Author Archive | Jennie Lyon

Drought is a problem for any avid gardener as it means your precious plants are missing one key component to help them stay healthy. When no rain is falling, and the sun is beating down, it is hard to give your plants the moisture they need to grow. 

Consequently, you end up with a brown and dry garden that’s basically had all the moisture sucked out of it. 

While you can’t control the weather, there are things you can do to deal with drought in your garden?

1. Water your garden regularly

Clearly, you need to water your garden as regularly as possible during the warmer months. Some plants need to be watered every couple of days, while other areas – like your lawn – only need watering once or twice a week. 

It is a good idea to try and conserve rainwater throughout the year, so you have a supply of water when you need it. Rain barrels work perfectly here, so you aren’t using your home water supply all the time. As a benefit, you’re cutting down on water usage, helping the planet at the same time. 

2. Help your garden retain moisture

The issue many people have is they water their garden during a drought, and then see all the moisture evaporate within a few hours. This happens when your garden isn’t retaining the moisture as effectively as it could. 

Two things can be done to correct this. Firstly, you can use organic matter as mulch to trap the moisture in the soil for longer. Secondly, you can use humus compost to do the same thing. Humus is a spongy substance that means it soaks up and retains a lot of moisture, which is perfect for keeping a garden healthy and well soaked during periods of drought. 

3. De-weed your garden

Nobody likes seeing weeds in their garden, but they do more damage than you think. As unsightly as they are, the biggest problem is that you have other plants competing for water and nutrients with your existing ones. In essence, they are draining your soil of all the water you put down. 

So, when periods of hot weather and no rain come around, your garden dries out thanks to the weeds. Keep up with regular weeding to remove these pests from your garden. Remember, a weed is basically a plant that’s grown without your permission. Sometimes, you like the natural things that grow in your garden. But, if they’re getting in your way and depriving the rest of your plants of being healthy, you need to get rid of them. The video above will give you some great tips to help you out!

Typically, droughts happen during the hottest months of the year. So, if you’re not currently at that stage yet, you can still prepare your garden for periods of dry weather. Collect and store as much rainwater as possible, and ensure that your garden consistently gets a good dose of water and nutrients. Focus on weeding your garden space and using mulch or compost to trap moisture in the soil as well. 

Moving house takes a lot of consideration and planning. The process can be arduous and it can be one of the more stressful times in your life. As a result, the environmental impact of your move may have slipped your mind. In a time where the world is more environmentally conscious than ever, even traditionally stressful times can be adapted or changed to better serve the environment and lower the carbon footprint. Whether you need an international moving company for an international move or are relocating to the next street, here are some ways in which you can make your move more eco-friendly, without contributing to your stress levels.

Start decluttering early on

Decluttering when moving has many benefits. It gives you the opportunity to get rid of things taking up unnecessary space, remove items you no longer need and make the move that little bit easier as you are moving less stuff. Moving less stuff will also have a knock-on effect on your CO emissions. The less stuff you have to move the fewer trips you will need to make, the less packaging you will need, and the smaller transportation units you will use. This will also have the added benefit of reducing the cost of your move. When decluttering be mindful not to use landfills unnecessarily, where you can donate, recycle or sell. A word of warning, do not declutter for the sake of it. A new home does not need new furniture. If you have perfectly good working furniture then take it with you.

Limit your use of packing boxes

Traditionally house moves have involved filling cardboard boxes that typically get damaged in the move and are seldom reused. To avoid this and limit the environmental consequence of this, consider using alternatives to cardboard boxes. If you are using a removal firm they may send you strong plastic containers. Although made of plastic they are great as they can be used multiple times. 

If you are undertaking the move yourself, look into renting plastic containers for your move as opposed to buying them. Alternatively, a great cost-saving trick is to utilize items you already have such as suitcases, holdalls, and even furniture items. You can still load up draws to transport items, just be sure to remove the draws from the unit first. 

Another great tip when packing to keep your disposable waste down is to wrap precious items in tea towels, blankets, or even clothes. This will prevent you from using traditional plastic packaging such as bubble wrap and help to keep the move costs down. 

Don’t waste your food

You will know your move date in advance and as such you will have time to empty your freezer and fridge in advance. By emptying it is not meant discarding, rather planning your meals to use up all of the items in your fridge or freezer that will not survive the move. If there are items you cannot use then why not donate them to a local charity or food bank. 

It’s finally time to get outside and enjoy the warm weather! As you start planning your outdoor activities, don’t forget about all of the fun you can have in your backyard. With a few simple changes, you can turn your backyard into an eco wonderland that is beautiful and sustainable. This blog post will provide you with tips to help you get started. So let’s get outdoors and create some memories!

