GO GREEN WITH GARDENA
Author, grower and GARDENA ambassador Huw Richards has ten tips for sustainable gardening
GARDENA aims to inspire passionate gardeners from around the world to care for their gardens while caring for the planet. But sustainable gardening doesn’t have to mean drastic changes, as GARDENA ambassador, YouTube sensation and passionate gardener Huw Richards explains. Huw shares his top ten tips for greener gardening, which can be as simple as making your own plant labels rather than buying them new, or reducing the amount of water your garden uses through water-saving irrigation.
1
Use local resources
Our local communities are the perfect place to start when it comes to finding free, organic matter to help build up our compost. Waste coee grounds, leaves, cardboard and vegetable peelings are all incredible ingredients that can be used to make nutrient-rich compost. Try reaching out to local cafés, restaurants and community groups.
2
Make every drop count
As we saw last year, our summers are becoming longer and drier. Droughts were prevalent in the UK in 2022 and hosepipe bans were introduced across much of the country. Using ecient irrigation tools, such as the GARDENA Micro-Drip System, either side of the intense, midday sun will help reduce water loss from evaporation, while delivering water directly to plants’ roots, where it’s needed most.
3
Turn weeds into plant feed
Make your own multi-purpose plant feed to give your plants vital nutrients to help them thrive. ‘Weeds’ such as nettles, dandelions, dock and thistles are perfect ingredients, so rather than throwing them away, put them to good use. Simply leave the weeds to steep in water, as you would when making fertilisers from comfrey leaves. Dilute the resulting concentrated liquid with water and use your GARDENA Pressure Sprayer for even distribution and hydration.
4
Make your own plant labels
Save empty yoghurt pots and icecream tubs to turn into plant labels for seedlings. Clean them, cut into strips and write on them with permanent marker.
5
Mulch garden borders
Rather than spending money on bags of mulch, use grass clippings instead. They are great because they break down, putting organic, natural nutrients back into the soil, while retaining moisture and helping to suppress weeds.
6
Capture rainwater
Not only is rainwater free, it is much better for your plants because it is lower in calcium than tap water. I usually capture rainwater in IBC tanks, which can also double up as a trellis to support peas and runner beans, disguising the container. If you have a water butt or barrel, the GARDENA Battery Rainwater Pump is perfect for transporting water from the butt to the hose, which you can then connect to a sprinkler or sprayer to water your outside space.
7
Grow more perennials
More sustainable than resourceintensive annual bedding, perennials are plants that keep on giving. In the vegetable garden, choosing perennial crops means harvests that get better year on year. Rhubarb, asparagus, artichokes and perennial herbs such as mint and oregano are just a few excellent choices.
8
Waste not, want not
Use cardboard toilet rolls as pots to start o your peas and beans and then transplant them, pot and all, once they’re big enough – the cardboard will simply break down into the soil. Old newspapers can also be shaped into pots using a pot making tool, while pieces of cardboard can be laid at the base of raised or no-dig vegetable beds to help suppress weed growth, or shredded and added to the compost heap.
9
Grow winter vegetables
Grow plenty of winter vegetables like leeks, swede, and cabbage, and reduce the need for imported crops that clock up
the food miles. These tough vegetables require virtually no care over the winter months but will provide you with lots of fresh produce, perfect for making winterwarmer soups and casseroles.
10
Swap seeds
Go to local seed and plant swaps to swap with local growers rather than buying new from the garden centre. Plants will usually come in reused plastic pots rather than new ones, and those grown from the seed of healthy, productive, local plants could be better suited to your garden’s conditions. You might also meet some fellow passionate gardeners and swap tips!
For more sustainable gardening advice, head to gardena.com/uk and for more garden inspiration and tips follow @gardena_uk on Instagram and Gardena.UK on Facebook.