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7 positive changes to make you a better gardener in 2021

Photo credit: mikroman6 - Getty Images
Photo credit: mikroman6 - Getty Images

From Country Living

We can't wait for the 2021 gardening season to get underway and, as the days get longer and snow drops begin to appear, it's not so far away. So, with help from The Greenhouse People, how can we be better gardeners this year and adopt some new green-fingered habits that will benefit both us and our outdoor spaces?

From eco-friendly gardening to going digital, here are some positive changes to make to your gardening routine in 2021...

1. Try your hand at upcycling

Reduce waste in your garden and get creative by reusing items that would otherwise be heading for landfill.

If you’re planning DIY projects inside, think about how you can use old pieces of furniture in the garden. Bathroom and kitchen renovations mean old baths and sinks can make striking statement pieces in the garden when filled with flowers and foliage.

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Disused wooden crates and pallets are the perfect way to keep plants looking tidy. Try hanging them vertically, creating an eye-catching tiered structure for your small plants. Or place them horizontally on the floor and fill with soil to create your very own miniature vegetable patch.

Old plastic sacks that once seemed useless can be given a new purpose as they line hanging baskets of flowers.

Photo credit: eelphoto1 - Getty Images
Photo credit: eelphoto1 - Getty Images

2. Get smarter with a gardening app

Whether you’re a seasoned green-fingered professional or a gardening beginner, there are a range of gardening apps, plant identifiers and digital garden planner tools that can improve your knowledge.

GO TO LIST OF USEFUL APPS

3. Embrace vegan gardening

Growing your own veggies can save you money, time in the supermarket and cut your carbon footprint. Portable containers, crates or pots are a great place to start if you don't have enough room for a dedicated veg patch.

Invest in a greenhouse to increase your yield of fresh fruit and veg and, to save space, legumes (runner beans, broad beans, French beans and peas), squashes and pumpkins can be grown vertically. Salad leaves, herbs and tomatoes grow well in boxes on balconies and patios.

4. Make your own compost

Start off your heap from kitchen and green waste in a quiet corner of your garden – in a larger container with drainage or freestyle.

Making compost is all about layers. Regularly add alternating layers of green (nitrogen-rich) materials like grass cuttings, weeds and uncooked vegetable peelings and brown (carbon-rich) materials like leaves, wood chippings, shredded paper and cardboard, and sticks allows the compost to truly thrive.

Follow our guide on how to make compost here.

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

5. Go plastic-free

Plastic is often used in the garden and these items can take up to 450 years to biodegrade if they aren’t recycled.

With demand growing, more garden centres are offering biodegradable pots made using materials such as coir (from coconut husks), wood chips, rice husks and even seaweed. Terracotta also makes a great rustic alternative. When it comes to gardening tools, opt for long-lasting metal.

6. Save water

In dry spells, always prioritise water-use by which plants need it most, like young plants, greenhouses, hanging baskets and window boxes.

Buy a water butt to collect rainwater. If you clean your dishes in a washing-up bowl, tip it on the garden after you’re done – a little washing-up liquid won’t do any harm.

7. Be more wildlife friendly

Invite more wildlife into your garden by not mowing all of your lawn, planting some wild flowers and leaving an area of your garden to rewild and grow naturally. This will make an ideal habitat.

Pile leaves, wood and fallen branches to make a hedgehog habitat, plant pollinator-attracting plants and put food out for the birds. A healthy ecosystem will also mean less pests.

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