What is Eco Friendly Landscaping?

We all need to do our part to protect the environment.  And, there are so many ways in which we can do this, like recycling, minimizing the use of chemicals in the home, and purchasing energy-efficient appliances.

However, one spot that is often overlooked in terms of green thinking is our own green space! There is so much you can do in your yard to make it eco-friendly and beautiful.

Green landscaping is the way forward and so many people are living truly green lifestyles by ensuring their outdoor spaces are as natural, self-sustaining,  and chemical-free as possible.

It is widely recognized that we need plants in order to provide essential oxygen within the earth’s atmosphere. They are in fact key to the healthy functioning of the ecosystem, and also to human health, too. That’s why every little eco-friendly change you make to your yard makes a real difference. We’ll provide a few tips for you to green your landscaping below.

What is Green Landscaping?

Eco-friendly landscaping, which is also known as green or sustainable landscaping, is a way of creating and maintaining land in order to save as much energy as possible, while also being kind to the environment.

The problem with traditional landscaping methods is that they take a great deal of upkeep. Often, the economic and environmental costs far outweigh the actual natural benefits. When you think of the sheer amount of labor, energy, and water involved, surely there is a better way.

Sustainable landscapes are by design both in balance with their local climate, as well as being attractive. Use of non-electric and traditional gardening implements, such as handheld plants shears, is commonplace in order to avoid wasting resources and damaging delicate plants.

Benefits of Sustainable Landscaping

Simply put, eco-friendly landscaping is a healthier way of maintaining your yard as it actively reduces water, air, and soil pollution as well as nurtures indigenous wildlife.  There are so many benefits of green landscaping that we as people owe it to the planet and our health to make the change.

Here are just a few of those benefits.

• Sustainable landscaping is essential to improve energy and water efficiency.
• Eco-friendly landscaping helps to eliminate harmful chemicals entering the atmosphere, groundwater, and food chain.
• Green gardening is sustainable, helps to clean the air, produces healthy fruit and vegetables, as well as helps to restore the ecosystem.
• Sustainable landscaping involves planting specific native plants that will thrive in certain soil types. These plants generally require less watering, as well as no chemical fertilizer and pesticides.  This also restores native plants to their rightful areas, and creates healthy habitats for local wildlife.
• Green landscaping involves creating composting systems, which ensure that everything that is recyclable is recycled or reused.

What’s more, planting a vegetable patch and fruit trees is also a great idea to do in your eco-friendly yard as you will know that your food doesn’t contain any harsh and potentially poisonous chemicals, which can be detrimental to the health of both you and your family.

Eco-Friendly Landscaping Tips

If you’re impressed by these benefits, this eco-friendly landscaping tips list will get you started in the right direction.

• Always use water responsibly. You can do this by rain harvesting, and putting a mulch on the earth on top of your plants – this will retain as much moisture as possible, which will save you having to water your plants so much. Also, if possible, try to use plants that don’t require much watering.

• Replace your lawn with a vegetable garden. This is far more eco-friendly as you can actually live off your land rather than just looking at a pretty lawn all day. You need to make your yard work for you rather than the other way around!

• Use native plants whenever possible. If you’re unsure which plants are native to your area, go online and look up a native plant database such as this one.

• Try to avoid or limit your use of chemicals. Obviously, harsh pesticides and chemicals are bad for the environment, and should be avoided at all costs.

• Configure your landscaping for shade so that your earth doesn’t dry out too rapidly and also for wildlife to shelter under on sunny days.

• Try composting. This makes use of your old, household waste as well as putting much-needed nutrients back into the soil. Using compost is also good for your plants. Compost helps to control diseases and insects too!

• Always reuse and recycle everything that you possibly can. Eco-landscaping is all about recycling, and trying to keep your carbon footprint as minimal as possible.

• Reduce your lawn size. Not only does grass require a lot of water and nutrients to look beautiful and healthy, but large lawns require a lot of mowing. More mowing means increased likelihood of gas spillage when filling the lawnmower, resulting in environmental pollution.

• Use solar power where possible. Solar powered lighting looks good, and doesn’t need electricity to work due to the fact that it’s harnessing the power of the sun.

• Start rainwater harvesting. Instead of allowing rainwater to run off your property, capture rainwater to reuse for watering your lawn, plants, or even to washing your car.

One thing to consider before embarking on a green landscaping journey,though, is that there are some variables that need to be kept in mind before you begin. Always remember to take into account what your local climate is like.

Very hot and dry climates will limit the plants you can use, and will also need good irrigation systems. Mountainous regions will require plants that are able to grow at high elevations. This is why it is so important to only choose plants that are native to the soil in your area.

There is so much you can do to make your landscaping as eco-friendly as possible. These tips are figuratively and literally just the tip of the iceberg in terms of everything you can do to ensure your yard is a truly green space.

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