You can use various methods to enhance sustainable landscaping in your garden. From letting plants thrive wildly to collecting rainwater for garden hydration, here are some starting tips.
Hold Back Erosion
Holding back erosion is virtual for a few reasons. It adds chemicals to rainwater runoff, can kill fish by clogging their gills, and destroys aquatic habitats. Now you might think that standard erosion control means building ugly dams and barriers that reduce how your garden looks. But this isn’t the case. You can use reclaimed sleepers from railways as retaining walls, install dry creek beds, and crate terrace gardens. These will boost your sustainability and curb appeal.
Let Native Plants Grow
Conserving water is vital for a thriving garden, especially if you live somewhere hot and/or arid. So it helps to use as many native plants as possible when designing your garden. You see, native plants have deeper roots that source water from a further depth, making rainwater more available to other plants. They are also less resistant to the adverse effects of native weather. And any local wildlife is attracted to native plants naturally for food, shelter, and water.
Lawn Alternatives for Sustainable Landscaping
Well-kept lawns are stunning. But they aren’t the most sustainable part of a home and aren’t very eco-friendly. But you can consider permeable alternatives that help water penetrate soil:
- Pea gravel: this is durable with excellent drainage and is easy to maintain.
- River rock: helps soil absorb excess water by preventing runoff and packs in soil.
- Interlocking pavers: help trap harmful solids while maintaining rainwater penetration.
These are all permeable surfaces that provide a steady runoff and irrigation of water into the soil below. All are also remarkably sustainable, cost-effective, and very easy to keep in good shape.
Harvest the Rainwater
Sustainability extends to making the most of what nature gives us. And in most places, it gives us plenty of rain. You can conserve a lot of water by installing a rainwater harvesting station in your garden. You can then use this water to hydrate your crops, plants, and herbs. This means far less water from a mains pipeline is used. As a result, you help reduce the resources required to get it to you, and you can also save some money along the way with lowered water bills.
Improve Energy Efficiency
Your approach to energy also goes a long way with your landscaping and sustainability. The overall design can either increase or lower costs. For example, deciduous trees will help shade sunny or hot parts of your home. And you can block wind naturally with evergreen trees that don’t shed in the winter. You can also lessen the load on your HVAC by placing shrubs around it to keep it cool in summer. And solar lighting just makes perfect sense in a modern garden.
Summary
Sustainable landscaping is a complex subject. But you can use stylish ways to hold back erosion, use permeable surfaces instead of a lawn, and use trees for better energy efficiency.
