As we move swiftly into the 21st century, most people have become more mindful of the environment and its impact on their surrounding ecosystems. Gardeners, who love the land itself, are leading the way by incorporating methods and designs that provide them with beautiful and protective landscaping.
With the effects of global warming becoming more apparent each year, and industrial pollution rates declining slower than necessary, it has become the job of each individual to act sustainably. You may not believe that one person can impact, but designing your home and landscaping while being mindful of eco-friendly methods can change the world around you.
Going green doesn’t mean that your landscaping needs to be boring. Using eco-friendly practices and hiring the pros like Malone’s Landscape can not only give you a stunning look around your home, but it will help care for the delicate ecosystems in your area. Let’s look at the steps you can take to create sustainable home landscaping.
USE NATIVE PLANTS
Choosing to fill your landscaping with native plants is one of the easiest ways to create a sustainable garden. Indigenous plants are already acclimated to the conditions of the area and require less care. Native plants will thrive in your landscaping without the need to excessively water or use chemical fertilizers or pesticides. When you choose native plants for your landscaping, you won’t need to worry about surviving in harsh weather conditions since they are used to the climate.
WATER HARVESTING
Constant watering of your lawn and gardens using your house water can result in an expensive water bill. Water harvesting is a conservative way to feed your landscaping plants without using so much energy and resources. Collecting rainwater in barrels and saving it for use in the garden can save you money and is a sustainable alternative for your landscaping.
SOLAR LIGHTING
If you have spent time and care on creating a beautiful outdoor landscape, you will want to light it up to enjoy during the evening. Garden and path lights can be an elegant effect for your landscaping, but can quickly run up your energy bills. Using solar lights and lanterns is better for the environment because it uses natural resources for power and lower consumption. Each light or string is attached to a small solar panel that collects the natural power from the sun during the day, allowing your lights to shine all night long.
COMPOSTING
Your home and gardens create a large amount of waste that can be renewed as fuel for your landscaping. Everything from discarded plant prunings, grass clipping, and leftovers from last night’s dinner can be collected and composted into a nutrient-rich mixture. This composted material can be added to soil as a natural fertilizer keeping your landscaping plants looking gorgeous.
ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT
For a truly sustainable landscape, you must consider the insect and wildlife populations. Planting wildflowers that can feed the local bees and adding a bird feeder for the local fowl can bring an extra edge of sustainability to your landscaping.
If you are interested in reducing your home’s carbon footprint and doing your part to help preserve the environment, follow some of these steps to help you create a sustainable home landscape.