Using permaculture techniques, sustainable materials and avoiding chemicals are the most obvious ways to ensure that your efforts to create a green environment aren't undone when you step outside. However, by using a little forethought during the design of your garden, whatever space you have outside your property can be manipulated to provide a real asset in your mission to reduce energy usage.

 

The micro climate around your home can be modified by creating a shelterbelt (or windbreak) of trees and shrubs. Careful planting could reduce the windchill effect of strong winds on your home without creating the intense eddies that are created on either side of a normal fence. Climbing plants (as long as they're selected so as to minimise damage to the building fabric) are effective at trapping a thin layer of air against the building, further enhancing insulation properties.

 

Vegetation can also be used to keep your house cool in the summer. Leafy trees can shade your home from the sun during the hottest months, but their bare branches will allow through any light and warmth that may be available during the winter. Air is also naturally cooled by aspiration from leaves, so a proliferation of plants will further cool a garden in the summer.

 

Choosing the right kind of plants for your situation can help to minimise garden maintenance and watering requirements. We will conduct a simple PH test, identify the sunny or windy areas of your garden and work out what your soil type is to ensure that the plants you select will thrive naturally and fend for themselves. If possible, creating your own compost and using it liberally will markedly improve the quality of your soil and increase the range of plants suited to your environment. A 5-7cm layer of (sustainable!) mulch will then help to retain moisture in the ground.

Whether you're looking to improve your existing garden environment or you're starting with a completely blank canvas, Green Refurb are available to help you at every stage of the process. From designing a brand new garden to building a compost heap from recycled materials, we can offer both consultancy and practical help.