Every good gardener is concerned with respecting the ecosystem in their garden as much as possible. That’s why it makes sense to try out ecological paving – that is, paving that allows the soil to breathe and live its own life.
Contrary to appearances, ecological paving does not mean paving made of materials other than plastics – it can even be PVC panels. Their distinguishing feature is that they do not limit biologically active surface, they allow water to flow freely and the soil to breathe. By using ecological paving in the garden, the gardener’s interference in the environment is reduced to a minimum – and certainly its harmful effects are limited. Check out which ecological surfaces you can use in your garden!
Ecological paving is a pro-ecological way to run a garden. The main idea is to use rainwater in such a way that as much as possible of it is let into the ground, without having to drain it away again using special infrastructure
As a result of building more and more green areas, the soil loses its natural ability to store water – and if there is not enough moisture in the soil, the root systems do not have anything to draw it from.
Impervious surfaces cause water to collect on the surface in puddles and then run off into drains and rivers, causing floods. In a home garden, this can manifest itself through drought in one place and too much soil moisture in another. How do you prevent this? By introducing permeable paving to your doorstep!
Wood chips will transmit water well – depending on the species of wood they come from, they may also have pest-repelling properties. To keep them from spreading throughout your garden, it’s a good idea to surround them with borders and mark off paths with wooden stakes, for example. If you don’t like this way of improving the garden’s microclimate, use wooden slices to form a path – the pieces of wood themselves and the soil between them will let the water pass through
Concrete can be used in the garden but in moderation! Too many concrete slabs can cause water deficits, but openwork concrete slabs with square or diamond-shaped cut-outs that you fill with gravel provide a perfectly permeable surface. However, do not try to sow grass in them – its compacted clumps also provide an effective barrier between soil and rainwater. If you absolutely want to use concrete slabs, remember about the space between them – so that water can easily penetrate the soil.
Of course the most natural surface is… grass. In order for it to withstand heavy loads (e.g. pressure from wheels and not just bare feet), you can sow it on special plastic grids. Thus prepared lawn not only looks beautiful, but also fits into the natural microclimate of the garden
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