How to garden for the environment with GARDENA
Lynne Lambourne, sustainability ambassador for GARDENA and a warrior on waste, shares her top tips for looking after your garden and the planet
Whether it's conserving water, or using products that are kinder to the planet, gardeners across the globe are looking to garden more resourcefully. GARDENA understands this, which is why it constantly strives to design products and systems geared towards less wasteful gardening.
Better still, GARDENA is harnessing the knowledge of real, experienced gardeners to help you take a more considered approach to your gardening. Step forward Lynne Lambourne. “Gardening sustainably doesn’t require drastic measures or changes to our gardening habits,” she says. “It can be more simple practices such as harvesting grey water to keep our gardens hydrated or making more sustainable purchasing decisions.”
Lynne’s handy tips for gardening for the environment...
1. Let nature back into your garden
Allowing your garden, or at least specific areas in the garden, to grow naturally will help encourage biodiversity. Even just adjusting the cutting height on your lawn mower, to allow the grass to grow a little higher than usual will make a big difference. I also love the GARDENA ClickUp! Insect Hotel, as not only does it look great in the garden, but it’s amazing to see bees and other insects use it to make their homes.
2. Grow your own food
Even small things like growing your own strawberries, tomatoes or herbs without any harmful pesticides is incredibly satisfying, plus it lowers our carbon footprint when compared to buying imported produce.
3. Get composting
Fallen leaves, cut grass and food waste are all perfect for your compost heap, all of these ingredients will help make a nutrient-rich fertiliser for your garden, for free! Just make sure all of the food waste you pop in your compost heap is bio degradable, your compost heap will thrive if it is kept moist and full of air, so be sure to move or mix the compost every now and again.
4. Plant with pollinators in mind
Plant varieties such as alliums, borage and crocus will help attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies to your garden.
5. Plant a tree
We all know the world needs more trees, they’re the lungs of the planet, helping to store carbon and clean the air for us. Hawthorn trees are especially ideal if you don’t have an ample amount of space. They also bloom with masses of white blossom, followed by red fruit in the autumn. Best of all, this kind of tree is low maintenance, and while it likes a sunny spot, it will be happy in most types of soil.