Tips for sustainable gardening

Saving water

Let your lawn go brown - don't worry about the grass, it will recover quick when it rains
Harvest water with water butts
Install a green roof on your shed or garage. It will help cut the amount of water entering your drains, as well as promoting wildlife
Move your container plants to shadier spots so that they lose less water and group them together to reduce water loss
Re-use grey water from you bath or shower
Pull up weeds, they suck moisture from the soil
Watering is most effective if you soak the roots of your plants every 10 days or so, rather than watering little and often
Water roots, not leaves and apply mulch to lock in moisture
Prioritise your watering. Young plants, new plants and seedbeds need watering most, and are less likely to survive drought than older, established plants. Trees, shrubs, hedges and climber plants that are older can almost always be left during a drought - they shouldn't be pleasantly affected
Mulch your garden thoroughly to cut down on your need for water


	Home > Tips for sustainable gardening

Home What to plant Top tips Trees Wildlife Gardening Places to visit Useful links Sunshine Garden '06	Tips for sustainable gardening Saving water Let your lawn go brown - don't worry about the grass, it will recover quick when it rains Harvest water with water butts Install a green roof on your shed or garage. It will help cut the amount of water entering your drains, as well as promoting wildlife Move your container plants to shadier spots so that they lose less water and group them together to reduce water loss Re-use grey water from you bath or shower Pull up weeds, they suck moisture from the soil Watering is most effective if you soak the roots of your plants every 10 days or so, rather than watering little and often Water roots, not leaves and apply mulch to lock in moisture Prioritise your watering. Young plants, new plants and seedbeds need watering most, and are less likely to survive drought than older, established plants. Trees, shrubs, hedges and climber plants that are older can almost always be left during a drought - they shouldn't be pleasantly affected Mulch your garden thoroughly to cut down on your need for water Recycling Compost kitchen and garden waste Recycle paving slabs, sheds, greenhouses and timber Join a recycling scheme like The Freecycle Network Use recycled materials to make garden furniture