How to become an ethical gardener

Ethical clothing, ethical food, what about ethical gardening? Do you think you could make it as an ethical gardener?

Compost Bins in garden

1. Put back more than you take out

It's important in any garden not to exploit the soil, and to do the best you can in order to replenish any nutrients taken out by crops you may have planted.

To start building up the soil quality, make sure to re-incorporate organic matter which may be lying around from previous crops/plants.

Sow a patch and replenish your plot

Not only will this add nutrients previously taken out it can also improve the soil structure.

Soil report shows we should all grow more of our own

In addition this, you can also start using green manures and making your own liquid fertiliser.

Seaweed steeped in water for a couple of months in a dark place (sheds are best) will produce an excellent fertiliser full of magnesium and potassium.

Garlic with seaweed fertiliser
Seaweed fertiliser on garlic Martin Pope Credit: Martin Pope

Seaweed fertiliser on garlic Picture: Martin Pope

Organic ways to fertilise the garden

2. Be aware of your carbon footprint

Always be conscious of what you're bringing into your garden. Lots of garden centres, for example, sell plants in black plastic pots.

Black plastic is actually unrecyclable - making it incredibly bad for the environment.

As a result, try and avoid bringing plastic packaging home with you from the garden centre and try your best to always prevent buying plastic based products.

Top tips for recycling in the garden

Instead of buying plastic pots for plants for example, make sure to buy galvanised metal ones or terracotta.

Terracotta pots
Terracotta pots are far better than plastic

Terracotta pots are far better than plastic Picture: Alamy

Even if your terracotta pots do crack or break down, the fragments are perfect for drainage at the bottom of pots, or can even be scattered to prevent slugs and snails attacking your borders.

Also, be careful with the chemicals you might be using in the garden.

Using natural methods against pests such as a garlic solution for lily beetles, putting bark down for slugs and peppermint for ants are all small steps in being able to control irritating creatures in the garden.

Organic pest control

What people tend to forget is that one harmful chemical killing one irritating pest will no doubt, as a side effect, kill beneficial pollinating insects.

3. Provide habitats and food for wildlife

Stop trying to be so tidy in the garden.

How to attract bees to your garden

The odd wildflower (or weed) such as dandelions, clover or thistles are actually very pretty and perfect for pollinators and are likely to increase the biodiversity found in your garden.

Also, try to buy a mix of pretty flowers that will cater for pollinators as well your tastes.

The best spring flowers and plants to attract bees

Whilst the ruffley roses, dahlias and hydrangeas are very pretty, they are virtually impossible for pollinators to access.

Try to plant borage, single dahlias, buddleia or foxgloves to balance this out.

Borage Alamy
Borage is pretty, edible (the flowers can be used in salads) and is perfect for bees

Borage is pretty, edible (the flowers can be used in salads) and is perfect for bees Picture: Alamy

How to sow your own wildflower meadow

Why not try to leave an area of your garden to it's own devices too.

Let your lawns grow wild to save Britain's bees, gardeners told

The reintroduction of wildflower meadows is vitally important and so easy.

Wildflowers are so important in creating biodiversity ©Garden World Images

Wildflowers are so important in creating biodiversity Picture: ©Garden World Images

Just sow a wild seed mix, water it occasionally, and see what gorgeous bees, butterflies, moths and other small insects will invade the space - relatively cheap too.

Wildflower meadows: how to create the field of your dreams

Tips

4. Recycle and Reuse

Water sustainability is extremely significant right now. Make sure to install water butts to prevent having to fill up watering cans and get the hose out.

Compost bins are perfect too. Buy a compost bin, fill it full of cuttings, leaves, fruit peelings etc and use it to vastly improve the soil structure and content.

'How much did a wet August and water butts save me?'

6. Grow your own food

Nothing is more satisfying than growing your own food and with so many self-help guides it could not be easier.

Water butts are easy to install are a perfect for water sustainability

Water butts are easy to install are a perfect for water sustainability Picture Alamy

Salad crops, potatoes, peas and beans are all incredibly easy to grow as well as being cheap too.

Growing vegetables: top tips for first-time kitchen gardeners

One pot, ten crops: how to grow food in one container all year round

7. Buy local or at least British

Buying British means that you're not limiting yourself to what the local garden centres sell.

British plants are more compatible with British wildlife and therefore are more likely to be well matched to the UK's soil types and climates. This reduces the need for additional fertilisers and chemical sprays.

Foxgloves, primroses, poppies, cowslips and honeysuckle are all perfect for British gardens.

Primrose
Primroses are cheap and pretty and will grow in the shady areas of your garden Credit: Alamy

Primroses are cheap and pretty and will grow in the shady areas of your garden Picture: Alamy

Gallery: wonderful British wildflowers

Wildflowers going extinct at rate of two every year