Making Some Changes

You can start small by making some easy changes to your outdoor space. For example, you can add some native plants known to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Saving Water

Another great way to make your backyard more eco-friendly is to reduce the lawn you have. Properties require a lot of water and chemicals to stay healthy, so by replacing some of your yards with native plants or a garden, you can save water and reduce your chemical use. You can also install a rain barrel to collect rainwater to water your plants.

If you have a pool, you may consider getting a pool removal contractor to remove it. Pools require a lot of chemicals to maintain the proper pH balance, and they can be a considerable water waste.

Attract Birds

One way to turn your backyard into an eco wonderland is by attracting birds. Birds are great for the environment because they help with pollination and seed dispersal. To attract birds, you can put up bird feeders and birdhouses. You can also plant trees and shrubs native to your area because they will provide food and shelter for birds.

Another way to attract birds is to have a water source. Birds need water to drink and bathe in. You can put out a birdbath or a small pond. Make sure to keep the water clean and fresh by changing it regularly.

Provide Homes for Wildlife

Another way to turn your backyard into an eco wonderland is by providing homes for wildlife. This can include putting up nesting boxes for birds, bats, and bees. You can also build a brush pile or a rock pile for lizards, snakes, and other reptiles. Creating a water feature like a pond or a waterfall will attract amphibians, dragonflies, and other insects. By providing homes for wildlife, you’ll not only be helping out the environment, but you’ll also get to see some amazing animals up close!

Planting Trees

One of the best things to make your backyard more eco-friendly is to plant trees. Trees provide shade and help cool your home during hot summer days, but they also absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the air. Trees also help prevent soil erosion and provide a habitat for wildlife. When choosing trees to plant in your backyard, select native species that are well-suited to your climate and soil type.

If you’re looking for ways to be more eco-friendly, your backyard is a great place to start. Making your backyard into an eco wonderland is good for the environment, but it can also be a fun and rewarding project. Use these tips to get started on making your backyard oasis.

If you’re looking to take your eco-friendly gardening up a notch, then look no further! This blog post will discuss how to take care of your eco-friendly garden in a way that is both environmentally friendly and economical and also talks about choosing the right plants, using organic fertilizers, and conserving water. Gardening doesn’t have to be expensive or harmful to the environment – follow these simple tips, and you’ll be on your way to an eco-friendly garden paradise!

#1 Plant selection

When choosing plants for your garden, make sure to select native species that are well-adapted to your local climate. Not only will this help save water (since they’ll require less watering), but it will also reduce the number of harmful chemicals and pesticides that you need to use. There are a number of ways to find out which plants are native to your area – ask your local nursery or look online for resources from organizations that focus on sustainable gardening.

Finally, consider choosing plants that have multiple uses – such as fruits and vegetables that can be eaten, herbs that can be used for cooking or medicine, or flowers that can be used for making homemade cosmetics. Not only will you save money by growing your own food or medicine, but you’ll also be reducing the amount of packaging waste that ends up in landfills!

#2 Soil preparation

One of the essential steps in creating an eco-friendly garden is to prepare your soil properly. This means using organic methods to add nutrients and improve drainage. An excellent way to add nutrients to your soil is by composting – this can be done either with a commercial compost bin or by simply making a pile in your backyard. You can also improve drainage by adding organic matter like bark mulch or peat moss. In addition, it’s important to avoid tilling your soil too deeply – this can damage the delicate structure of the soil and lead to erosion.

#3 The planting process

Once you’ve selected your plants and prepared your soil, it’s time to start planting! First, be sure to water them regularly (according to their needs) and fertilize them with an organic fertilizer. You can also add mulch around the base of the plant to help retain moisture and keep weeds at bay. As your plants grow, be sure to monitor them for pests and diseases. If you see anything suspicious, get in touch with pest control to come out and treat it immediately with an environmentally friendly solution.

#4 Water conservation

One of the best ways to conserve water in your garden is to use a drip irrigation system. This type of system slowly drips water onto the roots of your plants, which means that less water is lost to evaporation. You can also add mulch to your garden beds to help reduce evaporation and keep the soil moist. Rainwater tanks are another great way to conserve water – they can be used to collect rainwater from your roof and then use it to water your plants.

In conclusion, following these simple tips will help you create an eco-friendly garden that is both beautiful and sustainable. Gardening is a great way to connect with nature and make a positive impact on the environment. So get out there and start gardening!