Blooms Magazine Issue 2

Other options include placing barriers around your plants to ward off intruders, rather than using chemical pest control sprays.

Furthermore, encourage helpful insect-eating bugs to come into your gardens, so that they get rid of the nasties for you.

Ladybugs and lacewings eat aphids, for example, and are typically enticed into yards by marigolds, sunflowers and candytuft.

Birds also eat many plant-destroying creatures, such as garden slugs, snails, grubs and caterpillars, so entice them in with birdfeeders, water fountains and nesting boxes.

To reduce the need for chemical-laden weed control, use mulch in your gardens, as this helps to smother and inhibit weeds. It also works to prevent new seeds from germinating.

Mowing often keeps weeds under control too, plus there are certain types of weeds you can pull out by hand.

WATER USAGE Of course, if you want to live more sustainably, you also need to think about how much water you consume. To cut back in this area, reduce the amount of (often thirsty) lawn you have, and plant easy-care ground-covers or lay stones or eco-friendly paving products.

Opt for drought-resistant trees, shrubs and flowers, too, which don’t need much water.

When you do water your lawn and gardens, complete the job in the mornings or evenings when there is less sun and the temperature is cooler. This will mean less water evaporates, so more is actually absorbed into the soil.

Consider collecting water from showers and your laundry to use in your garden too, so and install rainwater tanks so you can harvest water when it rains.