It’s easy to imagine that gardening is good for the planet. In fact, from the compost we choose to use to the type of paving we lay, there’s lots that can be damaging. Even simple decisions have a consequence and knowing how to practise greener gardening can be confusing.
A new clutch of gardening books aims to give some guidance, covering everything from how to make compost to designing a garden that provides habitat for wildlife.
(I was given copies of these books in return for a fair review.)
Sustainable Gardening
A Gardener’s Guide to Sustainable Gardening by Doug Stewart is part of a series by Crowood Press that offers practical advice on a range of gardening topics.
From the outset, he challenges the idea that gardening is inherently ‘green’, pointing out that lawns are a monoculture, garden maintenance uses fossil fuels and water, and materials are often transported across the world. What we should do is evaluate every action in our gardens in terms of its necessity and impact on the planet.
He proposes a four point blueprint for all gardening decisions: rethink; reduce and reuse; regenerate; record, reflect, repeat. These are then applied to key elements, including how to manage lawns, using water wisely, choosing plants and dealing with pests and disease.
With top tips, case studies and lots of illustrative photos, it gives a good overview of the subject with lots of ideas to try.
Adapting to the Climate
A Gardener’s Guide to Climate Adaptive Gardening by Kelvin Mason covers not only how to garden in a low carbon way but how to do so as the climate changes – comprehensive greener gardening.
Some suggestions are easy – grow more plants to cool the environment and more trees to capture carbon and reduce flood risk. Others, such as constructing a rain garden, are more complex.
There’s discussion on alternatives to grass lawns, how to improve the soil, and ideas for green walls and roofs. Other topics include an examination of different ways of saving water and an explanation of permaculture, a way of growing that makes use of the surrounding environment.
The book ends with a useful plant directory of things that might be suited to our changing climate.
Individually we’re not going to solve climate change, we’re told, but “we can all do our bit and make a difference”.
Making Compost
Making compost is an obvious route to greener gardening. Keeping soil healthy is the best way of growing good plants and turning garden waste into useable compost is the ultimate in recycling. In A Gardener’s Guide to Composting Techniques, Rod Weston explains the myriad ways of doing it.
It starts with the history – it appears the first written accounts of composting date back to 2320 and 2120 BC – and goes on to explain how home composting reduces landfill and, therefore, production of greenhouse gases while the results are something that will improve soil health and water retention.
The book takes us on a comprehensive journey through the subject from the different types of compost-making, such cold composting and wormeries, to the conditions needed and the types of containers.
There’s advice on possible problems, such as how to tackle perennial weeds, suggestions for ‘activators’ to speed up the process, and information on how to use the compost produced.
It’s billed as a ‘guide’ only as everyone has their own methods but if you have never made compost, or want to do it better, this is a great place to start.
Gardens as Habitat
Habitat Creation in Garden Design by Catherine Heatherington and Alex Johnson isn’t part of Crowood Press’ Gardener’s Guide series but does follow a similar format.
It aims to show how having a wildlife friendly garden doesn’t mean having a space that isn’t beautiful: ” . . . we will show how habitats can be productive and valuable without having to compromise on design and aesthetics”.
The book takes us through the stages of designing a garden from the site analysis of what should be kept, adapted or introduced to benefit wildlife to the materials used for building and management of the finished space.
There are design examples, including a food garden and another for a city space, different planting styles, and ways of introducing water, food and shelter for animals through careful design.
Best of all are inspirational photos of cleverly designed gardens that are as good for wildlife as they are on the eye.
However you want to make gardening greener, these books are useful guides to what’s possible.
Top picture: Steps across a pond create shaded areas of water as well as a means of crossing, designed by Mien Ruys.
If you buy via the links below, I receive a small commission. The price you pay is not affected. Alternatively, you may wish to buy from an independent bookseller here. All prices correct at time of publication of this post.
Habitat Creation in Garden Design by Catherine Heatherington & Alex Johnson is published by The Crowood Press with an RRP of £20. You can buy it here for £18.19.
A Gardener’s Guide to Composting Techniques by Rod Weston, The Crowood Press, has an RRP of £16.99. You can buy it here for £14.35.
A Gardener’s Guide to Climate Adaptive Gardening by Kelvin Mason, The Crowood Press, has an RRP of £16.99. You can buy it here for £15.54.
A Gardener’s Guide to Sustainable Gardening by Doug Stewart, The Crowood Press, has an RRP of £16.99. You can buy it here for £14.35.
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