Your garden is a place to enjoy the fresh air, but how clean is the air you’re breathing? You can improve your air quality by adding air-purifying plants around your home.
The Problem with Pollution
Poor air quality is the UK’s largest environmental risk to public health. It’s estimated to cause more than six million deaths each year.
Pollution affects one in three people throughout the country, but only 6% consider it when choosing what to put in and around their garden. Many plants filter air, but some are better than others. Here are five plants that can improve the air quality around your house and community.
1. Cotoneaster
Recent research shot this plant into stardom, with reports deeming it a “super plant” in reducing air pollution. A member of the rose family, the plants are great for improving the curb appeal of your front garden. The red berries can add colour to your gardens and are only poisonous if consumed in large quantities.
Cotoneaster acts as a vacuum for air pollutants, sucking them inside so they’re no longer a threat. They’re hardy plants, surviving in both full and partial sun. There are multiple types, with some working better as ground cover and others as shrubs.
2. Fir Trees
Conifers are excellent at reducing traffic-related air pollution thanks to their dense, needle-like leaves and canopy of branches. Their versatility makes fir trees excellent options for front and back gardens.
You can keep them small in pots or small planters, or let them grow tall to serve as a nice border or shade source. The pinecones they produce are attractive for natural decor but also serve as garden pest control and make excellent fire starters. Evergreen fir trees also make perfect outdoor or indoor Christmas trees.
3. Common Ivy
Ivy is an easy-to-grow ornamental plant that looks great climbing a trellis or wall. It produces an abundance of oxygen, which its large leaves pump into the air to disperse pollutants effectively.
Common ivy includes English ivy and European ivy. It requires little maintenance, and thrives in different soil and lighting conditions.
4. Wallflower
Wallflowers produce dainty blooms but are powerhouses for purifying your air. They filter volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde. You can plant them in pots or around your garden as wildflowers that provide long-lasting beauty.
5. Bamboo
Bamboo is an incredible resource for your garden. You can use it as a natural privacy barrier and sustainable building material. It’s also a solution for removing greenhouse gasses.
Research shows bamboo traps carbon emissions as it grows, cleaning the air around it. It also requires little care and is regenerative, so you can keep your bamboo for years to come.
Using Plants for Decarbonisation
By using air-purifying plants in your garden, you contribute to an ongoing effort in the UK to decrease the amount of pollutants that harm the environment and human health. With urban areas and industrial production common across the country, researchers are looking into ways to remove carbon from the atmosphere and utilise cleaner energy sources to eliminate future carbon production.
You might think planting a few items won’t make much of a difference. However, if everyone adds some air purifiers to their homes, the collective properties could make a substantial difference in the fight against climate change.
Creating an Air-Cleaning Garden
Adding the right plants around your garden can make the air you breathe safer for you and your family. By improving your air quality, you contribute to a healthier planet and a better future.
Rose Morrison is a home living writer with over five years experience writing in the industry. She is the managing editor of Renovated.com and loves to cover home renovations and decor to inspire everyone to live their best DIY life. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her baking something to satisfy her never-ending sweet tooth.