So what is Eco Gardening? – In its purest form, eco gardening means engaging in practices that promote natural growth from a climate friendly aspect rather than manipulating your garden. Certain factors such as plant and tree placement and welcoming certain insects into your outdoor space, instead of moving things around and adding bad fertilisers that contribute towards damaging the eco-environment, locally and globally.

And does planting more plants and tree’s help climate change? – Certainly, carbon dioxide is one of the biggest drivers of climate change, which makes forests one of our greatest assets. Trees capture and absorb carbon dioxide from the air (photosynthesis) while releasing oxygen in its place. And, their size, root systems and long life span mean they can do this at scales of centuries, especially broad-leafed trees.

What you plant in your climate-friendly garden depends on many factors that you’ll need to know and consider before choosing the plants that you’re going to grow.

Before you even plan a garden, you need to know your climate zone. In the USA, you can find your zone by using the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) map. In Canada, you can use Natural Resources Canada to find your hardiness zones.

Once you know what zone you’re in, you need to read up on the zone to know what plants work well in your area. The more you understand about your local area, the better you’ll do choosing the right plants. Plus, get to know your own land. Find out what plants are already growing naturally.

One way to really succeed with a climate-friendly garden is to talk to other gardeners in your area who are using these practices. You may even be able to find a professional to help you get started by suggesting certain plants to use. The first couple of years of your climate-friendly garden is very important whilst it matures and can be helped by professionals.

The best way you can make your garden more climate-friendly is to use native plants. What plants have a history of growing in your area and are considered native to the area? How can those plants work for you and serve your garden? When you plant native plants, they are ready for the garden environment, will have a good chance of growing and probably won’t take as much looking after.

Instead of planting grass lawns, consider using native ground covers that will look just as beautiful and require less care. Grass takes a lot of water to keep it healthy, as well as a lot of labor that can best be used elsewhere.

When you buy plants, go for the younger and healthiest plants that your local nurseries offer. Ask your local garden shop where they got the plants and what their gardening practices are to be on the safe side.

One way to help your garden is to also use some containers made from bamboo and other sustainable or recycled containers. Then you can move these containers to safe places if the weather is bad or different locations when the mood takes you.

One way to affect the climate in your garden is to plant trees. Planting fruit trees does double duty to provide fruit and cover, which can shade super-hot areas of your garden and protect less hardy plants.

Another key for any plants that you take care of in your garden is to avoid overwatering. That means that you should use hardy, drought-resistant plants that are native to your area so that you can water less.

Instead of using a hose or sprinkler install a water butt or a half barrel to collect rain water for watering the garden – many water companies and local councils offer good deals on water butts.

Compost your kitchen and garden organic scraps. The end results will be worth it.

Climbers such as roses, ivy, clematis, jasmine and honeysuckle are great for wildlife and for cooling down external walls. For example, plants like jasmine, English ivy, wisteria and viburnum are able to cool a building by between 7-14ºC.

Try to create a sanctuary space for you and your loved ones.

Knowing what to grow in climate-friendly gardens will not only help you save your little area of paradise from being an addition to global climate change, but it will also change the climate for the better in your garden. Grow plants native to your area, meant for your climate, and don’t use unnatural methods to encourage growth.

In this way, you’ll have plants in abundance that are healthier for you and everyone else too. Longer grass is fantastic for wildlife and great at cooling down the garden! Plants can also trap pollution by absorbing particulate matter. Conifers have been found to be especially good at this due to their smaller leaf size and shape.