Website of the UK government
Please note that this website has a UK government accesskeys system.
Main menu
Page menu
Environment and greener living
Greener gardens: a quick guide
Gardening can benefit the environment - for example, by creating spaces for wildlife or producing food which hasn’t had to travel. However, not everything you do in the garden is good for the environment. Here are a few steps you can take to make your garden greener.
1. Ditch the peat
Buying peat-free
Peat-free products are widely available at high street stores and garden centres. Check that the bag says “peat-free” or ask an assistant
Help protect environmentally precious peat bogs by choosing peat-free mulches, soil improvers and fertilisers that are just as good or better than peat.
2. Use pesticides responsibly and only as a last resort
Some pesticides can harm people, wildlife and the environment, so only use them as a last resort – work with nature to control pests and weeds instead.
3. Get a water butt
Thousands of litres of water fall on the average rooftop every year. You can easily save on mains water by collecting some of this to use on your garden. Water companies and councils often sell water butts at subsidised prices.
4. Compost garden and kitchen waste
A third of people in the UK who have a garden say they compost garden or kitchen waste
Start a compost heap or get a compost bin and put your kitchen waste to good use in your garden. Alternatively, find out how to dispose of it with your local council so they can compost it.
5. Welcome wildlife
Encourage invertebrates, such as insects, and other animals by creating a variety of places for them to live and providing sources of food when you plan your garden. For example, flowering plants that offer nectar and pollen will attract bees, butterflies and other insects, and trees and shrubs that produce berries will help feed birds.
6. Pull on a pullover
Put on an extra layer when it gets cold outside rather than using an outdoor heater. Heaters are very energy-hungry, producing high levels of carbon emissions, which contribute to climate change.
7. Choose your wood carefully
Look for labels on timber, or wood products like sheds and garden furniture, that show they have been produced sustainably. Common labelling schemes include the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC).
8. Reclaim and recycle
Give old timber, metal and plastic a new lease of life by buying decking, planters and garden ornaments made out of reclaimed materials. Use your imagination and turn old containers of all kinds into unusual plant pots.
9. Choose your charcoal
Make sure the charcoal you use on your barbecue comes from sustainably managed forests: look for labels from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), or other forest certification schemes.
10. Make a pond
It’s surprisingly easy to do – and ponds are a haven for frogs, toads, newts, dragonflies and other insects.
11. Grow your own
Growing just a little bit of your own produce can help reduce the environmental costs of packaging and transporting food.
Additional links
Do it online
Calculate your carbon footprint!
Try the ACT ON CO2 calculator and find out how you can help tackle climate change
Access keys
