'I feed mine with seaweed fertilizer and use nematodes to keep the bugs at bay,' she adds. Try easy crops such as kale and pak choi as vegetable garden container ideas, and squashes, courgettes, perpetual spinach, chard and runner beans in the ground,' says garden designer Ann-Marie Powell. Edible plants can be as pretty as ornamentals and they’re brilliantly satisfying. 'All you need for a small vegetable garden is a small area in a sunny spot. Reducing food miles by growing your own vegetables and fruit is fun and easy to do. 'Honeysuckle and jasmine will lure them in and the moths, in turn, will attract bats which feed on them,' she explains. Garden designer Sue Townsend advises also night-scented plants to attract moths. The Butterfly Conservation charity advises supporting these beautiful insects by planting buddleia, Verbena bonariensis, marjoram and lavender in warm sheltered spots. If you are looking for ways of how to attract butterflies, planting some flowers that they love is just one of the ways you can help in your sustainable garden.Ī diverse mix of flowers and plants will make your garden an environmentally friendly safe haven for our buzzy friends and also help your garden to thrive. It will also help to reverse the falling numbers of bees, butterflies and moths, which are vital to the eco system and therefore all of us. Planting many different species of native plants in your garden, with a focus on flowers rich in pollen and nectar, such as flowers that attract bees, will help to increase biodiversity. Try permaculture gardening to improve eco-credentials If you still want a green sward, try only cutting from June to September, allowing the grasses and spring flowers to bloom and feed pollinators. Reduce your carbon footprint by swapping petrol for electric mowers to cut the lawn, or go one step further and leave the grass to grow. 'The tall grass provides a place for wildlife to take cover, create natural habitats and attracts beneficial insects into the garden,' explains August Bernstein. Leaving the grass long also benefits wildlife. In fall, we also add early spring bulbs such as crocuses, species tulips and fritillaries to embellish the lawn and boost pollen supplies the following spring,’ she adds. 'Mow the lawn in late summer, leaving the stems in situ to shed their seeds before removing the clippings. 'Let a lawn go completely and allow the magic to happen – you’ll find native plants such as selfheal, Alchemilla, achilleas, ox-eye daisies and lots more just pop up,' says landscape designer Lulu Urquhart. With water shortages and longer periods of droughts being a possible result of climate change, perfectly manicured lawns could become a thing of the past with a move towards eco-friendly gardens. One of the important ways that gardeners can create a sustainable garden is to avoid pristine lawns and leave them to grow longer. (Image credit: Torsten Sukrow/SULUPRESS.DE/DPA/PA Images) ![]() ![]() In turn, the soil life makes nutrients available to feed our crops,' adds August Hudson. At Le Manoir we mulch our beds every year with compost, which helps retain moisture and adds food for the soil life to thrive. 'Keeping your soil healthy is absolutely vital to give your plants the nutrients they need to become strong and withstand our changing weather patterns. ![]() 'Using peat-free compost will also benefit the environment, since the bogs from which it’s extracted are highly efficient carbon sinks and support many rare species,' Tom adds. This will then improve the soil structure and deliver nutrients to plants’ roots. Learn how to make compost and apply a thick layer of this organic matter, or leaf mulch over the soil, which worms and other creatures will take down into the ground. To avoid this, only dig when planting,' advises garden designer Tom Massey. 'Soil is made up in large part from carbon, which it traps beneath the surface but releases into the atmosphere when disturbed. Improving soil quality is also therefore among many wildlife garden ideas. Soil holds the key to creating a sustainable garden, trapping and storing carbon, and providing a home for the billions of microorganisms and tiny creatures that help to maintain the health of the planet.
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