Here’s What You Can Do
By now, we’re all aware of the growing environmental impact mankind is having on our beautiful planet, and how excessive amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the earth’s atmosphere is leading to global warming, which in turn, is changing the global climate!

The solution to the problem lies in finding ways to slow down the creation of atmospheric carbon and increase carbon stored in the soil, plants and oceans. While reducing energy usage in your house and using transport more efficiently makes a substantial impact on reducing emissions, gardeners can also play a vital role.

Here’s How To Do So
Preserve The Natural Habitat
If you’re building or starting a garden on a site where indigenous vegetation already exists, try to keep as much of the natural habitat as possible. At all costs, avoid clearing ‘bush’ and indigenous trees indiscriminately. A tree takes 10 minutes to cut down but 30 years or more to grow – and it absorbs carbon dioxide.

Plant Trees
Planting trees is one of the most cost-effective ways of offsetting our carbon emissions. As trees grow they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, converting carbon into carbohydrates to stimulate growth, and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere. Studies show that over about 15 years, about 500kg of carbon is stored per tree.

Plant Shrubs And Climbers
Shrubs and climbers planted against the north-facing walls of a house help to insulate it and can reduce the inside temperature by as much as 5% in summer and reduce heat loss in winter by up to 30%. In the garden, shrubs shade the soil, helping it to retain carbon. Use water-smart plants for easy maintenance and less watering.

Plant A Food Garden
By growing fruit and vegetables at home, using organic fertilisers, you can reduce your household carbon footprint because no chemicals are used, and there is no transportation from farmer to market, to supermarket.

Practise Companion Planting
Companion planting is all about which plants work well together when planted next to each other in the garden. Particular combinations increase yields, while certain plants ward off unwanted garden pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

Text and image: Home