloom varieties.
Growing your own vegetables is a great way to save a bit of money and be greener in the process, cutting down on the transport and packaging involved in bringing fresh vegetables to the supermarket. Some gardeners also swear that their homegrown fruit and vegetables also taste better than over-cultivated, shop-bought varieties.
You don’t need lots of space to grow your own veggies. Even a balcony can serve as a little farm – the trick is to pick varieties for the environment they live in. Using a trellis to grow vegetables such as peas can be a great way of making the most of your space by growing vertically.
You don’t need traditional grass for a comfortable and attractive lawn. Moss lawns offer a sleek and low-maintenance way to be more sustainable. Plus, moss is much softer than grass! Damp and shady spots where grass struggles to thrive may be perfect places to try moss instead.
Trees are very important for creating oxygen and carbon capture, removing harmful carbon dioxide released by burning fossil fuels from the air. They also make great environments for insects, birds and other creatures. You don’t need to have big trees as even small and medium-sized trees can be very beneficial. Planting trees is great for sustainability, but they do take a bit of nurturing.
Peatlands are the UK’s biggest carbon store, holding huge amounts of carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. Every time peat is removed from a bog for garden centres, carbon is released and habitats are damaged. By using mulch and your own compost instead, you can help reduce the use of peat.
Paving can be stylish and practical, giving you an area for barbecues or sitting outside to enjoy the air, but it isn’t the best choice for sustainable gardens. Paving and other materials for patios and gardens trap the soil underneath when it could be used to allow more grass or other plants to grow.
If just one-third of the 30 million households in the UK pulled up three paving stones, it would provide 10 million extra square metres of growing space. If you decide that you want decking for a patio area, composite decking is a more sustainable option. This is because it is longer lasting, does not require paint or chemical treatments, and is made using recycled materials.
Plants that are native to your region will be better suited to the climate and will flourish better in the soil. They will also fit into the local ecosystem with other plants and creatures. Some plants, including sunflowers and marigolds, are believed to have properties that can deter pests without having to use chemical pesticides.
Many of the ideas above are maintenance-free or require minimal maintenance. They also require only a little effort or change to fit into gardens of different shapes and sizes. Take a look at our low-maintenance garden ideas for more inspiration.
All of Dino Decking’s products are sustainable. Our composite decking and fencing blend a natural wood effect with the durability of recycled materials for a practical, eco-friendly choice in any garden. Decking can easily live alongside wilder areas of grass and plants. This allows you to add some structure and easily usable areas while still maintaining a sustainable garden.
Explore our full range today and order a free sample for more inspiration.
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