Eco-Friendly Landscaping Ideas

The impact we're making on the environment is becoming harder to ignore and the urgent need to incorporate eco-friendly landscaping is growing with each passing year. With land shrinking to make way for housing developments, the number of suburban lawns is increasing at a fast and steady rate. There's no doubt that we Americans love our well manicured grassy lawns and landscapes. Neighbors often have good-natured competitions with each other for the grass that most resembles a golf course, but the environmental impact is as real as our desire for the perfect lawn. To achieve that type of landscape usually requires the heavy use of gasoline powered mechanical equipment and tons of pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals.

A few eco-friendly landscaping ideas can bring about a healthier environment. There are ways we can reduce the negative impact on the land and still have our little bit of suburban paradise. The key is to begin incorporating eco-friendly landscaping ideas into our lawn and garden routines on a continual basis. It might take a while to change our way of thinking about our lawns and gardens, but the results will be well worth it in the long run. Eco-friendly landscapes can still be beautiful and environmentally friendly.

Eco-Friendly Landscaping Tip # 1 - Use Regionally Native Plants

Go with regionally native plants for the bulk of your landscaping. Not only will it be easier to maintain, but actually much more cost effective for the gardener. Native trees, shrubs and perennials are so much easier to grow which means that maintenance will be reduced. Native plants and grasses are already adapted to their environment and therefore naturally more hardy. Plants that are regional natives are also more eco-friendly with the added bonus of attracting and keeping beneficial insects and native wildlife.

When we choose exotic plants and shrubs for the home landscape, they can be stressed and much more prone to pests, diseases and issues with water requirements. Of course, this all adds up to more chemicals used in the landscape and usually indicates a greater need for additional water. Check your local agricultural extension office for assistance in choosing native plants. This doesn't mean exotic perennials and landscaping need to be totally eliminated, just reduced.

Eco-Friendly Landscaping Tip #2 - Proper Tree Placement

Proper placement of the regionally native shade trees in the yard is another way to reduce the use of energy used for cooling and heating our homes. Deciduous trees should be planted on the south side of the house to help cool the home during the hot summer months. After the trees shed their leaves in the fall, the same southern sunlight can help to warm the house during the cold months. Use regionally native evergreens in strategic locations to block cold northern winds to help further reduce energy costs in the winter.

Eco-Friendly Landscaping Tip #3 - Reduce Grass and Gas Powered Equipment

Shrink the size of your grassy lawn and use eco-friendly tools to maintain the remaining lawn. Replace as much grassy area as possible with regionally native wildflower meadows or woodland plants. Gasoline powered lawn mowers can be replaced with electric or reel mowers. Electric blowers, weed trimmers and hedge trimmers can also be used in place of gas powered to further reduce air pollution.

Eco-Friendly Landscaping Tip #4 - Eliminate Harmful Pesticides and Chemicals

Eliminate or greatly reduce the amount of pesticides and herbicides used in the landscape. There are many natural alternatives available to help control problem pests. Without the use of harmful pesticides, often nature will take care of itself. Pesticides destroy the beneficial insects and upset the natural balance of things in the environment. Pesticides and other harmful chemicals leach into the ground water and pollute it. The use of poisonous insecticides should only be used as a last resort. There are also natural methods to use to control weeds which will limit the need for herbicides.

Eco-Friendly Landscaping Tip #5 - Practice Water Conservation

Practice water conservation when maintaining the landscape. Use drought-tolerant plants. This is the time it makes sense to stray from regional natives if the benefit is less water and maintenance. If watering is still necessary, do it at the most efficient time. Early morning is the best time to effectively water with less waste. Watering a lawn or garden in the hottest part of the day will cause much of the water to be lost to evaporation from the heat. Some plants are more susceptible to fungus if watered at night. Also, drip irrigation is by far the most eco-friendly way to water. The slow release of water at the soil level gets the water to the roots more efficiently with virtually no loss to evaporation. Capturing rainfall and using grey water are great eco-friendly ways to conserve this precious resource.

Eco-Friendly Landscaping Tip #6 - Compost and Recycle

Composting is one of the most economical ways a homeowner can reduce solid waste and benefit the home landscape in a very eco-friendly way. Compost is commonly known as "gardeners gold" because of the rich nutrients it adds to the soil. All of the kitchen waste materials, grass clippings and leaves that go into making compost would have to be disposed of somewhere anyway, so put it to good use. The wood from fallen trees and limbs can be ground to use as free mulch. Try adding several layers of newspaper under the mulch to eliminate weeds while recycling and improving the soil at the same time.