Designers are increasingly turning to hard surfaces and structures and only using plants at the end as infill; with this in mind we must consider what effect using different materials has on the environment.
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Opportunities for innovative design are rare.
Urban backyards offer opportunities to address environmental issues.
To create the least environmental impact a compromise must be found between the site requirements and the clients taste and budget. Choice is often led by the cost of materials, but environmental costs should also be considered.
Some questions you may ask include. Is the product imported and where from? Does its production involve hazardous substances or polluting processes? Does the company have a fair trading policy?
Many rare hardwoods are still used for structures and furniture.
Although some popular timbers mature in 30 to 50 years, a lot take more than a lifetime to reach felling stage; mahogany, for instance needs 97 years.
Many recycled products offer a substitute especially as timber is likely to rot quite quickly.
Stone, a non- renewable resource, and reconstituted stone and concrete, which involve hazardous substances and polluting processes in their production create many conflicts and are much more complex.
Re-using existing materials, such as bricks and paving slabs, is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective way of reducing the volume of waste material to be removed off a site. Other waste materials, old roof tiles, broken slate are becoming more frequently used in garden design.
Also the cost of and demand for drinking water will carry on increasingly. So-called grey water can be collected from roofs in tanks and used for irrigation, washing cars and so on.
Many people agree that you should only water your garden if you have collected it yourself. At present, irrigation systems are set up to over water to reduce the risk of under watering, this is such a contradiction of terms and will have to be addressed.
Careful plant selection can make a huge difference to sustainable gardening. Selecting the right plant will ensure good, strong plant growth and increased pest and disease resistance, which in turn will reduce the need for control as well as irrigation. Selecting plants for their wildlife value will help to increase biodiversity.
As garden owners it's our duty to give consideration to which materials we use. More thought and careful planning can go a long way towards creating a healthier environment.
