Life is a Garden | South Africa |

Did you know that your garden can contribute to the conservation of our environment? Life is a garden and, as a gardener, you are in a unique position to not only help preserve existing natural ecosystems, but to create new, healthy environments for a wide range of plant and animal life.

Overpopulation, deforestation, overgrazing, bad agricultural methods which rely too heavily on pesticides and artificial fertilisers, ever larger cities and heavy industry create a relentless barrage on the earth. We are beginning to see the results of our carelessness in unpredictable weather patterns, global warming, pollution, soil degradation, spreading deserts and an ever-growing list of endangered and extinct plant and animal species.

By adopting eco-friendly methods of gardening, you can do a great deal to nurture the environment and to provide homes for wild creatures. The following measures will set you well on the way to being a friend, rather than a foe, of the environment.

Care for your soil

The key to a healthy, disease-free, eco-friendly garden lies in nourishing your soil with organic matter in the form of compost or decomposed manure. Compost and manure not only supply a balanced base of nutrients for plants, but also provide food for essential bacteria and insects that live in the soil. These micro-organisms convert decaying matter into nutrients that are easily absorbed by plants, and help to aerate the soil. Plants that live in healthy soil are able to resist diseases and pest attacks much more readily than plants that are struggling in poor soil, and therefore cut down on the need for you to use sprays. Earthworms are a good indicator that your soil is in a healthy condition.

Avoid using pesticides

If you do use pesticides, use eco-friendly types, which are easily broken down into harmless substances, and only spray the affected plants. Pesticides only provide a short-term solution to pest control. If they are used frequently, they can upset the natural balance between predators and prey as well as the ecological balance of a garden, killing or driving away not only the pests but also the predatory insects and animals which would naturally feed on those pests.

If you avoid using pesticides, you will gradually notice an influx of helpful creepy-crawlies – ladybugs, frogs, toads, wasps, spiders and all kinds of birds. These are the garden's natural predators, and, if you give them time, they will keep the pests in your garden to manageable proportions.

Think biodiversity

For your garden to reach an ecologically balanced state, provide as wide a range of habitats as possible. Drinking water for creatures, such as birds, frogs and insects is essential in a healthy ecosystem, so try to include a birdbath, a small pond or even a bog garden in your garden. Besides water, birds, small animals and insects will welcome a steady supply of food. Look for plants, preferably indigenous, that supply berries, seeds, nectar or edible leaves.

Plant trees, such as the boer-bean (Schotia spp.), coral tree (Erythrina spp.) and tree fuchsia (Halleria lucida), shrubs such as Aloe spp., wild fuchsia (Halleria elliptica) and Cape honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis), as well as red-hot pokers (Kniphofia spp.) and lion's ear, (Leonotis leonurus) to attract nectar-feeding birds. Fruit-eating birds will be attracted to the Highveld cabbage tree (Cussonia paniculata) and wild olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana). To attract butterflies and insects, try the lavender tree (Heteropyxis natalensis), weeping sage (Buddleja auriculata), ribbon bush (Hypoestes aristata) and scabiosa.

Get rid of problem plants

Get to know those plants that have been declared alien invaders in your region and refrain from planting them. And, if you have them growing in your garden, get rid of them.

Go indigenous

By retaining as much natural vegetation as possible on your property, you will not only help conserve the local flora, but will be preserving the natural ecosystem of the area.

Mulch

In all natural environments, there is a layer of decomposing plant and animal matter littering the ground. Mulching mimics this natural occurrence and not only provides food and a home to all sorts of small animal and insect life, but also provides nutrients and an insulating layer for plant roots. Mulch shelters plants roots from frost and scorching sun, and helps retain moisture in the soil.