Tuesday, November 22, 2011

IN Gardens


We usually associate a garden with the colour green, but is your garden green enough to help the planet? We asked one expert what you can do to help green your garden and still make it feel like a haven.


When you consider giving your garden, courtyard or outdoor area a face-lift or a boost, it’s worth taking some time to consider making the project green, waterwise and as eco-friendly as possible.


ABC TV Gardening Australia presenter, environmental scientist and landscape designer Josh Byrne knows that with a little thought and pre-planning your new space can be gorgeous and environmentally considerate. No matter how small, you can always add some greening touches.


If you’re starting from scratch or redesigning and renovating your garden or outdoor space, Josh suggests the first thing to do is consider how the design complements the thermal comfort and energy performance of the house and surrounding areas.


“Be conscious of what materials are used – that is, where they are sourced from and how long they will last,” Josh says. “Other key sustainability goals that should be addressed include water efficiency, local food production and wildlife habitat. It’s a matter of identifying the sustainability objectives early on in the design process and being clear on the desired aesthetic and functional outcomes. Like anything, it just requires a little thought and effort.


"Just because you are going for a garden which ticks plenty of eco friendly boxes, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be maintenance-free. At the same time though, it doesn’t have to suck up all your leisure hours. Decide how much time you want to spend taking care of your space and plan around that.


“Some garden elements, such as vegetable gardens, do require regular maintenance but they are also extremely productive, so there’s a return from the resources that are expended. The size and intensity of food gardens should be scaled according to your needs, expectations and capacity. Higher maintenance activities should be balanced with low maintenance areas so the net result is manageable.”


One of the things very close to Josh’s heart is the home veggie and herb patch and he definitely recommends one if you want to green your garden.


“Growing veggies and herbs is so rewarding, with significant taste and health benefits. Even if space or time is limited, seasonal herbs and picking greens can be incorporated into feature planters or pots. There are also lots of clever and stylish ways to incorporate fruit trees into gardens, such as the use of trellises and productive screening hedges.”


While you’re doing all this Josh suggests the three big no no’s to watch out for are:


  • Blanket irrigating, as opposed to hydro-zoning the garden, based on the specific water requirements of plants.

  • Dominating the garden with hard landscaping at the expense of planted areas, which help to cool the home and outdoor living areas, whilst allowin rainfall to infiltrate the soil and increase biodiversity.

  • Using timber products that aren’t certified by a recognised accreditation scheme, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Lastly, what’s one smart trick which is simple but can make a garden look a million dollars and still be environmentally friendly?


The answer is mulch. Use quality mulches and gravel surface treatments.


“If done well, this can really lift a garden by providing a neat finish that sets off plantings. Gravel areas around feature plants can be used to reduce irrigated areas, whilst mulched garden beds will help with moisture retention and reduce weeds.”


www.joshbyrne.com.au

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