Earth friendly tips for a rosy garden

Tip 1: Grow your own fruit and vegetables

There are so many reasons to grow your fruit and veg. It tastes amazing, is fresher and has a higher vitamin content. Organic gardening also means no packaging, no carbon footprint from transportation and will save you money every day. On top of that, it's really easy to do. Phew. That’s quite a long list of benefits.
Many crops can be sown in March - so start preparing your beds today.

Find out more about growing your own vegetables
Get guides for growing vegetables in a limited space

No garden? Don’t despair. Many crops can be grown in pots on balconies and window ledges. Find out more about container gardening here. Or, if you want more space, get an allotment.

Tip 2: Teach your children where food comes from

The more we can teach children about healthy eating and caring for the environment, the better. And there’s no better way to learn about food than getting your hands dirty and growing some yourself. It’s mucky, fun and rewarding, which makes it perfect for kids. Why not give your child their own patch in your organic vegetable garden and help them sow seeds and care for the plants as they grow? The more children understand where our food comes from, the more respect they will have for sustainable living.

Get more information on setting up a kid’s vegetable garden

Tip 3: Keep your head above water

Water is a precious commodity, even in a country renowned for rain. Use water butts to collect rain water throughout the year and then use this to water the garden during dry spells. Old bath water and washing up water can also be collected and used on the garden – but make sure you are using organic, biodegradable detergents and soaps that won’t harm the local ecosystem.

Find about more about saving water in the garden

Tip 4: Keep out the chemicals

Many fertilizers and garden products are laden with chemicals that could cause damage to the local ecosystems. Opt for natural fertilizers that have no negative effect on the environment. Or make your own compost and use that. Ehow.co.uk has a video to show you how to get started.

Find out about choosing the right natural fertilizer

Tip 5: Recycle and compost organic waste

All garden waste and most food waste can be composted and used again to feed your soil. Collect all this waste in a compost bin and it will provide a free, year round, nutrient-rich, organic fertilizer. Recyclenow.com has a great step-by-step guide to getting started and lists what you can put in your bin.

Tip 6: Share your garden

If you have a large garden that is too big for you to manage on your own or have spare garden space, you might benefit from Landshare. Landshare aims to link people with spare garden space with people who want some. Owners, growers or helpers can post listings describing what they are offering or looking for so people in their area can respond. It’s a great way to share resources.

Tip 7: Encourage wildlife

Birds, hedgehogs, frogs, toads, slowworms, ladybirds and bumblebees are your friends as they like to dine on the worst garden pests - snails, slugs and aphids. Encourage them to visit your garden by leaving a slightly wild area with longer grass, piles of logs and fallen leaves. This will provide a perfect habitat for them to thrive. Also, consider installing a pond or leave your water butt open for them to drink from. Bird boxes and lady boxes can also help.

Visit the Wildlife Gardener for lots more tips to attract wildlife to your garden

Useful links

Preparing for growing your own vegetables >
Get guides for growing vegetables in a limited space >
Growing containers vegetables here >
Running your own allotment >
Setting up a kid’s vegetable garden >
Saving water in the garden >
Offering or looking for garden space? >
Step-by-step guide to composting >
What you can put in your compost bin? >
Garden sharing in your area >
Tips to attract wildlife to your garden >