Love your garden or balcony and want your green oasis to be an eco-friendly haven? Our top 5 tips will reveal how you can garden sustainably. You can save water, conjure up eco-friendly fertiliser or simply make your own compost quite easily! Did you know? Dole is also mindful of sustainability, for example in our reuse of waste.

 

  1. Save water when gardening

    Water is a valuable resource and one that we should treat with care. More and more people have less and less water as a result of climate change. Want to save water when gardening? Then water your plants early in the morning rather than in the midday sun. Early morning is the best time as it means that less water evaporates. You can collect rainwater in barrels or buckets and use it to water your garden. Don’t mow your lawn too frequently, as high grass protects the ground from drying out. Make sure that the soil is aerated so that it can store the rainwater. Use paving stones only in moderation. Cooking water from your kitchen is also ideal for watering flowers.

  2. Upcycle in the garden

    Natural and reusable materials are also always a good idea in the garden! Before you buy new garden utensils, take a look indoors or at flea markets. Old coffee pots can be repurposed as watering cans; flowers or vegetables can be planted in tubs and buckets; and worn-out wooden crates can be used for raised beds or for decoration. Equally creative and sustainable: grow herbs in mason jars, convert pallets into an insect hotel and use bowls or pans for bird baths. Dole also advocates for less waste and smart recycling. By 2030, waste should be completely eliminated in our salad processing plants. Dole wants to cut food waste in half during harvesting and production by 2030. In addition, all Dole packaging will be recyclable or compostable by 2025.

  3. Give bees and their friends a home

    What would a sustainable garden be without the humming and buzzing of bees,     bumblebees and other insects? These little bugs are very beneficial and need your support. Unfortunately, insects are finding fewer and fewer natural habitats or are being destroyed by pesticides. You can give them a home in your garden or on your balcony. How? Plant colourful wildflowers and indigenous plants as a source of food. Set up an insect hotel and leave piles of brushwood or stones lying in your garden. These make a perfect refuge for your little helpers.

  4. Conjure up your own compost

    Making your own compost is easier than you might think. With the help of microorganisms, kitchen and garden waste can be turned into valuable humus. This contains a multitude of nutrients for your plants. Simply locate your compost heap in a shaded place that is protected from the wind. Leave the ground open and cover the pile with earth or straw. Alternatively, use a compost bin. You can compost all organic matter, including vegetables, fruit, eggshells, plants, twigs, grass cuttings, nutshells, animal hair, tea and coffee.

  5. Use fertiliser – but keep it natural

    Chemicals and pesticides have no place in a sustainable garden. Sustainable nature fans therefore create their own fertiliser. To do this, fill a bucket with nettles and water. Leave this mixture to ‘stew’ in a container with a tight lid for three weeks. This will turn into a brew that you can dilute with water and use as a fertiliser. Spray the mixture onto leaves and flowers or place it around the roots of the plants. Pests like spider mites and aphids will not be fans. Handy to know: natural fertilisers can also be conjured up from eggshells, banana peels, onion skins or tea.

 

Plants make people happy!

 

Your Dole team