If you’re looking for ways to make changes to your home or lifestyle that benefit the environment, then a great place to start is with your garden and patio area. These simple solutions will make a big difference:
1. Get a water butt
Water butts are large storage containers that catch and store rainwater, which you can then use to water your garden or indoor plants. They are easy to set up, use and maintain and offer an eco-friendly, and cost-effective, alternative to hose pipes or tap water. The water collected by water butts have the perfect PH balance for plants and is much better for them than tap water. And, water butts don't have to be ugly: there are some unique and beautifully designed water butts on the market today, including ones designed to look like bee hives and wine barrels! You can also get slimline water butts or terracotta water butts with built-in planters for a truly rustic and unique look for your garden.
2. Use eco-friendly Materials
Choosing recyclable materials for furniture, ornaments and even for your doors and windows is a great way to consciously care for our planet. For example, if you have left-over wood from a home project then why not upcycle it into a birdhouse, hedgehog house or a planter? Not only is this a great way to recycle materials, you'll be helping wildlife too.
Similarly, if you’re looking to repave the patio or install new patio doors or windows then use recycled materials, or materials that can be easily recycled later on. Aluminium is an excellent material choice for doors and windows that’s not only low maintenance, thermally efficient and very strong, but aluminium is one of the most eco-friendly materials on the market, with more than 75% of aluminium ever produced still in use today. With sophisticated thermal break technology, Bifold Doors make excellent patio doors that even help to lower energy bills.
Alternatively, if you're completing a bigger home project like a home extension, then there are ways to do it with the environment in mind. Read our post to find out how to build a green extension for your home.
3. Encourage wildlife
Planting more greenery in your garden is a sure way to encourage wildlife, which not only creates morning entertainment for the family, but also acts as a natural pest control. Birds and ladybugs reduce the amount of plant-sucking insects in the garden, whilst hedgehogs help to keep slugs at bay.
Cross-pollination is crucial for fruit and seed production, so creating a haven for bees and other pollinating insects is a great way to keep an eco-friendly garden. Your plants and trees will also act as a source of shelter for wildlife.
4. Avoid Harmful Chemicals
Slugs can be a real problem for many gardens, especially those who are trying to grow their own produce. If you’re new to growing your own fruit and veg then why not get up to speed with our useful blog post?
Using chemicals to repel slugs may seem like the fastest and most cost-effective way to get rid of your slugs, however, they can ultimately be harmful. Chemicals can pollute the earth and can also be damaging to the wildlife in your garden. These chemicals can often attract other innocent wildlife and harm them, and it’s thought that the chemicals seep into the soil and grow within the produce you then eat. Avoid chemical fertilizers by using home grown compost and not only will you benefit from a more eco-friendly garden, any product you grow will look, taste and even smell better and healthier!
You can replace your slug repentant chemicals with more natural repellents such as beer traps, small sprinklings of salt or create a lure and dispose of the gathered slugs. You can also call in natural enforcement like hedgehogs and birds, which is the most natural way to rid of your slugs.
5. Switch to Solar
Many people like to light up their gardens with dainty fairy lights and spike lights all year round for romantic, chilled out ambience. However, a more eco-friendly (and cheaper!) way to light up your garden is to buy solar panel lighting. The lights charge up in the day by absorbing sunlight, allowing them to release their pent-up energy as it gets darker. Powered by the sun, solar lighting eliminates the use of electricity, amount of wiring and will save you money in electricity bills. There is a range of styles to choose from that are sold in most garden centers and department stores. A multi-pack of solar spike lights can be purchased for roughly £10, with solar powered fairy lights retailing at around the same.
6. Create Your Own Compost
If you have plants in your garden then it’s likely that you need compost to help them grow. Buying compost can be expensive and some compost bags can include chemicals. A much easier and cost-effective way to create compost is by using your very own kitchen waste - a great way to make the most out of kitchen waste.
Purchasing a compost bin can cost you as little as £20. Not only will your kitchen be a nicer smelling area (as you’ll be disposing of your kitchen waste outdoors, rather than letting it sit in your indoor bin), the compost you’ll make in your compost bin will be extremely nutrient-rich and great for your plants. And, if you grow your own fruit and veg, then using a pure, natural compost will help your produce grow as healthy as possible, and you will know exactly what has gone into helping your produce grow.
And... Relax and Enjoy!
After all the work we put into our gardens, being able to sit back and enjoy them is crucial. Many of us wish we could feel closer to our gardens. With the UK’s ever-changing weather, this isn’t always possible. So, how can we make the most of our gardens in an eco-friendly way?
Origin Bi-fold Doors mean that your garden can be enjoyed all year round. In the summer, open your home up to the outdoors with folding doors to create a seamless transition to your garden. In the winter, enjoy maximum views of your garden with excellent thermal efficiency from the comfort of your home. By using premium grade aluminium, Origin’s Doors and Windows are the eco-friendly choice when compared to other popular door and window options such as uPVC or composite. The doors allow you to truly make the most of the garden you’ve spent so much time on. Enjoying nature and wildlife couldn’t be easier and more guilt-free.
