Garden Style & Design Ideas: Sustainable Garden Designs
More and more people are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and eco-friendly solutions for their gardens and backyards. But what does it mean to create a sustainable garden design? What steps can we take to ensure that our gardens are not only beautiful, but also environmentally friendly? Let’s explore some sustainable garden designs and find out.
Plant natives
Sustainable garden designs emphasise the use of native plants, which are adapted to local climates and soil conditions. For backyard flowers, consider Brachyscome (Australian daisy), kangaroo paw, or happy wanderer to start with. Native plants will require far less water than non-native species, as they have evolved to survive in their environment with minimal resources. In addition, native plants provide food and shelter for wildlife, helping to maintain a healthy ecosystem in your yard or garden. When selecting plants for your sustainable garden design, look for drought-tolerant varieties that require little maintenance or watering once established.
Try composting
Another important aspect of sustainable gardening is composting. Compost is a valuable resource that helps improve soil health while reducing waste in landfills. Compost is created by combining organic material such as leaves, grass clippings, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells into a pile or bin where it decomposes over time into nutrient-rich fertiliser for plants. Composting requires little effort but helps reduce landfill waste while providing an excellent natural fertiliser for your garden beds or containers.
Use mulch
In addition to using native plants and composting, you can also incorporate mulch into your sustainable garden design plan. Mulch helps insulate the soil from extreme temperatures while retaining moisture levels so you don’t need to water as often. It also prevents weeds from taking over your landscape by blocking out sunlight needed by weed seeds to germinate and grow. There are many types of mulch available including wood chips, shredded bark, straw, peat moss and grass clippings – each offering its own unique benefits depending on your climate and landscape needs.
Transition Gradually
Creating a sustainable garden design doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive; there are plenty of simple steps you can take that will make a big difference in how eco-friendly your outdoor space is. By incorporating native plants into your landscaping plan along with mulching and composting practices, you can help reduce water consumption while still creating a beautiful outdoor space that provides food and shelter for wildlife.
Contact Great Spaces for help planning your dream garden area
The team at Great Spaces are passionate about sustainable gardening and can provide expert advice on the ideal native plants for your particular microclimate. To get started on a plan, contact the team now or look through our project gallery for inspiration.
