Climate Friendly Gardening

Tips on protecting the planet by starting in our gardens.

Avoid nitrogen-rich fertilisers - they require large amounts of fossil fuel to make and emit nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300 times more powerful than CO2

Add home-made compost (about a bucketful per square metre) to boost the amount of water and nutrients that soil can retain - and avoid store-bought, peat-based composts

Go manual - buy a push mower and a watering can

Choose sustainable wood for your garden furniture

When you're paving, consider lower-emission alternatives to concrete. Made from recycled and reclaimed materials, they have catchy names like pulverised fuel ash or ground granulated blast furnace slag.

Get low-carbon outdoor lighting, such as solar lights or LEDs

Check with your water company or council whether there are grants available for water-saving equipment like rainwater butts

Recycle wastewater from the kitchen and bathroom for use in the garden and toilets. R

Discover plants that can withstand long spells of heat, including French honeysuckle, Lavender, Iris, and Salvia, and water infrequently but thoroughly, at the base of the plant