Gardening is a fantastic way to support our local wildlife, improve biodiversity, and help the planet—but if you garden irresponsibly, you could end up doing more harm than good! Taking an eco-friendly approach to gardening requires you to be mindful of your use of resources. Luckily, there are many ways to make eco-friendly gardening easy and stress-free.
How to Garden the Eco-Friendly Way
Eco-friendly gardening has several goals: protect and support our wildlife, reduce waste, be conservative about resource use, reduce our carbon footprint, and much more! Here are some simple ways you can garden more sustainably and responsibly.
Plant Native Species
Anything adapted to live here in the wild will be an incredibly low-maintenance plant to grow! Once established, there’s no need to water constantly or use loads of fertilizer. Native plants are hardy and resilient, and our local pollinators love them! Bees, birds, and butterflies are always happy to visit the flowers they recognize from home.
Opt for Drought-Tolerant Plants
In addition to native plants, anything considered drought-tolerant will be a fantastic addition to an eco-friendly garden. Succulents are a great choice, but there are plenty of other beautiful plants in Ontario that don’t need much water or upkeep.
Use Organic Fertilizers
Synthetic fertilizers can be harmful if used improperly or in large amounts. Too much fertilizer can throw off the balance of microbes in the soil, and overuse has led to algal blooms in waterways due to high phosphorus levels. Organic fertilizers are natural and work slower, so they won’t overwhelm your plants or overload the soil. We have plenty of eco-friendly options for all different types of plants.
Grow Edible Plants
So much of the food in our grocery store has travelled across the globe in big cargo ships and transport trucks. A much more eco-friendly alternative is growing your food at home! Starting a vegetable garden is an incredible way to reduce your carbon footprint—and your grocery bill!
Avoid Pesticides and Herbicides
Chemical pesticides and herbicides are to blame for the declining populations of bees, monarch butterflies, and several other beautiful pollinators. Avoid them at all costs if you want an eco-friendly garden! Luckily, there are plenty of natural alternatives to pest control, like insecticidal soap and neem oil. Even still, we recommend that you use these products sparingly. The best thing you can do to avoid pests is to maintain healthy plants and attract predatory insects with fragrant plants. Spread mulch in your garden beds and always pull weeds before they go to seed.
Collect Rainwater
Saving water is a basic principle of eco-friendly living! A rain bin to collect water from your downspouts will be very useful for watering your garden. Get one with a spigot so you can easily fill your watering can. It’s a great way to reduce your water usage, and your utility bill will show it!
Start a Compost Bin
No need to purchase a big plastic bag full of compost when you’re making your own at home! Starting a compost bin can cut your total household waste in half, and the fresh, nutrient-rich material is so good for your soil. There are many types of eco-friendly indoor and outdoor compost bins for any size of home and on any budget. Print out a composting cheat sheet and stick it on the fridge so you can remember what goes in the compost bin and what stays out!
Install an Irrigation System
Never worry about overwatering or underwatering your garden again! An automatic irrigation system with a built-in moisture detector will water your plants whenever they need it. This way, your plants always get the right amount of water, so there’s no unnecessary waste and no overthinking! Not only is it eco-friendly, but it makes gardening that much easier.
We have plenty of native, drought-tolerant and eco-friendly garden plants in Ontario! Visit our garden centres in Port Carling and Bala to see what’s ready to plant now.
