co2 climate change & plants

[orangeshoebox]

clearing out the garden today.
russian vine, wisteria, virginia creeper.

got me thinking - which plants are best for 'catching' co2?
is there something out there (studies, papers) I can read up on?

I think trees are best (based on all the recent news coverage). I found this: www.thoughtco.com/which-trees-offset-global-warming-1204209

I remember also reading something about large leafed plants being better, but not sure why/if that is true.

I would say, at a very small, local level, you may be better off focussing on plants that encourage biodiversity. I have started planting brassica in my garden that I leave to the cabbage whites. Their numbers have been steadily declining. Lots of flowering plants are good for bees, butterflies, etc. The RHS website is good for telling you which plants are bee-friendly.

Good luck!

the garden is small, so tall trees are not really possible.
have a couple of evergreen shrubs/trees though.
but have heard (not sure where) that trees/shrubs that lose their foliage are better for co2 binding.
I would love to read more about it.

the threads about neighbours wanting others to cut down their trees make me sad

Hemp is a fantastic sink for CO2. Can grows from seed to 6 meters tall in a single season. Tough fibers to turn into cloth and rope, seeds for iol and nutrition, and biomass for animal feed. Also fixes nitrogen in the soil and because it grows so fast crowds out weeds, so reducing the need for weedkillers.

Probably better you don't try and grow some though - the law trumps the planet at all costs.

Trees and grasslands... the best is a mixture of both, ie silviculture.

www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/13/pigs-radical-farming-system-trees-climate-crisis

On a home level, you could plant a forest garden... fruit and nut trees and shrubs. The key is to have plants at different heights. Introduce livestock, eg hens and bees. That way, you're not only sequestering carbon, you're also reducing your demand for imported foodstuffs and their associated emissions. If you have extra room, you could also plant some hazel to coppice and provide carbon neutral firewood. Get hold of a book on permaculture and have a read.

I only have a small garden (1500 square feet between back and front, and that includes two patio areas and a lot of crappy annoying lawn that I'll be getting rid of as soon as I can persuade DH) and I have 10 trees: apple, quince, almond, cherry, contorted hazel, eucalyptus, cherry blossom, rowan, holly and sweet gum. I reckon there's room for at least one more, and there's still enough sun for sun-loving plants as well. None of them are big trees.

When I win the euromillions I'm going to buy a big lump of land and make an Irish version of the farm in that Guardian article. It's so satisfying just to read about it. It sounds so right.