Sustainability is in the spotlight when it comes to building new homes. Reducing the environmental impact is very important for our wellbeing and above all for the planet.
At Inmobiliaria Espígul, as a construction company located in Girona, we follow criteria for maximum efficiency, favouring the rational use of energy, while taking into account the environment, quality and indoor climate comfort.
In order to achieve homes with efficient architecture, we do not require products or materials different from those used in traditional construction, it is simply a matter of optimising existing resources through passive techniques.
Today we want to go a step further and talk about sustainable gardens. Having a garden involves expenditure of material resources and if we want it to be environmentally friendly it has to be designed making efficient use of natural resources and avoiding any alteration that compromises the natural balance.
Which steps can you take to have a sustainable garden?
1. Use the 3Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle.
Just like a traditional garden, a sustainable garden seeks an aesthetic effect, but adapting as much as possible to the climate and sunshine available to us.
Whenever possible, it is important to adapt to the natural conditions of the area, minimising the waste of natural resources and respecting the environment by using recyclable products.
2. Use plants and trees suitable for each climate
To achieve a sustainable garden, you need to take into account the climatic conditions of each area and choose the plants that are best suited to it. In this way you can achieve better growth and adaptation of the available resources.
Spices with high resistance and very low water consumption such as lavender, thyme, rosemary, hypericum, photinias, lilacs, laurel... adapt very well to the Mediterranean climate.
3. Make the most of every last drop of water
An ideal sustainable garden is one that can be maintained solely by rainwater, but this is very difficult to achieve. Therefore, it is necessary to implement adequate irrigation systems such as:
- Drip irrigation: requires a more complex installation, but allows large areas to be irrigated automatically with high efficiency, as the water reaches the roots directly.
- Automated irrigation: this is more advisable than manual irrigation because it allows water to be supplied in a controlled way, especially if a rain sensor is integrated.
- Mineral mulch: such as gravel, pebbles, pine bark. Moisture will be better retained and allows for better plant growth.
4. Feed the sun, not the plants
Sustainable gardening is based on feeding the sun, as it is the basis of the whole garden. The aim is to avoid using chemical fertilisers. The sun has to provide support, moisture and nutrients in the right measure to get the right balance.
If you have the possibility, it is interesting to make an analysis of the sun to guess its mineral and organic composition in order to optimise the growth of the plants as much as possible.
5. Organise and optimise
Grouping the different plants according to their needs allows you to optimise their watering. Diversity is also very important to prevent pests from spreading throughout the garden.
6. Don't forget lighting
Yes, we are talking about photovoltaic technology again. It is ideal because it is powered by the sun and requires no wires or electricity consumption. It is a great solution to put in the garden and nowadays there are lights in all kinds of formats to suit your needs and style.
If you want to know more about photovoltaic energy you can't miss this post.
As you can see, having a beautiful and well-kept garden is totally compatible with having a sustainable and environmentally friendly garden.
At Inmobiliaria Espígul we give a lot of importance to sustainability in our projects and new constructions. If you are interested in an avant-garde house, but built with maximum efficiency, you can contact us at hola@espigul.com or call us on 972 220 110.