The low impact garden

In this first of a bi-monthly series on gardening organically Dr Anton Rosenfeld, knowledge officer for Garden Organic, explains the basic principles involved in planning for an environmentally low impact garden

garden organic

The last year has seen interest in gardening skyrocket. While this is a welcome side effect of lockdown we mustn’t forget that the climate crisis hasn’t gone away. We need to ensure that our surge in enthusiasm is having a positive impact, not only on the immediate environment within our garden but also beyond the confines of our fence.

This advice is not new. National charity, Garden Organic, has been promoting this way of thinking for more than 60 years. But too often organic gardening is considered as too difficult and so not attempted. But if you consider what it actually involves it is much easier than you think!

In this bi-monthly series I will be helping you to make this journey of change.

WHAT DOES ORGANIC, LOW IMPACT GARDENING INVOLVE?

Chiefly, it involves making the best use of natural resources, and working with nature’s natural processes rather than trying to fight them. I find it a more enjoyable way to work. It is more creative, and I take pleasure in trying to understand everything that happens in the garden, even the mishaps!

January is a good time for you to plan your ‘low impact’ garden. You should use as many resources from within your garden as possible, so you are minimising the resources that are being sucked from elsewhere. This goes for seeds, soil fertility, compost, water and any structural materials such as pots or supports.

SEEDS

So let’s start with seeds. Old packets of seeds which are past their use-by date may still have some life left in them so don’t throw them away, continue to use them.