Top eco buys for the garden
Cinead McTernan
With a little help from our friends at Gardeners' World magazine, we've compiled a selection of top green buys for the garden
Gardeners are among the greenest people on the planet, encouraging wildlife, happily recycling waste into compost and improving our environment by growing trees and plants. But now you can go even further.
Here are some great tips for making your garden a haven of eco-friendliness. And you’ll find that a lot of the wildlife you attract as a result will help fight those garden pests that make your life a misery.
In this article
1. Small wildlife ponds
Water will attract a wide range of wildlife to your garden, from slug-eating frogs and toads to jewel-like dragonflies. Where ponds are concerned, size really doesn’t matter – large or small, they all draw wildlife.
You don’t have to dig a huge hole or splash out on pond liner. Use an old butler sink (with plug), an antique tin bath or any other suitable container – check in your shed, in junk yards or on eBay, and expect to pay from £20.
For a mini-Monet effect, add… Nymphaea ‘Pygmaea Helvola’
- These pygmy waterlilies will happily grow in as little as 15cm of water in a sheltered, sunny site.
- Price £18.95 for a 2-litre pot.
- Supplier Crocus
- Tel. 0870 787 1413
- This hornwort is the perfect plant foroxygenating your pond. Price £10 for 10, available from May.
- Supplier Wiggly Wigglers
- Tel. 01981 500 391
2. Compost bins not rubbish bins
The Environment Agency says that almost one-third of our domestic waste could be put straight into compost bins. But instead ends up in landfills, where it can’t biodegrade due to a lack of oxygen.
Many local councils collect garden waste but often charge a fee, so why not use it to make your own compost? You’ll be doing your bit for the environment and your garden will enjoy the benefits too.
In addition to the bins we’ve suggested here, it’s definitely worth checking whether your local council offers compost bins at reduced prices. Call 0845 077 0757 or visit www.recyclenow.com/compost to find out what is available in your area.
For ordinary composting, use... a Classic Rotol compost bin
- This bin is made from recycled plastic and has a 300-litre capacity. To increase the heat and speed up the composting process, line it with two layers of bubblewrap
- Price £34.99
- Supplier GreenGardener
- Tel. 01603715 096
- Rotate this 200-litre capacity tumbler every week to aerate the waste, reducing the composting process to just 21 days. It’s ideal for grass clippings and household waste, and is made from recycled plastic
- Price £74
- Supplier Greenfingers
- Tel. 0845 3450728
3. No power tools
We all know that cars produce harmful carbon emissions, but have you considered the effect on the environment of petrol-fuelled and electric garden power tools? Do your bit by opting for a manual alternative.
For small lawns, use… Brill Razorcut Premium 38
- This hand-mower weighs just 7.4kg and its cutting height is adjustable
- Price £106.95
- Supplier Green Warehouse
- Tel. 02920 794888
- For more oomph on bigger jobs, choose this rechargeable model. Its battery gives you about 80 minutes of running time when fully charged
- Price £269
- Supplier Green Warehouse
- Tel. 01568 780 100
4. Bird feeders
With populations of house sparrows, song thrushes and several other garden birds on the decline, it’s more important than ever to give them a helping hand.
Leaving out bird food is vital in winter when berries and seeds are in short supply. It’s also useful to put out food in spring and summer when birds need it for themselves and their offspring.
For all types of gardens, use... Mini Bird Cake Feeder
- This comes made from suet, cereal, insects, berries.
- Supplier RSPB
- Tel. 0845 120 0501
- This is made of steel wire to keep out pesky squirrels.
- Supplier RSPB
- Tel. 0845 120 0501
5. Organic pest control
If you grow your own crops, using pesticides on them can be an unappetising prospect. It’s also environmentally unsound, as residues can leach into the soil and harm wildlife.
If you want a green alternative, use natural predators, such as ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies. Biological controls are also available, in the form of predators, parasites and nematodes.
Be prepared to turn detective to identify garden pests so you know which predators to introduce. There are several non-chemical barriers that can prove highly effective too. The selection of organic pest controls below will help you deal with the usual suspects, but read the instructions carefully so you know the best time of year to use them.
For most pests, try... Enviromesh
- This simple barrier method can prevent a wide range of pests – such as cabbage fly and carrot fly, caterpillars, aphids and pigeons – from ruining your seedlings and crops. It’s light enough to be laid directly over plants.
- Price £10.95 for 1.8 x 3 m pack.
- Supplier The Organic Gardening Catalogue
- Tel. 0845 130 1304.
- Eradicate this greenhouse pest with the tiny parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa. You’ll need to introduce it every fortnight for six weeks.
- Price £25 for a six-week course.
- Supplier JustGreen
- Tel. 01621 785 088.
- Let these microscopic nematodes get to work on your slugs. Add the nematodes to water and pour on to your garden – within three days you’ll see the effects.
- Price from £10.
- Supplier Wiggly Wigglers
- 01981 500 391.
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