Creating a garden that’s in harmony with nature is something that we should all strive to achieve. But knowing how to make it happen isn’t always obvious. Sometimes gardeners believe that they are working with nature, even when they aren’t.
Working with nature is actually extremely beneficial. As a gardener, it makes your life substantially easier. But how do you go about it? Let’s take a look:
Take All The Free Stuff Nature Gives You And Reuse It
Many gardeners see mother nature as a miser, but she is actually more generous than you might think. You just have to know where to look.
For instance, if you’re tired of high water bills because of all the watering you’re having to do, consider setting up a system to collect rainwater. Likewise, if your trees shed their leaves in the fall, collect them all up and put them in the compost to provide fertile soil for next year’s plant batch.
Never Throw Away Any Of Your Old Containers
Throwing away a used plant pot is a big no-no in the gardening world. Even if it looks a little muddy, it’s still good to use. Just clean it up a little and then plant something new in it, continuing the circle of life.
If you don’t like the look of plastic, stop buying it. Use terracotta instead.
Ask Yourself Whether You Need A Lawn
Lawns might be standard garden features, but they’re just about as far from natural as you can get. Perhaps lawns existed for short periods of time in nature in the past – maybe in forest glades – but they weren’t as ubiquitous as they are today.
The problem with lawns is that they require a lot of water, energy, and fertilizer to maintain. However, you can make them greener by simply allowing the grass to grow a little longer and maintaining a natural “meadow” on part of the plot.
Work With Plants That Thrive In Your Area
If you start planting coconut trees in Idaho, you’re going to be disappointed. They might survive a couple of months, but as soon as the frost hits, they’re gone.
You’re much better off relying on the principles of native landscaping. Here, you only grow species that are native to the area. This way, your garden isn’t out of sync with the local ecosystem and you’re not constantly putting plants on life support, trying to keep them alive during the summer and winter when temperature extremes spike.
Make Your Own Free Fertilizer
Man-made fertilizer is expensive to produce and transport. Therefore, you should only use it sparingly. Much better to make your own from biological household and garden waste. What’s more, it tends to be much higher in nutrients and contributes to making high-quality soil.
Stop Using Gas-Powered Appliances
Lastly, you might want to think twice about using gas-powered machinery in your garden. Leaf blowers, sit-on lawnmowers, and tillers all require large quantities of fossil fuels to keep them running. Instead, use handheld alternatives, covering your garden section by section.
