Sustainable landscaping is the practice of working with nature to sustain its local plants and wildlife. It means conserving as much water as possible and working to improve the quality of the water and air around your landscape.
Instead of working to make your garden look as beautiful as possible. Sustainable landscaping is more about practicality, plant sustainability, and maximizing the value of your garden to the environment. This doesn’t mean your garden has to be or will be ugly. A sustainable garden and landscape are just as beautiful as non-sustainable gardens.
By making sustainable landscaping changes, you will be helping the environment regain its health, saving and reducing the wastage of natural resources, and saving some precious time and money! These are some easy sustainable landscaping tips to get you started
Plant Natives
Sustainable landscaping starts with knowing what to plant in your garden. Plants native to your locality and region are the most sustainable choice of plants you can grow.
Native plants require the least amount of effort and resources to thrive. Native plants are used to and are suited to growing in the climate, weather, and soil of your region. Native plants are also compatible with and provide local wildlife and insects shelter and food
Minimize Water Usage And Wastage
Minimizing water use and wastage is another critical part of sustainable landscaping, especially if your area or locality is drought-prone. Instead of watering your plants and crops with a garden hose or a sprinkler, try installing a drip irrigation system.
A drip irrigation system minimizes water waste and trickles small amounts of water directly to where it is needed. You could also try using collected rainwater to water your plants. A rain barrel and a barrel collecting roof runoff could help you reduce the amount of water you waste.
Don’t Stop At Just A Grassy Lawn
You might love the look of a lush, green, grassy lawn, but you can do so much more to improve the sustainability of your garden than just having grass. Consider adding small shrubs and trees to provide food and shelter to wildlife and birds. A small pond or birdbath is also great if you want to listen to the sounds of birds chirping early in the morning. Instead of covering the soil in mulch, add shrubs, pebbles, logs, and flowers.
Organic Gardening
Going organic is also a vital part of sustainable gardening. The chemicals in the pesticides and fertilizers we use in our gardens cause a lot of harm to both humans and nature. Chemicals from pesticides and fertilizers are also known to contaminate nearby waterways making the water undrinkable for humans and animals.
Using fewer or no chemicals will also mean healthier food for your family. Try to forego chemical solutions whenever possible; instead, opt for organic or natural solutions.
Encourage Wildlife And Biodiversity
Biodiversity is key in maintaining a natural balance of species in our environment. It would be best if you changed your landscape to be as accommodating to wildlife and biodiversity as possible.
Having a wide range of species of birds, insects, and mammals will not only make your garden lively and beautiful, but it will also be beneficial to the environment. Biodiversity helps provide a natural balance amongst species and makes your soil healthier.
Your pests will have natural predators to help contain pest populations. Grow wildflowers and fruit trees to encourage bees and pollinators to your garden. Create nesting space for birds or set up a few birdhouses. Also, letting your weeds grow out a little can help with increasing the biodiversity of your garden.