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A more environmentally aware approach to gardening can turn a green thumb into a green advantage

Posted By: oaatf
Posted On: November 13, 2008

This November 23rd - 29th is Zero Footprint Week. An initiative of the One at a Time Foundation, Zero Footprint Week is an umbrella awareness week that invites individuals, families and businesses to take simple steps to reduce their ecological footprint, save money, and help to halt climate change.

Here are three progressive tips from Zero Footprint Week and the Australian Conservation Foundation (www.acfonline.org) to help improve the environmental impact of your gardening.

1. The First Step: Use Water Wisely
How much water does your garden need?  The percentage of household water used on gardening can be as high as 50%.  Start with ensuring your garden is well mulched, then check weather forecasts as well as the soil to see if the garden needs watering.  Lastly, make sure to water your garden in the morning or evening to minimise the amount of water lost to evaporation.

Benefit: As well as saving a precious resource, being water wise in the garden can cut your water bill in half.

2. The Next Step: Less Lawn, More Garden
Grass can take up to 90% of your garden water to keep a lush green colour.  It can also require toxic pesticides and fertilizers to remain spotless.  Cultivating more of your yard with gardens can cut back on both water usage as well as your toxic environmental footprint.

Benefit: Reducing the amount of grass in your yard in favour of cultivating a larger garden can reduce your monthly water usage by as much as 40%.

3. The Big Step: Plant Native Australian Species
Australia is filled with hundreds of beautiful and resilient native plant species.  These species have thousands of years’ worth of experience surviving and thriving in Australia’s dry climate.  Organisations such as Greening Australia provide directories of nurseries providing beautiful water-efficient native plants (http://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/our-services/seed-and-nursery).

Benefit: Planting native Australian species not only helps local animals while giving your garden a unique flair, but it also can reduce your monthly water usage by as much as 20%.

To find your environmental footprint and more tips on how you can best improve it, please visit the EPA Victoria’s office footprint calculator at http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/ecologicalfootprint/calculators/office/orgDetails.asp.