Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Garden

How to make your backyard more eco-friendly

.5 quick tips to make your garden truly ‘green’. - by Laura Barry
  • 15 Mar 2019
How to make your backyard more eco-friendly

It’s hard not to notice the impact human life has had on the environment. There’s plastic in the oceans, micro-beads in waterways, waste centres piling up and yet we continue to produce more and more waste. If you’re looking for some easy ways you and your home can be a little more eco-friendly, here are some easy tips to get you started in your own backyard. Every little bit counts.

Swap: Summer entertaining for year-round garden use

“The best way you can be environmentally friendly in the backyard is to use your area all year round, so that you get a better cost-per-wear for your items,” says Rod Schiefelbein of eco-friendly decking business Trex Company Australia.

“Consider a fire pit, some linen-covered deck chairs and soy-based candles to add ambience to an evening and keep the outdoor lights off.”

Swap: running water for rain water

“Install a rain-water tank,” says Rod. “Tanks for small backyards are available from local suppliers and will help you reuse the rainfall in your area and keep the water usage and bills down.”

outdoor rain water tank
Getty

Swap: imported plants for native ones

“Be conscious of the shrubs and trees surrounding your house,” says Rod. “Choose plants that thrive in the local environment, which will reduce the amount of water needed to keep them healthy.”

Swap: wooden decking for wood-composite

“If you have a deck, or are looking to build one, consider wood-composite decking over traditional timber,” says Rod. “A 5.4m Trex board contains approximately 2,500 recycled plastic bags, which are merged with reclaimed timber and sawdust to create a sturdy, long-wear alternative to timber decking. Long-wear and easy to clean, a composite-decking will also last longer than standard wooden decking in Australia’s harsh elements.”

two people building an outdoor deck
Getty

Swap: water-logged soil for run-off areas

“Dig out run-off areas in your backyard so that water travels downhill or out of your backyard, saving plants when there’s heavy rainfall. Run-off areas serve the added benefit of eliminating mosquito-breeding water-logged soil areas in your garden, reducing the need for pest-repellants.”

You might also like:

This is where to buy the healthiest eco-friendly paint in Australia

Simple tips to keep your backyard wildlife-friendly 

How to make your office more eco-friendly

Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

How to get the best performance from your solar panels

How to get the best performance from your solar panels

Everything you need to know about growing cucumbers at home

Everything you need to know about growing cucumbers at home

Charlie visits The Crescent Garden

Charlie visits The Crescent Garden

The best outdoor day beds to elevate your backyard furniture collection

The best outdoor day beds to elevate your backyard furniture collection

{headline}

{headline}

How to care for your indoor plants in winter

How to care for your indoor plants in winter

10 best outdoor fire pits for backyard entertaining in the Australian winter

10 best outdoor fire pits for backyard entertaining in the Australian winter

The spider-identification app all Australians need on their phone

The spider-identification app all Australians need on their phone

{headline}

{headline}

10 cutting-edge lawn mowers that will make your life easier

10 cutting-edge lawn mowers that will make your life easier

5 ways to deter possums from your garden

5 ways to deter possums from your garden

10 of the best low light indoor plants

10 of the best low light indoor plants

What to plant in May

What to plant in May

How to grow dwarf apple trees in your backyard

How to grow dwarf apple trees in your backyard

Seven of the best bathroom plants

Seven of the best bathroom plants

How to grow waratahs

How to grow waratahs

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Shop This Offer
Treat yourself to a subscription