How to bring sustainable gardening to your backyard

Sustainable gardening is becoming increasingly popular due to its positive effects on the environment. By keeping your garden sustainable, your garden will go beyond its aesthetics and contribute to providing a greener environment for future generations.

Learn how you can bring sustainable gardening to your backyard with CGS!

Sustainable gardening tips

Harvesting your water

Collecting rainwater allows you to water your garden with rainwater. This can be done by installing a water tank in your garden which plays a large role in water conservation. In addition to supporting your sustainable gardening efforts, you will also be able to create a more sustainable lifestyle in using rainwater for your washing and toilets. Another tactic you can use to save water is using more manual watering practices i.e. watering cans. Watering cans help control the area you are watering so you are not wasting the water on concrete or surrounding fences.

Using natural fertilisers and pesticides

Many modern fertilisers and pesticides are made with chemicals that can contaminate waterways when washed away by the rain. When choosing fertilisers and pesticides, take a look at the materials that are used to make the mixture. An increasing number of brands are also trying to become more eco-friendly in their practices and offer environmentally options for fertilisers and pesticides. Another option for fertilisers in particular, is making your own from compost. Being 100% natural, this is the best option for sustainable gardening!

Building a compost

Composting is a must if you are looking to make your garden more sustainable. The composting process plays two roles in promoting a more sustainable environment – reducing the amount of rubbish going to landfill and acting as a natural fertiliser for your garden. To keep the composting process simple, you can set up a mini bin in your kitchen and regularly empty it out into a bigger composting bin in your backyard. This helps maintain a continuous feed coming into your compost, so you always have fresh natural fertiliser for your garden.

Growing a vegetable patch

A big part of sustainable living is being able to provide for your own needs and use fewer resources. By growing your own vegetables, you will be able to provide for some of the vegetables you need. If you know your friends and neighbours have their own veggie patch you can also arrange for regular trades and share your bountiful harvest amongst your friends!

Looking to maintain your vegetable garden this summer? Take a look at our tips on maintaining an Australian vegetable garden in the summer!

Planting native plants

Native plants are a more sustainable option for your garden compared to other imported plants. In addition to sustaining the unique Australian flora, native plants are more suited to the Australian climate and require less water. Once these plants have established their foundation in the soil and have had a year of occasional watering, they can mostly survive on just rainfall. Some native plants may be able to survive completely on rainfall which saves a significant amount of water in the long run! As local gardeners, CGS are well versed in which plants thrive in the local areas of southeast Melbourne. Take a look at the range of suburbs we offer our local gardening services in!

We hope you learned something new about sustainable gardening!

Looking for gardening services? Contact the CGS team today! We offer a variety of gardening services including regular lawn mowing to keep your garden looking well maintained all year.