Your garden is one of the greatest weapons at your disposal as you look to build an eco-friendly lifestyle. Spending more time outside means reduced emissions compared to time spent indoors. Likewise, the plants you grow actively compensate for some of your CO2 production. If you want to unlock the best results, though, chemical-free gardening is vital.
Chemical-free gardening is simply gardening without the reliance on harmful chemicals. Frankly, it is the most effective way to truly connect with nature inside your backyard while also helping the environment. Whether you’re a new gardening enthusiast or one who has used chemicals in the past, the following tips should allow you to see the desired results.
Welcome Birds
Many gardeners resort to using chemicals as a way to keep pests at bay. In reality, though, this is damaging your plants, vegetables, and environment. Thankfully, there is a way to manage the situation without using chemicals.
Birds are natural predators of various bugs and insects. In other words, if you know how to attract birds to your yard, you won’t have to worry about the threat of insects for long. Moreover, you’ll gain the benefits of peaceful birdsong, which will add to your garden atmosphere.
When you see birds in the yard, you will want to avoid chemicals as a way to protect them too. Better still, it should allow you to avoid the stress of losing plants and produce. For that reason, this is an ideal starting point.
Use Tools
In many cases, people use chemicals to do jobs that they would rather not complete by hand. While the chemicals may speed up the processes, the truth is that you can achieve equal results with the right tools.
Removing weeds is the most obvious choice. A weed eater, however, makes light work of removing unwanted items from the garden. As well as preventing the need for chemicals, it is often a quicker solution after all, you won’t have to pour the solution before leaving it to do its work. Instead, weeds are instantly removed.
Weed eaters save you time and hassle while also stopping the risk of chemicals contaminating healthy plants. Persisting with your current weed-killing methods will sadly hold you back from achieving a truly organic garden.
Take Alternative Shortcuts
For many people, the appeal of chemicals is that they speed up various processes. It is almost seen as a necessity given our hectic modern lifestyles. Opting for alternative time-saving strategies could be a far wiser solution.
One of the options to consider is an artificial lawn. While the product itself might not sound like a good addition to an eco-friendly garden, it can have a positive impact. You won’t need to use any chemicals (or tech) in a bid to support growth or protect it over the winter. Likewise, you won’t produce emissions by mowing the lawn.
If you do take this option, though, you must ensure that you have plenty of plants and trees in the yard to make up for the loss of a grass lawn. Get this right, though, and there’s no reason why your garden can’t remain chemical-free.
Select Organic Fertilizers
Most of your living plants will need some help to grow. In some cases, it may be as simple as ensuring that they get enough water. However, many will require specific nutrients to mature properly. Whether that means a more vibrant bloom or producing more fruits.
Either way, it’s important to choose organic fertilizers. Natural fertilizers can potentially double your harvest. Moreover, it ensures that your produce is as safe as possible. You have plenty of choices, such as all-in-one solutions versus specific ingredients. Either way, though, steering clear of dangerous pesticides is vital.
It may take a little research or trial and error to find the best choices. Nevertheless, if organic farmers can make it work on larger scale land, there’s nothing to stop you achieving success with your backyard.
Welcome Bees
The benefits of having birds in the garden have already been mentioned. However, you can’t have the birds without the bees. Therefore, encouraging the pollinators to visit your yard can be a key step towards building a healthy garden ecosystem.
A range of flower types including lavender and sunflowers will work wonders. Through proper pollination, your plants are sure to grow healthier without the need for interference. In turn, you can rule out the need for chemical fertilizers and enjoy a chemical-free garden that largely takes care of itself.
Of course, bees will only swarm to your backyard in the warmer months. Still, making the most of our buzzing friends during those months should have a very positive influence on your situation.
Keep Garden Spaces Tidy
Maintaining a chemical-free garden is as much about your habits as the initial transformation. With this in mind, keeping the garden organized and tidy is one of the most effective solutions. Naturally, it is one of the easiest too.
It does require you to adjust your mindset and establish winning habits first, though. Clearing leaves and rotting vegetation can prevent problems for the living plants. Therefore, you won’t be as tempted to use chemicals as a way to control the situation. Meanwhile, it’s an extra defense against slugs and unwanted guests.
If nothing else, keeping the garden organized encourages you to be more active in using and maintaining it. So, having dedicated spaces for tools, gardening gloves, and related materials can truly be one of the smartest moves you’ll ever make.
Choose Safer Decorating Items
The garden isn’t only about the plants you grow. You also need to consider the deck, furniture, and structures like sheds. In truth, this is one area where people fall short on the eco-friendly vibes. It’s largely due to overlooking simple issues.
As well as avoiding chemicals, upcycling allows you to make better use of resources. These upcycled deodorant containers into herb gardens, for example, are an easy DIY project. Just be sure that the project itself, as well as the ongoing gardening tasks, are chemical-free and you won’t go far wrong.
It naturally makes sense to choose natural materials. However, you should know that treated hardwoods do have preservatives. Meanwhile, when using paints or sealants, it’s important to check the ingredients list. Conscious decisions will yield the best results..
