Zia Allaway - Grow Eco-gardening

Choosing plants such as alliums that attract bees and butterflies will help to boost the numbers of these important pollinating insects, which are threatened by loss of habitat and climate change.

While we feel instinctively that our gardens make us happier and healthier, recent scientific studies have proved that they offer these benefits and many others too. As well as boosting our mental and physical wellbeing, gardening can help to increase biodiversity by providing a home for a wide range of plants and wildlife. Filling our plots with trees, shrubs, and other plants also improves air quality and reduces pollution by mopping up the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The good news is that just small changes to our gardens can help to make the planet a better place for everyone.

Environmental organizations worldwide are campaigning for the planting of more woodlands and forests to help restore wildlife habitats and mitigate the effects of climate change by absorbing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2). If each of us were to plant just one tree in our garden, this would make a huge contribution to the fight against global warming. In fact, it may be more effective than the planting of a dense forest, which current research shows may not be as useful in reducing temperatures as smaller deciduous woodlands, particularly in cool and temperate regions. The benefits increase if we add shrubs and flowering plants, which in some cases can trap other air-borne pollutants too.

Deciduous trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change.

DIVERSITY MATTERS

The hundreds of thousands of plant species in our world each represent a tiny microcosm of life, nurturing many types of insects, birds, and other animals, including humans. As you would expect, trees and shrubs support more wildlife than smaller species, but all have a role to play. To maximize your contribution to the welfare of the creatures in your vicinity, include a broad spectrum to help nesting birds, amphibians, bees, and other pollinators, along with the minibeasts that nourish the soil beneath the surface. The distribution of wild plant species is also contracting due to urbanization, so growing a wide variety of native plants in the garden can help to safeguard their future too.

Grow Eco-gardening | PLANT FOR A BETTER WORLD

Planting a broad range of species will sustain many forms of wildlife.

FILLING THE GAPS

You do not need a large garden to accommodate a wide diversity of plants; pack them into every nook and cranny and you will be surprised by the number of wildlife visitors a small space can support. Let a patch of lawn grow to form a matrix of grasses and wild flowers that support a range of insect life. Plant roofs with tiny succulents and walls with ivy and other climbers that will insulate your home, reducing fuel costs as well as attracting wildlife. Fill the gaps between paving stones with plants rather than mortar and watch the insects move in, and use shade-lovers under benches or seats. As the old adage goes, nature abhors a vacuum, so squeeze in some life-supporting plants wherever you can.

There are plant species suited to nearly every spot in the garden, even areas that are heavily shaded by foliage or manmade structures.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Making space for fruit and vegetables to help feed your household will lower your carbon footprint by reducing food miles. Growing your own food is fun, and while producing something to eat year-round may be too ambitious in a small garden, you can still make a valuable contribution with a few pots of lettuces and strawberries or some cherry tomatoes in a hanging basket.

Cherry tomatoes in a basket make a beautiful edible feature.

Grow Eco-gardening | PLANT FOR A BETTER WORLD

HARDY VS TENDER PLANTS

The best way to ensure that your plants thrive is to choose those that like your site, soil, and local climate. This will result in healthy plants that are more resilient to attacks from pests and diseases and do not need chemical fertilizers to boost their performance. The hardiness of a plant is a measure of the lowest temperatures it will tolerate, and this is an important point to consider when selecting plants that will be outside all year. The different levels of hardiness are included in the plant profiles in this book.

FULLY HARDY This term is used to describe plants that will cope with temperatures below -15C (5F).

HARDY Some plants are not fully hardy, but are able to survive temperatures that fall below freezing; where this is the case, the lowest temperatures are stated, allowing you to check that your average winters will not be too cold for the particular species.

HALF-HARDY You may find this term used to describe some annuals and plants from warm areas. These can survive low temperatures and, in many cases, once mature they will tolerate 5C (41F) or lower, but they will not cope with frost.