How to create a sustainable garden?
The issue of biodiversity is now at the heart of many projects. It is no longer possible to deny the importance of personal choices in supporting biodiversity on a large scale. Without going into lengthy explanations of why biodiversity and garden sustainability are important, I’d like to list here a few tips and key points that can be put into practice when designing a garden.
Keep soil as permeable as possible
Avoid large impermeable surfaces to let rainwater soak into the ground. Having large concrete surfaces often forces us to evacuate rainwater into the sewers instead of letting it infiltrate into the ground. And yet, we are facing increasing problems of drought and depletion of water resources. That’s why it’s essential to keep it in the ground, or at least recover it for later use (watering plants, toilets, etc.).
Plenty of planting
Maximizing planting areas offers many advantages:
- The plantations are a haven for small animals, amphibians, birds and insects.
- They protect the soil from cold, heat and drought. This keeps the soil healthy and alive.
- Flowers and berries are a nourishing buffet for pollinators and birds. And even some mammals. The greater the diversity of plants, the greater the diversity of insects and animals.
- Plants change with the seasons. It’s a picture that evolves from season to season, year to year. A simple lawn or paved terrace remains the same all year round.
- Plants and flowers are what give life to a garden. They fill it up and give it a soul. Without plants, the result is sterile and empty.
- Planting areas are permeable zones that maximize the absorption and retardation of water in the soil.
Choose plants that are varied and adapted to your needs!
The choice of plants is also very important in supporting the survival of certain insects. Insects are sometimes dependent on a single plant. If that plant is not sufficiently available in their environment, their survival will be severely affected. That’s why, when selecting plants, we favour those that are indigenous and adapted to the location. This will not only ensure that the plants thrive in this location, but also help native insects to feed.
Having a varied palette of plants and flowers also ensures staggered flowering throughout the year.
We also pay particular attention to the use of plants adapted to the soil and the environment. There’s no point in using plants that aren’t adapted to the soil, which will have to be replaced every year, or regularly maintained with inputs.
Concretely
There are plenty of options available today to give nature and the environment that little extra boost. I’d be delighted to help you make realistic choices that are best suited to your garden and your family’s daily reality.