Urban Domestic Gardens: The Effects of Human Interventions on Garden Composition

Abstract

Private domestic gardens contribute substantially to the biodiversity of urban areas and benefit human health and well-being. We previously reported a study of 267 gardens across five cities in the United Kingdom in which variation in geographical and climatic factors had little bearing on the richness, diversity and composition of plant species. We therefore hypothesise that garden management is an important factor in determining garden characteristics. Here, from the same sample of gardens, we investigate potential associations between the uses to which people put their gardens, the types of management activities they undertake, and the characteristics of those gardens. Householders (n = 265) completed a questionnaire detailing various aspects of garden use and management activities. The majority of respondents used their gardens chiefly for relaxation, recreation, and eating. Fewer than one fifth included "gardening" amongst their garden uses even though all performed some garden management, suggesting that not all management activity resulted from an interest in gardening. Garden-watering and lawn-mowing were the most prevalent activities and were predictors of other types of management including weeding, vegetation-cutting, leaf-collection, and dead-heading flowers. A number of these activities were associated with one another, the richness and composition of plant species, and the number of land uses in gardens. However, relationships between management activities and the amount of tall vegetation were less consistent, and garden management appeared to be independent of garden area. More species of amphibians, birds, and mammals were observed in gardens with ponds and in which efforts were made to attract wildlife, particularly by providing drinking water. This study supports the hypothesis that garden use and management is associated with garden characteristics.

Composition and Diversity of Lawn Flora in Differently Managed Village Yards – A Case Study from Southwestern Hungary

“…Loram et al (2011) found that length of residency significantly decreased the proportion of native plant species per m 2 garden area. We also found less species in older yards but the trend was not significant.…”

Private Urban Garden Satisfaction and Its Determinants in Quito, Ecuador

“…In this sense, two large groups of studies can be identified: those oriented toward studying the motivations and benefits of using domestic gardens and those oriented toward informing management decisions regarding gardens and their structure and design. Studies in the first group have identified six motivations for planting or using domestic gardens: (a) to connect with nature (Bhatti & Church, 2004;Clayton, 2007;Goddard et al, 2013;Kiesling & Manning, 2010;Loram et al, 2011;Tang, Sullivan, & Chang, 2015); (b) to engage in leisure activities with family, friends, and pets (Clayton, 2007;Goddard et al, 2013;Loram et al, 2011); (c) to perform physical, hands-on work (Clayton, 2007;Goddard et al, 2013;Kiesling & Manning, 2010;Loram et al, 2011); to grow food and medicinal plants (Clayton, 2007;Goddard et al, 2013); (e) to embellish the house for others (e.g., friends or neighbors) or to meet neighborhood standards (Bhatti & Church, 2004;Goddard et al, 2013); and (f) to increase the economic value of a house (Clayton, 2007).…”

“…According to Loram et al (2011), the proportion of native plants in a garden is an important determinant of the work necessary in that garden; that is, labor demands decrease as the percentage of native plants increases. Based on this relationship between native plants and the amount of work needed, we propose the following:…”

“…Within the second major area of research on domestic gardens, which concerns management decisions regarding structure and design, studies have focused on garden management activities (e.g., sowing, watering, pruning, cultivating, weeding, and using fertilizers and pesticides), their predictors, and their impacts (e.g., Clayton, 2007;Goddard et al, 2013;Kiesling & Manning, 2010;Loram et al, 2011). Research has identified owners' environmental values (Larson, Cook, Strawhacker, & Hall, 2010), their income (Larsen & Harlan, 2006), and the prevailing cultural norms (Nassauer, Wang, & Dayrell, 2009) as variables that influence the design of domestic gardens.…”

“…H. Lin, 2013). Private urban gardens contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity and wildlife (Gaston, Warren, Thompson, & Smith, 2005;Irvine et al, 2010;Loram, Warren, Thompson, & Gaston, 2011). They also benefit business interests, particularly in the form of plants, fertilizers, garden equipment, and design and maintenance services.…”