Pollution of one sort or another is a problem in all areas but town gardens are particularly exposed to its effects because of their location in centres of population, commerce and manufacturing. In this battle between our need for the peace and tranquillity of nature and the necessities of economic activity, the front garden is the front line. Some plants can cope with the problems of pollution, while others cannot, but with thoughtful planting, the garden need look no less beautiful in a town than in the middle of the countryside.
Problem Sites
Any substance in the atmosphere that is not beneficial can constitute pollution, whether it is air-borne, water-borne or deposited directly. Some plants are more tolerant of pollution than others and it is worth knowing which these are.
The most obvious site at risk from pollution is next to a busy main road, where traffic is constantly streaming past or snarled up in slow-moving jams. Not only does the deposit from the vehicle exhausts settle on the leaves throughout the year but, if the road is salted in winter, it is splashed on to the nearest plants as the traffic passes. The solution may be as simple as a hedge of plants that can tolerate this kind of treatment, planted along the most vulnerable part of the garden to protect the more delicate species behind it.
Environmental pollution is a much more general problem to the garden. In an area with such difficulties it is worth choosing a selection of plants that are known to be tolerant of a range of unfavorable conditions. Careful selection will provide a varied collection of both evergreen and deciduous plants, for flowers and foliage, that will provide interest throughout the year.
Further Reading
LED lighting helps conserve energy, and is good for the environment. It does not contain any pollutants, and can be easily recycled.