What we do in the garden has many impacts on our natural environment. In thinking about design it is important to consider if it fosters biodiversity, if maintaining it will use more water than our rather arid continent can support, if it avoids contributing to the spread of invasive plants, if it will need pesticides or herbicides which will enter stormwater and pollute waterways. Here are some tips to get your garden on the sustainability track right from the beginning.
When establishing or renewing gardens, the first thing to do is to develop a concept of the layout and what you want from the garden. Do you really want or need an expanse of lawn with beds for shrubs just around the edges? What are the features of gardens that contribute to sustainability? There’s lots to consider – low environmental impact materials, water conservation, provision of habitat for wildlife, energy efficiency to name just a few.
Why Living Trees Suddenly Fall Down
It is quite common that in winter or after big storms we wonder why living trees suddenly fall down. In June 2021 in Victoria, savage storms swept…
Prevent Pests in Your Garden
If you can prevent pests in your garden you will save time, resources and money as well as helping your garden flourish. Effective pest control is…
No Dig Veggie Gardens
On a recent trip to my local shopping centre (one of those monolithic structures so big it has its own postcode) I was shocked to discover that the…
VIDEO SNIPPET: Where have all the small birds gone?
Why are small birds on the decline? What can you do to attract them? This SGA Video Snippet takes a quick look at what factors contribute to a…
Soil as a Carbon Store
Rather than regarding soil as just a medium for growing plants, we should also be viewing soil as a carbon store. This means that it is an important…
Controlling Mosquitoes Sustainably
Controlling mosquitoes sustainably in gardens is a challenge now that many parts of eastern Australia are experiencing such high rainfall.…
Water Smart Gardening 101 Video
Sustainable Gardening 101 Video Series PART 4: Water Smart Gardening As the climate changes we need to take extra care to design water smart gardens.…
Indigenous plants for reducing insect decline
A steep drop in insect numbers since the 1970s has environmentalists very concerned. While we might not miss some species - mosquitoes and termites…
Myrtle Rust is a Spreading Problem
Myrtle rust is a spreading problem in Australia. It is a fungus, Puccinia psidii, which affects plants in the family Myrtaceae. While there are…
Green Manure
If you have a bit of space in your garden, growing green manures or cover crops is a great way to improve soil fertility and add organic matter to…
Richard’s Recipe for a Habitat Garden
Watch this space: habitat garden under construction ... Richard Rowe's ‘Recipe for a habitat garden’ is one of SGA’s most popular workshop topics.…
The Time is Now for Street Gardening
As our cities are densified, street gardening on nature strips and verges can make important contributions to biodiversity, beauty, increasing carbon…
Sustainable Gardening Champion Kat Lavers
Sustainable Gardening Champion Kat Lavers, has made major achievements as an advocate for sustainable food systems. She is a member of SGA's Green…
Heritage Veggies
What are heirloom and heritage plants? Alright, I’ll admit it, I’m a bit of a history ignoramus (my pub trivia team will testify to that). In fact,…
Catching and Storing Water with Contour Banks
Catching and storing water with contour banks is an important aspect of creating a garden which contributes to a sustainable planet. Author Jane…