Top tips to help be more eco-conscious this spring

We love being green fingered…

As nearly two in five Brits claim that gardening is their favourite hobby, ensuring you are creating an eco-friendly garden that gives back to the environment is paramount.

With this in mind, a London rubbish removal company who provides a range of waste clearance services in the UK’s capital has partnered with gardening experts,1,2 to provide their top tips on creating a more sustainable garden.

Oxford ranks as the most eco-conscious gardening city, with 658 total monthly searches for eco-friendly gardening terms. Its biggest strength lies in permaculture interest – 140 monthly searches per 100k people, which is over 40% more than Norwich and more than double that of Leeds and Bristol.

Norwich secures a strong second place with a score of 615, making it East Anglia’s greenest gem. Residents are keen on composting (110) and permaculture (260), and it narrowly edges out Plymouth in the rankings, setting up a subtle southern rivalry.

Plymouth is the city with the third greenest gardeners with 606 average monthly searches for eco-gardening terms per 100,000 people. With 170 searches for composting, Plymouth residents are keen to improve the sustainability of their gardening.

Leeds ranks fourth with 573 points, leading the charge in the North. Its enthusiasm for permaculture is unmatched outside London, racking up 1,000 searches a month.

Rounding off the top five is Bristol, with 544 average monthly searches for gardening terms per 100,000 people. With a staggering 390 searches for composting and 110 monthly searches for permaculture, gardens in Bristol should be more self-sufficient with their natural ecosystems.

Top tips to help be more eco-conscious this spring:

1. Be mindful about plants and treatments

Using native plants will help reduce your garden waste and save you money as they are more likely to succeed in your space.

Remove dangerous chemicals and instead swap to more natural substitutes. Alternatives such as using coffee grounds as your insect repellent, adding dried eggshells to your soil to add calcium and minerals, or using white vinegar on your weeds are great eco-conscious options.

Brendan Anderson, home improvement expert, shares: “Skip the store-bought fertilizers and make your own compost. It’s a natural way to enrich your soil and reduce waste. Mulching around your plants can also help retain moisture, keep the soil cool, and prevent weeds. If you rotate your crops and plant cover crops like clover, you’ll avoid soil exhaustion and keep everything in balance.”

“Green manures like microclover are another smart option. They help to naturally improve soil health, lock in nutrients, and reduce the need for chemical fertilisers, all while creating a low-maintenance lawn.” Joshua Pearson, garden retail expert adds.

2. Be conscious about water usage 

“A great way to save water is by setting up a rainwater harvesting system. It’s simple, collect rainwater from your roof and use it to water your plants. Also, consider planting drought-tolerant species that thrive with minimal watering once they’re established. [Additionally], watering early in the morning or later in the evening can prevent water from evaporating too quickly”  says Brendan.

A dry garden, using drought tolerant plants like sunflowers, lavender and cosmos that can thrive in dry and hot conditions, is a great way to reduce water consumption.

3. Recycle, Upcycle and use sustainable materials 

Be creative with your garden accessories, minimising plastic use. Swap out your plastic plant pots which can emit chemicals into the soil for a more eco-friendly alternative, such as cardboard egg cartons.

Brendan shares:  “When planning your landscape, go for organic lawn care options instead of synthetic ones. Bamboo stakes or plant supports are a great sustainable alternative to plastic. Also, try reusing materials like old bricks or stones for garden paths or borders to cut down on waste. Try using sustainable materials like recycled stone, wood, or composite for your decking or pathways. It’s all about reducing your reliance on materials like concrete or plastic.”

The most green-fingered, eco-conscious cities:

*Eco-Gardening Score is calculated by summing the average monthly search volumes for key sustainable gardening terms (per 100k people), including: composting, mulching, perennial plants, permaculture, greenhouse gardening, rainwater harvesting, and pollinators.