Many families who work hard to be environmentally conscious do so out of a love for the natural world around them. Whatever other reasons there are, it's hard to overlook the beauty and restorative qualities of plant-life. That makes the prospect of maintaining a well-planned garden very attractive to many eco-friendly households — but unfortunately, they can also be a drain on resources. If you'd like to ensure that your gardening ventures are as green as can be, here are a few tips. 

Use Renewable Resources

Rather than using taps or hoses to water your garden, why not have a rainwater-collecting water tank installed? That way, you can give your thirsty plants a drink without wasting water. If you collect enough, that water can also be used for any other tasks around the home — cleaning the car, perhaps.

Equally, if you like having lighting in your garden for a little evening illumination, consider choosing solar-powered options. Rather than being powered by separate panels or batteries, these lights draw sunlight in directly — at no cost to the environment.

It's worth mentioning that both water tanks and solar-powered items could save you money in the long run, too. Though you'll need to lay out some costs for the initial purchase, that cost will only happen once. After that, you'll see reductions in your water and energy bills. It's really a win-win situation.

Select Local Plants

While it can be tempting to choose plants for aesthetic purposes, you can do a lot of good for the environment by choosing plants that were grown at local nurseries. This cuts down on the environmental cost of transporting them and enhances the local area with a renewed supply of its natural flora and fauna. Of course, you may also find some locally-grown plants which don't originate from your area — and they're great too! So long as they're not shipped in from far away, you'll be doing a great job of keeping your garden's environmental footprint down.

Know Your Garden

If you've installed a water tank, you don't need to worry about letting that water go to waste. It'll be there whenever you need it — so don't water every plant every day. Familiarise yourself with exactly what types of trees, bushes and flowers you have in your garden and water them according to the kind of schedule they need. You'll be surprised how much water you save by paying attention to this, and chances are your plants will thrive better too.

Forward planning is your friend here. Taking the time to be thoughtful about which plants you choose, and which equipment you install to help run your garden, is the best way to set yourself up for a garden that's both sustainable and a really beautiful space to spend time in. Good luck!