Plastic free July
This month we are focussing on reducing our plastic use. Here are some simple ideas for gardeners who are trying to use less plastic in their gardens.
Lots of plants are now in full bloom. This is a great time to visit other gardeners and see if you can:
- swap some plants when it's the right time to divide plants
- take cuttings
- collect seeds.
This will help you buy fewer plants in plastic pots. Every plant shared gives your garden a new little story too.
Instead of buying plastic plant labels, wash and use disposable wooden cutlery.
You can find out more on the plastic free July website.
Fruits and vegetables
It’s time to enjoy soft fruits such as raspberries and redcurrants. Home grown fruit cuts down on plastic as it has no packaging.
Make sure you're harvesting your vegetables regularly to encourage continued cropping.
If you have a lot of courgettes in your harvest this year, you could make a carpaccio. This is possibly the simplest way to prepare courgettes.
Use a mandolin to slice them finely lengthwise, dress with olive oil, lemon juice, fresh herbs and season.
July plants for butterflies, moths and bumblebees
Moths get their nectar from:
- honeysuckle
- night-scented stock
- nicotiana.
These flowers will also fill your garden with perfume in the evening.
Butterflies love buddleia which can easily fit in a small garden if you plant a patio variety.
Butterflies and bumblebees love to feed on knapweed which looks good in borders and mini-meadows.
The Big Butterfly Count
This nationwide citizen science survey will take place between 16 July and 8 August 2021. You can submit your own findings to help assess the health of our environment.
Find out more on the Big Butterfly Count website.
Sources: Gardening for a Wilder Kent / Royal Horticultural Society’s Plants for Pollinators.
