Eco-friendly cleaners

In the garden

Natural fertiliser
Turn garden and food scraps into natural fertiliser - compost! Call ARC Enviroline on 366 2000 or toll free on 0800 80 60 40 for information on home composting.

Mulch helps to prevent weed growth, conserves water and soil temperature and improves your soil. Dried coffee grounds, blood & bone, ashes from untreated wood, seaweed, sheep pellets and other natural manure make great fertilisers.

Location
Pick the right spot - plant in sunny, dry spots with good drainage to keep plants healthy. Attract birds, ladybirds and worms to your garden - they will help to keep pests down.

Companion planting
Certain plants assist others in fending off attack by pests. For examples, chives help roses against aphids, thyme protects cabbages from white butterfly caterpillars and nasturtiums lure aphids away from a variety of plants. Marigolds deter a variety of insects, and horseradish deters the potato beetle.  Ask your garden centre for information on companion planting.

Rotation planting
Crop rotation reduces the build-up of pests and disease in the soil. Always pull or hoe weeds before they flower.