Avid gardening does not only pertain to maintaining your grass and hedges neat, but also to keeping your garden energy-efficient. Watering and different supplies can be very expensive, and you might be wasting resources, money, and time with very little results. Luckily, there are ways of making your garden sustainable and letting nature work for you.

Energy-efficient gardening not only reduces your utility bills and you can order more than you could have from swiggy money, but can also help minimize your home’s carbon footprint and other greenhouse emissions. In this way, working on your patch of greenery actually contributes to the preservation of nature.

Composting

The quality of the soil is one of the most important factors in energy-efficient gardening. Familiarize yourself with different types of soil, such as silt, sand, and clay, as well as the specific ways of keeping it healthy. Healthy soil means that nutrients and moisture will be retained more efficiently, which in turn means you will need to spend less water and fertilizers.

Composting is a great way to improve the health of your soil. It is a method of disposing of organic waste in which the decomposed material is reused to provide nutrients for the soil. Not only do you get free fertilizer but you also reduce your food waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Composting can be done in a hole in the ground or in a special container; with the presence of air (aerobic composting) or without air (anaerobic composting). Also, you can enlist the help of the very useful earthworm.

Plant Trees

Trees are awesome in so many ways. They can have a very positive effect on the microclimate around your home. Deciduous trees planted on the sunny side of your house will provide shade and lower the temperature in your house in the summer, which means that the air conditioning system will not have to work as hard. This will keep both your carbon footprint and your bills lower. On the other hand, come the fall the leaves will drop and sunlight will once again reach your home. This will be beneficial when it comes to your heating bills in the colder months.

Trees also provide a habitat for wildlife such as different types of birds and squirrels. These animals are not only cute to look at and pleasant to listen to, but are also very useful for the ecosystem.

Make a Rain Garden

Water usage is another important aspect of energy-efficient gardening and rain gardens are a very smart way of saving water. They are a way of collecting and managing water runoff that comes down during storms and heavy rain. Not only do they gather excess water in one place, but rain gardens are also low-maintenance, they help stop erosion, they filter pollutants from the rain as well as nutrients. Also, they can be an oasis for birds and butterflies.

To build one, choose a lower spot in your garden. Use clay soil and make it approximately 6 inches deep. Finally, plant native plants that thrive with a lot of water and humidity.

Choose the Right Plants

Speaking about plants, choosing the right ones can make a huge difference in the sustainability of your garden. Except for building a rain garden, you can cut your water expenditure by planting drought-resistant plants. Many drought-resistant plants require little maintenance as well. For example, there are types of grasses that look great but do not require regular mowing, such as Buffalo or Mondo. This will save you valuable time, resources, and energy.

Use Solar Energy

The energy spent on garden appliances and illumination can be very expensive. Luckily, renewable sources of energy allow us to have a garden that is appealing and sustainable at the same time. Solar lights do not depend on the power grid as they work on clean and renewable energy. String lights can be hung from trees or bushes and you can light up the way to your house entrance or to the back garden. There are many other options that can make your garden appealing while still being environmentally friendly.

Use the Help of Nature to Control Pests and Weeds

Weeds and pests are annoying but we do not necessarily need to use chemical pesticides as they are not good for the soil or for the environment and might affect you when you decide to watch movies in your garden. Rather, we can rely on some natural remedies. Planting marigold plants and attracting ladybugs will prevent the growth of weeds as well as bugs infestations. Weeds can also be prevented by opting for some fast-growing plants.

If you have problems with slugs and snails that are eating up your plants, put a circle of coffee around the plants. Coffee will repel slugs and snails and it is also good for the soil. Also, the population of snails and slugs can be controlled with the help of animals that feed on them – hedgehogs and ducks for instance. You might already have hedgehogs in your area. If not, try to attract them by leaving some food and water in the garden.

Eco-friendly gardening is so beneficial in many ways. With these easy tips, your garden will be more sustainable both for your budget and for the environment.