A GUIDE TO SUSTAINABLE LIVING IN THE HOME...

SUSTAINABLE GARDENS

Ecologically responsible gardening involves working with the environment rather than against it. It considers how our choices impact on environments beyond the garden terrace and how we can develop the best possible gardens without harming the environment.

DID YOU KNOW? Pesticides and Herbicides can harm beneficial insects and native birds and animals...

THINGS TO DO TODAY

There are many things you can do to make your garden more sustainable:

What to do....	The benefits...
Mulch your garden	Organic mulch feeds the soil and prevents moisture loss
Dig compost into the soil	Improves the water-holding capacity of the soil
Plant smarter	Group similar plants together for efficient water and soil use
Water longer, but less often	Encourages root growth and drought tolerance
Water the roots, not the foliage	More efficient use of water, less wastage
Install a rain or grey-water tank	Store rainfall for later use, and recycle household waste water
Don't mow lawns too short	Longer grass is more drought tolerant, and retains moisture
Only water when necessary	More efficient use of water, less wastage
Buy native plants	Suited to local conditions, and aren't considered weeds
Install a water-saver	Re-directs water from your washing machine onto your garden

THINGS TO DO TOMORROW

Gardening is fun, and there are plenty of ways to make doing so more sustainable:

• Plant a vegie garden. This is even easier if you build a raised garden bed.

• Plant indigenous species. Native plants are perfectly adapted for local environmental conditions, require far less maintenance and provide valuable habitat for local animal species.

FURTHER RESOURCES:

Flora for Fauna, Information on local flora and fauna

Greening Australia, Environmental degradation management

Sustainable Gardening Australia, Environmentally focused gardening

The Vegetable Patch, Information on organic gardening

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The Sustainable Living Guide links and information provided have been reproduced with permission from the Manningham City Council - Sustainable Living Guide, 2004.