What can I do about climate change in my garden?

Gardens are set to become increasingly important in the future. They’re great for human health and wellbeing, they can help maintain biodiversity

The variety of living organisms (plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms) in a particular environment. Boosting the biodiversity of your garden has many benefits, including supporting wildlife, improving soil health and reducing the likelihood of pest and disease problems.

and they can even remove carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere.

As the impacts of climate change make themselves ever more apparent, the positive impacts of gardens will become ever more important. Here are nine ways you can maximise the benefits:

1. Green up your outside space

Plants are one of our most powerful weapons in the fight against climate change

Trees and plants help tackle climate change by removing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. They can reduce the risk of flooding by slowing down rainwater runoff. Planting climbers on your house will help keep it cool during summer heatwaves and reduce heating costs in winter. Growing a hedge in your front garden can even capture particulate pollution, such as exhaust from cars and lorries. For more information see our Planting for the environment pages.

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2. Plant a diverse range of plants in your garden

Growing a range of different plants in your garden is great for building resilience. If extreme weather such as flooding or drought damages some plants, others will be fine. As weather patterns shift, some insects that depend on particular flowers might suffer, so plant a diverse variety of pollinator friendly plants with different flowering times.

3. Adopt new ways of growing

Green roofs have many benefits, as well as looking beautiful

Green roofs and walls can result in year–round home energy savings due to a cooling effect in summer and an insulating effect in winter. Improve energy efficiency through use of technologies and try to reduce the use of petrol–powered tools. Hiring or sharing tools is the most environmentally friendly option; choose corded electric tools where possible.

Greening balconies and roof gardens

How to build a green roof for a shed or store

• Gardening for the environment
• Ivy – the ecological super-plant

4. Be water-wise

Water butts are a brilliant solution to some of the problems being created by climate change. They help prevent flooding by reducing the load on drains during rainstorms, and help conserve water during droughts. Look for water butts with a larger than standard capacity to ensure a sufficient water supply over the summer. Select plants and design strategies better suited to your local conditions.

5. Avoid peat-based composts

Peatlands store huge amounts of carbon. Harvesting the peat to use for composts is an environmental disaster, both for the biodiversity of the area from which it is harvested, and on a global climate scale. Look, ask for and use peat-free composts. There are now plenty of high-quality peat-free composts sold across the UK. See our peat pages for more information.

6. Compost your garden and kitchen waste

Composting isn’t just great for the environment, it’s great for your garden too

Compost

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

as much garden and kitchen waste as you can. Adding home-made compost to your soil improves its structure and provides excellent nutrients

To grow well, plants need a wide range of nutrients in various amounts, depending on the individual plant and its stage of growth. The three key nutrients usually taken up from the soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Plants also need carbon, oxygen and hydrogen to make carbohydrates — their main energy source. Carbon and oxygen come from the air as carbon dioxide, while hydrogen is drawn from water absorbed by the roots. Other important soil nutrients include magnesium, calcium and sulphur. Most garden soils contain enough of these nutrients to support healthy plant growth.

for the garden. If you throw the material away as household waste, it can end up on landfill and produces potent greenhouse gases. Healthy soil captures carbon – on a global scale, soil holds more carbon than all forests combined!

7. Reduce - Reuse - Recycle - Reinvest

Adopt the four Rs. Reduce – the use of resources in your garden wherever possible, Reuse – household materials and seasonal items year on year, Recycle – your garden waste, plastic, glass and metals and Reinvest – help stimulate demand for recycled products by buying recycled items.

8. Go organic

Sharon Loxton / Severnside fertilizer works / CC BY-SA 2.0

Some garden chemicals – especially artificial fertilisers – have a high carbon footprint

As a first choice, avoid the use of chemicals in the garden. If required, use products with a lower carbon footprint, such as homemade organic fertilisers. Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Adopt a combination of good plant biosecurity

Measures aimed at preventing the spread of potentially harmful organisms (pests, diseases or invasive species) into the environment. These include sourcing plants responsibly, quarantining new plants and practising good garden hygiene.

, biological, cultural and chemical controls in order to minimise the spread of pests and diseases.

9. Beware invaders!

Please – never bring plants back from your holidays, and only buy from reputable suppliers (this means both online and at plant nurseries). Otherwise you risk introducing new pests and diseases into the UK.

Also, please make sure that you dispose of garden waste in a responsible manner. Genenerally this means either by composting at home or in municipal composting schemes. The exception is if you have Japanese knotweed or other invasive non-native plants on your property, in which case seek specialist advice.

How to make garden compost