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About Gardening
Be a responsible gardener
and never use chemical-based treatments in your garden
When choosing gardening services please consider the environmental nature
of how you manage your garden.
Neat and tidy
gardens can be environmentally unfriendly places. Some of us treat them
like an extension of the inside of our home - the flowers in sterile beds
are like ornaments on dusted shelves, while the manicured lawn represents
the neat vacuumed carpet. Regimented arrangements of one colour co-ordinated
plants won't attract a natural mix of insect species. To top it all, fads
and fashions of slabs, shingle and decking are bleak, unapproachable terrain
for garden visitors.
Wild bird populations have decline more than 60% in the last 20 years,
so manage your garden in a fashion that will allow birds to feed and nest.
Always try and plant garden flower species that are native to your area.
Don't introduce non-native plants that can overrun the local environment.
There is no such thing as a "weed". Wild flower is the correct
term and many of these can be a beautiful asset to any garden. Consult
wild flower books and plant seeds appropriate for your area and soil conditions.
The more wild flowers the better, as many are now becoming extinct.
When planting flowers
and shrubs unnatural uniformity can lead to flora infestations such as
aphids (greenfly etc.) Aphids are part of the diet of ladybirds, hover
flies and many other garden insects. Pesticides will also kill these welcome
inhabitants leading to a spiralling imbalance of the natural environment
in your garden. Never use pesticides or grass feeds on lawns as these
will be absorbed by worms and ultimately kill birds and their young which
ingest them. Various species of plants (usually yellow) will attract aphid
eating insects, so plant these adjacent to shrubs which are at risk of
infestation.
Natural ground
coverage is important in your garden so leave plants to decay and rot
down after flowering. Without decaying foliage such as fallen leaves and
long grassy areas, the ground cannot regenerate its nutrients or sustain
important insect life. If left, the seeds of dead flowers, also provide
food for bird life. But since humans have destroyed so much of their natural
food source, wild birds are now more dependent on us for food than ever
before. So whenever possible leave out bird seed and grain, crushed peanuts
etc. (not bread as this can choke and kill baby birds). Look after your
garden naturally and you will be rewarded with a lush and vibrant habit
for all to enjoy, all year round. Also see How
To Build A Wildlife Garden
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Gardening
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