It’s that time of year when we welcome Easter into our homes and gardens. And with all the talk of rebirth and renewal, we bet you can’t wait to grow something in the garden. (What says renewal better than a seedling bursting to life, or a flower budding to fruition?) If you’re feeling inspired, try these sustainable gardening practices for a continuous turnover of life in your outdoor space.
Sustainable gardening practices to try:
1. Planting indigenous plants
South Africa is home to many gorgeous indigenous plant varieties that you can use to design your sustainable outdoor space. Not only are these plants beautiful, but they are specially designed for the South African climate and soils, so they require less watering and general care to thrive. What’s more, birds and bees love native plants! So planting a few is a great way to encourage biodiversity in your garden. (To save even more water in your garden, add Wonder Waterwise Crystals to your soil before planting. This water-retaining polymer helps soil hold on to 30-50% more water.)
2. Xeriscaping
One of our favourite sustainable gardening practices is dry gardening. A decorative display of rocks, cacti, small woody herbs, and succulents requires little maintenance and environmental resources. And can look simply lovely, especially if cascading down a sloping garden bank or rocky outcrop. When creating your xeriscape, choose a sunny spot in your garden as cacti and succulents require full sun. And be sure to mix Wonder Plant Starter All Purpose in your garden bed before planting – it contains essential nutrients for healthy plant growth.
3. Adding flowering plants
An eco-conscious garden caters to the needs of the natural wildlife that may inhabit it. When performing your sustainable gardening practices, be sure to establish flowering plants for pollinators like bees and butterflies. When you attract local insects, you will in turn attract birds, frogs and other helpful garden critters – creating a wealth of biodiversity in your backyard! (Planting a flower bulb or shrub? Try applying Wonder Colour Boost plant food for a burst of colour.)
4. Establishing hedges
To further encourage wildlife, you can plant hedges in and around your garden. Hedge plants like conifers make great homes for animals, providing shelter and a safe hiding place. Consider planting a few in your garden so indigenous birds and other creatures can set up camp. Before planting your conifers, remember to enrich the soil with Wonder Root Builder Bone Meal and Wonder Organic Vita-Boost so your trees receive all the nutrients they need to establish themselves properly.
5. Starting a compost heap
Last on our eco-gardening list of activities is setting up a compost heap. Making your own compost puts garden scraps, coffee grounds and old veggies to good use, and works wonderfully as a soil conditioner. Here’s how to start your heap, step by step:
- First, choose a spot in your garden for your compost heap.
- Place a layer of twigs at the base.
- Then add a layer of organic matter on top.
- Continue building up your compost heap, alternating the layers.
- Apply Wonder Compost Activator fertiliser every 20 cm to speed up decomposition.
- Water the heap regularly so it never dries out.
- Turn the matter once a week with a garden spade.
Read our fertiliser vs compost article to learn more about compost and its benefits for your garden.
Make these sustainable gardening practices your own
Read our article for sustainable gardening tips and get those green thumbs on our Wonder plant nutrition range for glorious garden growth.
