The Future Proofing our Gardens page emphasises the importance of healthy soils as a natural carbon sink - soils rich in organic matter hold much more water than degraded ones, which improves fertility and helps reduce run-off and flooding. Did you know that on average 25-50% of water use in the home is attributed to outdoor water use? Simple watering tips like watering earlier in the day, or checking when the next rain is due or installing a water tank can all drastically reduce your reliance on externally supplied water, not only saving water, but costs. Have a look at the Water Conservancy for more water saving tips in your garden.
Additionally, pH is also important, with a variety of pH levels preferred by different plants, understanding this is important for the health of your plants. For some this area of gardening is a mine field, and not as easy to understand. Have a look at this simple video on how to test the pH of your garden to ensure you select the right plants for your garden.
Another key point is using the right native plants - choosing species that are local to your area supports habitat for native animals, helps regenerate land, and makes gardens more resilient to changing climate conditions. A wonderful website that can help you navigate the literally thousands of species to choose from is Which Plant Where this search engine is based on scientific research for specific regions. And, if you find it hard to move away from the traditionally British varieties in your garden, have a read of this interesting article on Paul Bangay and his use of natives in the garden, as always, his garden artistry is bound to please.
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