High-impact, Low-carbon Gardening: 1001 Ways to Garden Sustainably

Front Cover
Timber Press, Jan 1, 2011 - Gardening - 263 pages
The environmental benefits of gardens are well-known: trees and plants capture carbon emissions, help to moderate the urban climate, promote health and well being, and help reduce energy consumption. But some garden practices are downright damaging, like using leaf blowers and other power tools, installing impermeable paving, and choosing plants that require excessive water or artificial fertilizers.

High-Impact, Low-Carbon Gardening is a one-stop reference for making a garden more green. From simple actions like composting household waste, installing a water barrel, or eliminating pesticides to more long-term investments like choosing permeable, locally sourced paving, and planting the most water-wise plants, there are hundreds of large and small choices home gardeners can make to reduce the environmental impact of designing, planting, and tending a garden.

High-Impact, Low-Carbon Gardening goes beyond organics and compost and gives serious gardeners all the information they need to make their garden truly green.


 

Contents

HOW GREEN IS YOUR GARDEN?
9
1 Improving Your Gardens Ecological Credentials
11
Water and Compost
25
3 Picking Materials for Paths and Paving
45
4 Covering Ground with Decks and Lawns
65
5 Choosing Materials for Boundaries and Structures
77
6 Basic Principles of Sustainable Planting Design
95
7 Preparing Soil and Planting
115
10 Gardening with Wildlife in Mind
163
11 Growing Your Own Food and Cut Flowers
181
12 Maintaining the Greener Garden
193
13 Incorporating Advanced Features and Ideas
213
GLOSSARY
235
REFERENCES AND RESOURCES
241
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
255
INDEX
256

8 Selecting Plants for Challenging Conditions
133
9 Substituting New Alternatives for Classic Favourites
143

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About the author (2011)

Alice Bowe is at the forefront of a new wave of designers who make gardens that are sustainably planted, friendly to the environment, and beautiful. After studying fine art at Oxford University and landscape design at Oxford College of Garden Design she established an award-winning garden design consultancy. Her writing and broadcasting credits include The Times, the Garden Design Journal, Gardens Illustrated and the BBC Chelsea Flower Show team.

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