How To Use Climate-Smart Gardening To Combat Global Warming

For millions of people around the globe, gardening is an enjoyable and popular hobby. However, with threatening evidence of global climate change, that hobby might be in danger. Luckily, there are ways you can use your gardening to become a part of the solution and join the fight against global warming.

By practising green gardening, you can reduce your water and energy consumption, contribute oxygen to the atmosphere and provide sanctuary for pollinators, birds and wildlife without having to sacrifice the beauty of your garden.

Choose your plants thoughtfully

Start by making thoughtful choices when it comes to your garden plants. By removing invasive kinds and opting for a wide array of native plants, you can minimize the expansion of unwanted species. Native plants have been evolving for a long time and have adapted to extreme temperatures and droughts.

They can also help maintain essential pollinator connections and ensure food sources for the local wildlife.

Instead of planting non-native species that can outcompete important local ones for food and habitat, opt for pollinator plants like milkweed, gaura and echinacea.

Improve your garden energy efficiency

No garden can be considered an eco-friendly one if it consumes a lot of energy. By using energy-efficient products and reducing your home's overall energy consumption, you'll make a significant contribution to the reduction of carbon pollution.

In your garden alone, you can start by replacing all your outdoor light bulbs with more efficient LEDs, install light sensors and automatic timers or even go for solar-powered garden products.

The next step can be switching from gas-powered yard tools to hand or foot-powered models. With a smaller lawn, you can easily get work done with a rotary push mower.

It will take more time and effort, but you'll enjoy doing it knowing its positive environmental impact and the obvious health benefits for the user.

Start growing your food

One of the most efficient ways to cut your carbon emissions is by growing your food in your garden. What most homeowners find discouraging is the winter season that can be quite tough for many plants, but many kinds can survive seasonal changes and temperature drops.

By growing your herbs and vegetables, for example, you'll be able to cook delicious meals all year round without having to worry about having the right ingredients.

A variety of fragrant herbs and greenery can be grown on your windowsills, and if you arrange them in cute or funky pots, you'll also enhance the aesthetic appeal of both your home and garden.

In return, this can make your daily cooking more interesting and exciting. One great thing about growing your herbs in pots is that you can move them around according to indoor temperature changes.

They are quite easy to grow, so even beginners can feel encouraged to try planting some mint, rosemary, thyme, coriander, and oregano. It's a gratifying practice as well, as you harvest the fruits of your labour and share your culinary creations with your loved ones knowing you're serving healthy, home-grown food.

Start composting garden waste

Many homeowners think they need to have a sprawling garden and a huge bin to start composting their garden waste. On the contrary, even the tiniest properties can compost their waste.

All they need is a composting bin that they fill with shredded bill papers and vegetable scraps. The output may be small, but it's sufficient to use in a small garden.

With that in mind, regardless of your garden size, make a composting plan – designate a space for your bin, do your research on what it is that you need and get started!

Save on water

There are many ways you can reduce your garden water consumption which is particularly important during droughts and heatwaves. These practices can include installing rain barrels for collecting rainwater, mulching and using smarter, drip irrigation instead of conventional plant watering.

By mulching your garden, you won't only add nutrients to the soil, but you'll also reduce the need for chemical fertilizers whose production consumes large amounts of energy.

Modern, in-ground watering systems have sensors that inform you of the optimal time to water your plants, so there's no waste. And, by collecting rainwater and using greywater as well, your water consumption will be reduced to a minimum.

There are serious red flags that indicate we need to take more meaningful steps to lower our carbon emissions. With a clear, strong link between gardens and natural variables such as rainfall and temperature, climate changes will create new challenges for gardeners around the world.

Changing the world one garden at a time

In such a world, gardeners are becoming environmental soldiers and guardians and can do a lot to fight climate change through their green thumb practices. With the ideas listed here, everyone can make a difference in their backyard and community, regardless of how small the steps they take.

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Recommended reading

If you enjoyed this post and have time to spare, why not check out these related posts and dive deeper down the rabbit hole that is gardening.

• When To Plant Herbs During The Year In The Western Cape
• Which Vegetables To Plant During The Year In The Western Cape
• 7 Tips to Protect Gardens During Hot Weather
• Everything You Need to Know to Grow a Lush Lawn

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