Tips for a nature- and water-friendly garden

1. Remove the tile, plant it in

Having fewer tiles in your garden has many advantages: rainwater can sink into the soil and replenish the groundwater. When rainwater falls on planted soil instead of tiles, it goes directly into the ground and does not have to be drained via a drain and the sewer system. This helps prevent flooding and keeps your garden cooler on hot days.

A green garden is also better for birds, butterflies, bees, and other animal species.

Tip

Take this measure together with your neighbors so that you can share the costs and maintenance.

2. Disconnect the downspout from the sewer

By disconnecting the downspout, the water can be collected in the garden via a gutter or stored in a pond or infiltration facility. Does your garden border a ditch? Then you can drain the water into this ditch via a trench, allowing the soil to slowly absorb some of it along the way.

3. Rain barrel

Once you have disconnected the downspout, you can collect and store rainwater in a rain barrel. You can then use it later to water your plants, for example. A rain barrel can be placed on a balcony or in a garden. Make sure you have an overflow, preferably one that flows into the garden via an open gutter.

4. Open gutter

An open gutter can channel rainwater to a ditch, pond, or gravel strip. Open gutters offer opportunities in the garden, for example, for children to play. They can also greatly enhance the appearance of the garden.

Tip

Take this measure together with your neighbors so that you can share the costs and maintenance.

5. Height differences in the garden

By creating differences in height in the garden, you ensure that some areas always remain dry and that water can remain in other areas during heavy rainfall. The patio and other areas of the garden where water should not remain can be laid slightly higher. In the slightly lower, unpaved areas of the garden, water can remain for a while after a heavy downpour and gradually sink away.

6. Green yard fence

Instead of wooden fences, you can also plant hedges and shrubs as boundary markers. Green boundary markers, such as hedges and shrubs, provide shelter and food for many species of birds and insects. They also help to keep the garden cool and are good for water management. Of course, you can also choose edible berry bushes that you can eat yourself.

7. Planting

Choose perennials that suit your garden. Take into account light, shade, damp, and dry areas. See what works well for your neighbors. Then it will probably work well in your garden too. This will give you a garden that requires little maintenance.

Tip

Choose native plants that are suited to the soil. Then watering will not be necessary very often.

8. Rainwater ponds

Would you like a pond as a rainwater buffer? Then make sure you have sloping, planted, green banks. The banks will then continue to look attractive even with varying water levels and, due to the differences in moisture, will provide a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Tip

Use rainwater for your fountain and pond.

9. Green roofs

Green roofs have many positive effects. They store rainwater, keep the room below cool, increase biodiversity in the living environment, bind particulate matter, and look attractive. Green roofs are, as it were, an extension of your garden, but at height. Green roofs provide space for plants, thereby providing nectar and shelter. This creates a beautiful new habitat for birds, butterflies, bees, and other insects.

10. Gravel strips

Gravel and crushed stone can be used for driveways, garden paths, and terraces. The advantage is that it allows water to drain through better than stones. The disadvantage is that it requires more maintenance. It needs to be replenished and raked from time to time.

11. Water-permeable paving

Sometimes paving is necessary, for example for terraces, garden paths, and driveways. Water-permeable paving is therefore a smart option. Rainwater can sink into the soil and replenish the groundwater. The rainwater does not then need to be drained away via a drain and the sewer system. This helps to prevent flooding on the street and in the garden during heavy rainfall. You also create more space for natural soil life, thereby increasing biodiversity. And finally, your garden stays cooler.

12. Shelters and feeding places

Insect hotels, nesting boxes, a few old branches, and a hedge provide shelter for butterflies, insects, birds, hedgehogs, and toads. A bird feeder, flowers, and a compost heap provide food.