When it comes to creating an eco-friendly garden, every green thumb needs to follow the simple rule of the four “R”s: reduce, recycle, reuse, and rebuy. This ensures you reduce your output of waste by making efficient use (and reuse) of materials when you finally decide to create a natural garden, which meets your expectations, budget demands, and most importantly, doesn’t harm the environment. To help you create your very own green garden, here are a couple of outstanding eco-friendly gardening tips and ideas.

Plant Native Plants

When starting a green garden, the first thing you will need to do is plant your greens. Consider all the flora you would like to have, and then research plants that are native to your specific area. Since indigenous plants are already adapted to your local climate, soil quality and moisture levels, they will be low maintenance and more cost effective. Additionally, when you choose such plants, you also minimize the risk of endangering native flora by introducing pests and illnesses which they don’t have the ability to cope with.

Plant Herbs, Fruit and Veg

Having a garden also means you can practice one of the best forms of sustainable living by growing your herbs, fruits and vegetables. This doesn’t require too much space, since you can grow a variety of veggies, like carrots, broad beans, salads and chilies, in small outdoor containers. Alternatively, you can use numerous other old unwanted containers for growing herbs, like pots, old crates, cans, and even old rubber boots. Herbs such as basil, chive, rosemary and mint re-grow easily even after several harvests.

Combine Plant Varieties

Another great way of having a healthy green garden is by mixing up different plant varieties. Specific plant combinations, like basil and tomatoes, roses and garlic, or cucumbers and dill complement each other. This improves the health of your plants by making the soil richer, shorter plants receive extra shade from taller ones, and the more pungent plants act as a natural pesticide. Ultimately, by working to improve each other, complimentary plant pairings can also increase each others yields and improve the look, taste and smell of the crop.

Collect Rainwater

One of the biggest negative effects gardening has on the environment is seen through wasting water. In keeping their gardens lush and moist, most gardeners use excessive amounts of water from garden hoses. To implement a greener approach to your watering cycle, you should install water butts or rainwater collectors in your garden. By collecting naturally occurring rainwater, you minimize your water output, and also lower your water bill. Additionally, you should also use it in combination with water buckets, as this also helps to conserve your rainwater supplies, giving every plant in your garden the right amount of water it needs.

Create Compost

Whatever you do to improve your garden, you will still have to give your plants some boost by adding fertilizer to your soil. Instead of using store-bought fertilizer, a greener solution to this issue is resolved if you set up your own organic compost. Fill the container with already nutrient-rich soil, place it into a sun-filled area and then discard all your organic kitchen and garden waste into it. However, the smell of compost can be quite overwhelming. So, if you need to go away for a longer period of time, or you are moving house, acquire the help of end of lease cleaning services, who can safely and professionally dispose of the container.

Use Natural Pest Control

Having a natural all-green garden also means you will need to look for pesticides to protect your plants. Natural pesticides are eco-friendly alternatives to industrial made chemical compounds which contribute to soil pollution. Instead, introduce natural pest enemies, like certain insects and birds, which keep your garden pest-free, and also helps with pollination. Ladybugs and bees work best when you want to protect your plants from blight and black fly. On the other hand, you could install a feeding place or birdhouse to attract sparrows, phoebes and other birds for controlling garden pests.

These simple, yet effective ideas are great starting points to begin creating a green, eco-friendly garden. Remember to reduce, reuse, recycle and rebuy when gardening, and you can be sure the environment will be grateful for it.