Why having an eco-friendly garden has become a necessity

Having a garden and being able to tend it, with gardeners, architects, and other lawn design professionals at your disposal, has always been considered a luxury, a privilege reserved for the wealthiest people. But as time passes and climate change advances, the need for everyone to have a patch of greenery, even a very small one, perhaps on their home balcony, is becoming increasingly evident, so that we can contribute to our own well-being and that of the environment.

Contributing to the planet's green lungs with our own resources is essential today, as temperatures rise dramatically and extreme weather events, such as tornadoes and flash floods, occur with increasing frequency. The presence of green spaces, whether a lawn or a "domestic" garden, helps lower temperatures. But choosing the right plants, which are as eco-friendly as possible, is also important, because an ecological garden is the healthiest choice of all.

1. Having a garden is a necessity for the environment
2. Greenery is good for your health
3. How can non-eco-friendly plants exist
4. How to choose an ecological garden

Having a garden is a necessity for the environment

Plants are natural tools for sequestering carbon dioxide, as they are able to absorb it and mitigate the effects of climate change. They are therefore not only providers of the oxygen we inevitably need to live. Green spaces, plants, and trees are an incredible – and natural – ally against the effects of CO2. We often talk about forest absorption, that is, the need to reforest many areas to provide the essential amount of greenery to counteract CO2 emissions. However, we need not only large forests, but also domestic gardens, houseplants, and urban greenery.

Populating not only large plots of land but also inhabited areas with the right plants and trees is a natural – and most effective – way to support the environment. The presence of gardens, parks, and green spaces, in small villages as well as in large cities, is therefore essential. Clearly, not everyone has the resources and space to have lawns and gardens, but even a lush balcony, a house full of plants, and a leaf-covered terrace can make a difference.

Greenery is good for your health

However, we cannot talk only about the health of the environment. Our own health also benefits greatly from the presence of green spaces around us. Those who live in cities, for example, are constantly exposed to serious risk factors: smog and pollution. Polluted air significantly raises temperatures, making life more difficult for all those vulnerable people who suffer from summer heatwaves. In addition, pollution damages the health of hair and skin, which easily become dirty and appear impure. Not to mention, of course, the damage to the organs responsible for breathing, which are inevitably compromised for those living in polluted urban areas. There are many types of trees, ideal for planting in urban areas, that help reduce pollution because they are able to absorb it and reduce its levels.

Furthermore, daily contact with green spaces, gardens, or even simply a small domestic vegetable patch to tend, has enormous benefits for anxiety, stress, and overall mental health. Horticultural therapy is, in fact, often used in care programs aimed at both people with psychomotor difficulties and the treatment of certain psychiatric disorders, from Alzheimer's to senile dementia, from anxiety to depression, and is also used for people with social difficulties, such as drug addicts, homeless people, and in prisons.

How can non-eco-friendly plants exist

If surrounding yourself with greenery is therefore essential, choosing the right plants also makes a difference. Talking about ecological gardens may seem superfluous, because we have the feeling that where there is greenery, there is life, nature, ecology. Yet, that is not always the case.

Clearly, it is not the plants that are wrong, but not all plants are right for every environment. Choosing trees or lawns, for example, that are not suitable for a particular climate or area, will require a waste of resources, such as water, or the use of chemicals to support their growth. Having a beautiful garden, but using a huge amount of water to make it lush, is not eco-friendly at all.

How to choose an ecological garden

The first step to making a garden ecological, to having an eco-friendly vegetable patch or balcony, is to choose native plants or at least those that are easily adaptable to the area. Living in a dry region and choosing plants that need a humid climate means not helping the environment. However, in addition to the area and native plants, you must also take into account climate change and how much the climate has changed in your area. If you do not live in particularly cold areas, a always right choice is that of low-water-use plants. Whether it is large expanses of lawns, small shrubs, or plants to keep on the balcony, choosing a type of drought-resistant flora is perfect to start helping the environment, creating an ecological green space that requires the use of few resources.