Now is a great time to install a
rainwater collection barrel at the
base of your gutters to collect spring
rainfall. It will become an invaluable
resource for your lawn and flowers
later on in the year, especially in the
case of a hose pipe ban, while also
reducing your water usage and bill.
Make use of second-hand barrels to
collect and store the water.
Mulching is also an effective way to
minimise water consumption in your
garden. By spreading biodegradable
material such as compost and wood
chippings around a plant or over soil
it provides an organic barrier which
prevents drying out from the sun,
resulting in less water usage. The
organic mulch also adds nutrients
to the soil and suppresses weeds by
blocking sunlight. To get the best out
of mulching, apply them mid- to late
spring and autumn, when the soil is
moist and warm.
Natural pest control
The overuse of pesticides has been
linked to the current catastrophic
decline of insect populations that we
are witnessing around the world, so
eradicating pesticide use in your own
garden is vital if we are to safeguard
the essential role that insects play in
our ecosystem.
Companion planting is an entirely
natural and safe way to reduce pests
while eliminating the presence of
artificial pesticides in your garden.
For example, coriander or garlic
plants will ward off aphids with their
strong scent, making them an ideal
companion for roses. Sage or plants in
the cabbage family are also effective
Reusing household items
In nature the concept of waste doesn’t
bricks or old planks of wood into a
compost bin.
exist; a by-product from one organism Old toilet and kitchen roll cardboard
repelling scents. becomes the food for another and vice tubes also make great biodegradable,
Companion planting is not only for versa. Try to take this approach to waste-free seedling plant pots. Cut
waste in your own home and garden. them to size as necessary, folding over
insect controllers; they emit pest-
warding off pests, it can also be used
for adding nutrients to the soil. Plants
in the pea family, such as lupins, peas,
beans and sweet peas, take in nitrogen
from the air and store it in their
roots, naturally benefitting the soil.
Plant these around fruit trees for the
greatest benefit.
A compost heap is an excellent way to
recycle food and other organic waste
into a rich fertiliser for soil. From food
waste such as vegetable peelings to
garden waste and grass cuttings, you
will not only be reducing household
waste but also helping to improve
soil quality in your garden. To go a
step further, repurpose second-hand
at the bottom and then plant straight
into soil. Non-recyclable black plastic
containers also perform this function
well, with the added bonus that you
are reusing something that would not
otherwise be recyclable. The black
colour also helpfully blocks light from
getting to the roots of the plants,
preventing growth problems.
Issue 37 2019 Landscape & Urban Design
49