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Today’s post is by Timothy River. As ever with our blogs, the views expressed are not necessarily shared by NAEE
We all want to protect the planet, but gardeners have a unique opportunity to tackle climate change whilst doing what they do best. By making a few changes to the way you take care of your outdoor space, you can make a real difference from the comfort of your home. Here, we share a few top tips for UK gardeners keen to join the fight against climate change
Choose a diverse range of plants
Biodiversity plays a key role in mitigating climate change. Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and different plant species have varying abilities when it comes to this process – they also thrive in different conditions from one another. So, by ensuring you have a diverse range of plants in your garden, you’re making sure they’ll be able to continue to reduce the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, no matter the climate.
Planting trees, shrubs and hedges can all help to protect the environment, no matter the size of your garden. For those who have limited space but want to make a difference, juniper, blackthorn and crab apple trees are great choices.
Reduce water consumption
A lot of energy is required to treat and distribute our water supply, so by using less water, you’ll be helping to lower the carbon footprint of these processes.
Luckily, you can still keep your garden thriving without using too much water. One of the most simple ways to do this is by collecting rainwater to water your plants – consider installing a water butt at the end of any downpipes – or mulching your garden so that it can retain more moisture. You could also consider drip irrigation so that smaller amounts of water are delivered directly to the roots of your plants, and opt to use a broom to clean your garden, rather than washing paving stones and furniture down with water.
Reuse and recycle
Waste contributes to rising global temperatures in a number of ways. For starters, it can lead to deforestation, as forests have to be cleared to make room for landfills. Then, the waste in these landfills releases greenhouse gases as they break down. Plastics continue to release harmful gases into the atmosphere for many years as they take so long to decompose.
Reusing any household items you no longer need can help to reduce waste that’s harmful to the environment. You can find a use in the garden for lots of different materials and everyday items – for example, you may want to use unwanted wood to build lattices, compost bins or other structures, or make use of empty containers to plant and display flowers.
Plant for the planet
Gardening is an incredibly rewarding activity that becomes even more enjoyable when you consider the positive impact your actions are having on global warming. Be mindful as you tend to your plants to avoid causing harm wherever possible, and focus on making small changes that’ll not only benefit your garden, but the whole planet, too.