Climate-Friendly Gardening

Water butts, native flowers

Introduction

Private gardens make up a large proportion of green space in towns and cities across the UK. Together they can provide valuable habitats for wildlife, help manage rainwater and contribute to cooling urban areas during hotter summers. With climate change bringing more extreme weather, gardens can play an increasingly important role in supporting biodiversity and helping communities adapt.

This advice note outlines some simple ways residents can make their gardens more climate-friendly and provide links to further guidance and useful resources.

Start with Planting for Wildlife

Gardens can provide food and shelter for birds, insects and pollinators. One of the simplest ways to make a garden more climate-friendly is to choose plants that support wildlife.

• Plant native flowers that support bees and butterflies

• Leave parts of the garden unmown to support wildflowers and insects

• Plant trees, shrubs or hedges where possible

• Avoid pesticides that harm insects

More information: https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration/get-gardening/climate-change-garden

Manage water in your garden

Water management is also becoming increasingly important as climate change brings heavier rainfall and longer dry periods. Gardens can help manage water naturally.

• Install water butts to collect rainwater

• Use permeable surfaces instead of paving

• Create ponds or rain gardens

• Use mulch to retain soil moisture

More advice: https://www.climatechangegarden.uk/

Improve soil health

Healthy soil forms the foundation of a thriving garden and helps support both plant growth and biodiversity.

• Compost garden and food waste

• Avoid peat-based compost

• Add organic matter to improve soil structure

• Reduce soil disturbance

Design for a changing climate

Gardens can also help neighbourhoods adapt to warmer temperatures and more extreme weather.

• Increase tree and plant cover to provide shade

• Grow climbing plants on walls

• Choose drought-tolerant plants

Small changes make a difference

Even small changes in the way gardens are managed can make a positive impact. Planting more greenery, reducing paved areas, creating habitats for wildlife and using water carefully can all help make gardens more resilient to climate change.

Across the UK, millions of gardens together form an important network that can support biodiversity and help communities adapt to a changing climate.