Best Practices for A Sustainable Landscape Maintenance
Maintaining the green spaces in your community plays a significant role in civic life, may it be in big cities or small towns. Landscapers today must make sure that their landscape maintenance procedures are ecologically friendly in order to stay ahead of the competition in the march toward a more sustainable future, even though the advantages of lovely green spaces are unlimited for nearby people and homeowners.
Sustainable landscaping is a set of techniques that work with nature to preserve local wildlife, save energy and water, enhance the quality of the air and water, and bring enjoyment to property owners. Sustainable landscaping, in contrast to traditional landscape techniques that emphasize ornamental value, is influenced by thoughtful design decisions, plant selections, and gardening techniques to optimize the value to the environment. A sustainable yard will eventually save time and money.
Additionally, working with nature rather than against it is a key component of sustainable landscape maintenance. Homeowners can create a landscape that supports a healthier environment by carefully planning their planting, watering, and pruning.
The way we maintain our yards can have a big impact on the environment. Which is why it is important to incorporate these best practices below, for a sustainable landscape maintenance. Read on.
Plant Strategically
A truly sustainable landscape starts with thoughtful plant selection at the design stage. Pick native plants wherever you can because they have adapted to thrive in your region. Native plants typically need less irrigation and are more drought-resistant. Additionally, you will not need to use as many chemicals to maintain their health because they are better equipped to defend themselves against local pests and weeds. Avoid invasive species and get rid of them whenever you see them since they compete with your native plants rather than enhancing them.
Additionally, the location of your planting matters. Consider the microclimates in your yard and place your specimens where they will have the best chance of flourishing. Your plants will use fewer resources over time if they are initially stronger and healthier. Even carefully placed plantings can increase the energy efficiency of your home. For instance, you can lower your home’s cooling and heating expenditures in the summer and winter by planting trees along the south side of your home.
Go Beyond a Grassy Lawn
By planting more than just a grass lawn, a few shrubs, and driveway edging, you can do a lot for the environment. Take into account ecosystems like ground cover in place of mulch, shrubs with changing foliage, flowers to draw pollinators, rain gardens to filter water, food to cut down on grocery visits, and trees to keep people and animals cool.
Fertilize Organically
The environment is contaminated by the chemicals in fertilizers and pesticides, which also lower the quality of your soil. If you do not already compost, only use organic fertilizers, or employ a lawn management company that does. To assist ensure robust, healthy plants, regularly test your soil to keep an eye on its quality as well
By employing integrated pest management, also known as IPM, which refers to a comprehensive and environmentally friendly method of pest control, you can essentially avoid the use of chemical pesticides. IPM involves utilizing biology to control pest populations; a few examples include adding insect-repellent plants into your landscape and fostering natural predators like spiders, ladybugs, and praying mantises. If you hire a pest control business, pick one that uses IPM and other environmentally friendly practices.
Choose Compost Over Chemicals
Increase your plants’ and shrubs’ resistance to disease and pests by providing them with nutrient-rich, nutritious soil. Vermicompost, which is made when worms decompose food leftovers, includes hormones that help plants grow stronger and more hardy. Traditional compost lightens soil so roots can spread more easily and helps plants retain moisture in between rainfall.
Water Wisely
Another important objective of sustainable landscape maintenance is to decrease the quantity of water your yard uses. As low-tech as collecting roof runoff in a rain bucket or as high-tech as setting up a programmable, weather-controlled drip irrigation system can be used to conserve water. Water plants early in the morning to ensure they receive the moisture they need where it is most needed: at the roots. This will promote the development of deep, robust root systems. To prevent over or underwatering, group plants with similar watering requirements together.
Prune Strategically
Shearing trees and shrubs into shape simply weakens them, whereas selective pruning makes them stronger and more effective. Learn the right pruning methods, including when, how much, and how to prune. Alternatively, hire a sustainable landscape maintenance company with an arborist on staff. For both the environment as a whole and the natural growth of your specimens, hand pruning is preferable to utilizing power tools.
Serve Up an Edible Landscape
Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials that will both feed your family and create a beautiful edible landscape. Look for easy-care fruits, nuts, and seeds that can benefit wildlife if you are not interested in growing food for yourself, especially during the winter months when food is limited. Highbush cranberries, crabapple trees, elderberries, currants, hazelnuts, coneflowers, and coreopsis are a few examples.
Key Takeaway
By integrating the best practices for sustainable landscape maintenance, you can certainly enjoy a pretty landscape that can improve the visual appeal of the surrounding environment. Also, the time you can be spending outside with your family will be even more enjoyable. Whether you and your guests can overlook an untidy yard or not, maintaining this area may make it simpler to enjoy the great outdoors.
