But the entire point of growing something is to eat it. Or be useful in some way at least, considered bamboo for free canes but it sounds like it can damage concrete around it and even clumping bamboo would try and grow larger than the space I have fairly quickly due to the narrow width.
Growing food plants to eat, yes, the point is to eat.
Growing non food plants, the primary purpose is to support your ecosystem. Bugs pollinators birds etc. They rely on native plants only, and need them to survive.
Beyond that people also like the look of flowers and having them grow or thrive over time.
Good on you for not willfully growing something invasive or non native like bamboo (assuming it’s not in your native range)!
The impression I get is some types of bamboo can grow non invasively, though not native either. But would need more space to grow and may not be a great yield in the first place grown in the UK.
Helping bees is always a bonus, in my back garden I have chives and sage that both get quite a bit of attention from the bees. Also growing thyme and rosemary but they don’t seem to care for that. Poppy patch is also loved by bees, was hoping to use the poppy seeds for baking but don’t really get that much. Shitloads for growing more poppies but not very useful to eat.
When I planted the lawn (was previously concrete paved across the entire garden) I used a mix of meadow grass and clover, but the clover hasn’t really done much which is a shame. Don’t care for obsessively treated lawns, it’s a space to sit down. Not certain, maybe park grass would have been better? Don’t really know tbh, ideally want something that will grow deep roots and is never going to have artificial fertiliser or any other treatments because fuck that effort and money.
Probably never going to water it either, beyond maybe dumping not too filthy waste water on it if available. Currently got 300L combined of rainwater storage, but that is reserved for the plants I can eat.
The mixed lawn is great mostly because it’s less maintenance. The clover doesn’t really do that much as a flower, it’s more the lack of needing to constantly water or use herbicides that make it so beneficial.
Same goes for any non native flower. Yes, generalist bees visit them. It’s not helping your ecosystem though. Only plants native to you will benefit the ecosystem. The food source of non natives does not feed all insects nor is as nutritional to the ones who use it. And they can’t serve as host for any notable number of beneficial bugs. Instead, they’ll displace better native plants, and amplify bad non native bugs (which in turn will further harm native insects)
Obviously a general exception to food plants. Unless it’s a known or potentially invasive one (e.g. Bradford pears in southern US cause brutal invasives), you’re not going to really get a native food plant, you’re growing them for food not for the ecosystem.
While there are less aggressive types of bamboo, the point is it does not belong in your ecosystem. There’s better options. Also native plants sited right (light level) will require like no maintenance to keep alive :) It needs help when you plant it esp if you’ve got a drought, but that’s it. Getting a partially grown one from a native store (garden centers don’t tend to actually carry natives) is a solid strategy
Clover is native to the UK. It just didn’t really grow much in my garden. That site listed daisies though, might see if they like to grow in the lawn instead.
If you haven’t had bamboo before, can also spread unpredictably and it’s more difficult to get rid of than you expect. The varieties that tend to grow smaller are worse.
But the entire point of growing something is to eat it. Or be useful in some way at least, considered bamboo for free canes but it sounds like it can damage concrete around it and even clumping bamboo would try and grow larger than the space I have fairly quickly due to the narrow width.
Growing food plants to eat, yes, the point is to eat.
Growing non food plants, the primary purpose is to support your ecosystem. Bugs pollinators birds etc. They rely on native plants only, and need them to survive.
Beyond that people also like the look of flowers and having them grow or thrive over time.
Good on you for not willfully growing something invasive or non native like bamboo (assuming it’s not in your native range)!
The impression I get is some types of bamboo can grow non invasively, though not native either. But would need more space to grow and may not be a great yield in the first place grown in the UK.
Helping bees is always a bonus, in my back garden I have chives and sage that both get quite a bit of attention from the bees. Also growing thyme and rosemary but they don’t seem to care for that. Poppy patch is also loved by bees, was hoping to use the poppy seeds for baking but don’t really get that much. Shitloads for growing more poppies but not very useful to eat.
When I planted the lawn (was previously concrete paved across the entire garden) I used a mix of meadow grass and clover, but the clover hasn’t really done much which is a shame. Don’t care for obsessively treated lawns, it’s a space to sit down. Not certain, maybe park grass would have been better? Don’t really know tbh, ideally want something that will grow deep roots and is never going to have artificial fertiliser or any other treatments because fuck that effort and money.
Probably never going to water it either, beyond maybe dumping not too filthy waste water on it if available. Currently got 300L combined of rainwater storage, but that is reserved for the plants I can eat.
The mixed lawn is great mostly because it’s less maintenance. The clover doesn’t really do that much as a flower, it’s more the lack of needing to constantly water or use herbicides that make it so beneficial.
Same goes for any non native flower. Yes, generalist bees visit them. It’s not helping your ecosystem though. Only plants native to you will benefit the ecosystem. The food source of non natives does not feed all insects nor is as nutritional to the ones who use it. And they can’t serve as host for any notable number of beneficial bugs. Instead, they’ll displace better native plants, and amplify bad non native bugs (which in turn will further harm native insects)
Obviously a general exception to food plants. Unless it’s a known or potentially invasive one (e.g. Bradford pears in southern US cause brutal invasives), you’re not going to really get a native food plant, you’re growing them for food not for the ecosystem.
While there are less aggressive types of bamboo, the point is it does not belong in your ecosystem. There’s better options. Also native plants sited right (light level) will require like no maintenance to keep alive :) It needs help when you plant it esp if you’ve got a drought, but that’s it. Getting a partially grown one from a native store (garden centers don’t tend to actually carry natives) is a solid strategy
This finder looked fun: https://buynative.co.uk/plants/
Anyways, overall it sounds like you’ve been thoughtful about your yard space so you’re already doing great ;) send pics!
Clover is native to the UK. It just didn’t really grow much in my garden. That site listed daisies though, might see if they like to grow in the lawn instead.
If you haven’t had bamboo before, can also spread unpredictably and it’s more difficult to get rid of than you expect. The varieties that tend to grow smaller are worse.