Benefits of having a diverse garden

Creating a diverse garden is a great way to create ecosystems that are sustainable and resilient. Diversity is used in sustainable farming practices such as agroforestry and polyculture. You can create diversity in your backyard gardens too. Growing a variety of herbs, shrubs, trees, flowers and vegetables has a lot of benefits.

Benefits of a diverse garden

1. Improves soil fertility

Growing different variety of plants leads to a significant increase in soil fertility because the microbial population in the soil increases. The root systems in plants share a complex relationship with microbes in the soil. These microbes are responsible for the improvement in soil fertility because they feed upon fallen leaves from plants and help in maintaining soil fertility.

2. Use up space in gardens

When you grow all types of plants in your garden you can use up most of the space in your garden. For instance, you can grow root crops like radish, carrots and beetroots below the shrubs. You can grow climbers below trees. You can grow cover crops or grass on the edges of the garden.

3. Reduce Weeds

Using up all the space in your gardens by growing different varieties of plants prevents the growth of weeds in your garden. You don’t have to spend your time pulling out the weeds.

4. Increase Yields

The soil quality in your garden improves a lot by practising diversity and this improves the quality and quantity of vegetables and fruits in your garden.

5. Controls Pests

Certain plants are more vulnerable to pests. Some of them include hibiscus, okra, tomato and brinjal. Growing these plants between herbs like basil, lemongrass, thyme and dill repels pests.

6. Attract beneficial pollinators and insects

When you have a diverse garden with many flower varieties, it attracts lots of beneficial insects like bees, butterflies and ladybugs. They help in pollination. Ladybugs eat pests such as mealybugs and whiteflies that drain the life out of your plants. Here is a list of plants that attract beneficial insects.

7. Creates a habitat for small animals

When you have a diverse garden with all kinds of trees and shrubs you create a habitat for birds and small animals to live. These animals help to improve soil fertility. Sometimes they may even help in pollination. 

You can’t create a diverse garden within a few days or weeks. It takes time, energy, planning and observation. There may be cases where the plants may compete for nutrients or won’t be able to form a beneficial relationship with one another. Observing those plants and taking note of them is needed. At the same time, you must also make note of the plants that grow well with one another and benefit from one another. Although you may fail at times, it gives you a better insight into what grows well and what does not.

To create a diverse garden, you can start by growing fruit trees and shrubs. They can provide shade for smaller plants. You can then grow herbs and vegetables together. Herbs repel pests from your veggies and herbs do not compete for nutrients. This benefits your vegetables. Finally, you can grow flower plants in the remaining spaces. Flowers attract bees and beneficial insects that help in pollination and feed on unwanted pests.

The more you practise diversity, you get a garden that needs less maintenance, and gives good yields.