Gardens

Secret Gardens

Ground screws: an eco-friendly alternative to concrete foundations

Concrete is an absolutely essential material for the building industry and it's unlikely a future Shard or the Burj al Arab will ever sit on ground screws. But the manufacturing of cement to make concrete accounts for five cent of global CO2 emissions and it ranks third in the production of manmade CO2 emissions worldwide after transport and energy generation; and as such there is a need to use alternatives to concrete foundations for smaller building projects.

Garden to reduce your carbon footprint

Grow your fruits and vegetables

Winter shrubs with lovely berries

Head to your nearest garden centre and load up on berry-laden shrubs.

Skimmia: an evergreen shrub that adds a touch of elegance to any garden, even in the middle and winter. It produces clusters of fragrant flowers in spring, followed by vibrant red or white berries that persist throughout the autumn and winter months. Skimmia is ideal for shady spots and can be grown in containers or as a hedge. They are low-maintenance and can tolerate a variety of soil conditions, so ideal for a beginner gardener.

When the rain comes...water plants with rainwater

When it comes to looking after plants, everyone knows they need sunlight and water. However, some people may not understand the vast benefits rainwater brings to plants. Although (in normal times) it's easy to water the garden using tap water, water from a tap is treated with chemicals that may stunt the growth of certain plants. Rainwater, on the other hand, doesn’t need to be treated before use, it can be used for in as well as outdoor plants, and it's free!  Here's short guide to rainwater and why it's excellent for your garden. So get rain dancing folks...

Rugs for the garden

Fab Habitat recycled plastic rugs are eco friendly and long lasting. They are also recyclable. NOW Carpets has launched its own range of designer rugs made from recycled polyester yarn, made in India. Tags: garden, eco friendly, recycled, craft, sustainability, decoration

Garden tasks that don't need hours of your time

Gardens are long-term projects and the key to their success is to maintain small jobs often and be patient with results. Instead of feeling overwhelmed at the upkeep, enjoy being outside with tasks that take anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes. And if you decide to grow a vegetable garden or plant fuchsias, don’t do everything in one day. Taking your time means the process can be more enjoyable, says Calum Maddock, garden expert at Home How (.co.uk). 

1. Prune hedges

Top Storage Ideas For Your Garden

storage ideas for your garden in Brighton. choose outdoor furniture with storage built in https://www.boisdessusboisdessous.com/banc-de-jardin/444-banc-coffre-en-...

Kitchen compost bins: get composting and grow your own

You'd probably have a fit if you saw a family member put a tin can, newspaper or plastic drinks bottle into the 'normal' (ie destined for landfill) kitchen bin. But do you explode in green-faced exasperation if you see someone put some tangerine peel, teabags or eggshells into that same bin?

If yes, enjoy a metaphorical pat on the back.. you can pass go and move on to another article.

But if the answer is 'er, no..why would I?' well, if we can be so bold, you need to read on...

Easy green gardening

Whether you're fortunate enough to have a large garden, or just have space for a few window boxes, it's really important we do our bit for biodiversity. That flower filled pot on your windowsill can help bees and butterflies, and having as many plant filled containers as possible on your balcony can help lower temperatures inside and out! 

Gardening isn't a particularly cheap activity so plan what you need to do and have the word eco top of mind. There are a few key 'rules' which most of us know ...so to reiterate:

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