Ethical clothing, ethical food, what about ethical gardening? Do you think you could make it as an ethical gardener? Here are some tips that can help you garden in the most right and sustainable manner.
1. Put back more than you take out - Mulch
It's important in any garden not to exploit the soil, and to do the best you can in order to replenish any nutrients taken out by crops you may have planted. To start building up the soil quality, make sure to re-incorporate organic matter which may be lying around from previous crops/plants.
2. Be aware of your carbon footprint
Always be conscious of what you're bringing into your garden. Lots of garden centres, for example, sell plants in black plastic pots. Black plastic is actually unrecyclable - making it incredibly bad for the environment. As a result, try and avoid bringing plastic packaging home with you from the garden centre and try your best to always prevent buying plastic based products. Instead of buying plastic pots for plants for example, make sure to buy galvanised metal ones or terracotta. Even if your terracotta pots do crack or break down, the fragments are perfect for drainage at the bottom of pots, or can even be scattered to prevent slugs and snails attacking your borders. Also, be careful with the chemicals you might be using in the garden.
Using natural methods against pests such as a garlic solution for lily beetles, putting bark down for slugs and peppermint for ants are all small steps in being able to control irritating creatures in the garden.
3. Provide habitats and food for wildlife
Native plants are actually very pretty and perfect for pollinators and are likely to increase the biodiversity found in your garden. Buy a mix of pretty flowers that will cater for pollinators as well your tastes. Try to leave an area of your garden to it's own devices too, lets the weeds take over.
4. Recycle and Reuse
Water sustainability is extremely significant right now. Make sure to install water tubs to prevent having to fill up watering cans and get the hose out. Compost bins are perfect too. Buy a compost bin, fill it full of cuttings, leaves, fruit peelings etc and use it to vastly improve the soil structure and content.
6. Grow your own food
Nothing is more satisfying than growing your own food and with so many self-help guides it could not be easier. Salad crops, potatoes, peas and beans are all incredibly easy to grow as well as being cheap too.
7. Grow local
Buying Indian means that you're not limiting yourself to what the local garden centres sell.
Native Indian plants are more compatible with Indian wildlife and therefore are more likely to be well matched to the Indian soil types and climates. This reduces the need for additional fertilisers and chemical sprays. Hibiscus, Plumbago, Rangoon creeper, Vinca etc are some of the native plants.
Get Help From an Expert
Want a gardening expert to help you with your plants ? Get in touch with us at https://www.urbanmali.com/ or call us at 918880482000 for any queries. We can help you with gardening solutions.