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Six Tips for Designing an Environmentally Friendly Landscape
1. Plant and preserve trees. In addition to adding thousands of dollars to property values, mature trees will reduce heating and cooling costs, prevent erosion, help your yard retain rainwater, and provide habitat for birds and wildlife. Trees reduce CO2 by storing the carbonas cellulose and releasing the oxygen back into theatmosphere. So, plant lots of trees.
2. Choose native plants and grasses. Plants with root systems that grow deep into the soil are more drought tolerant and require less watering, fertilizer,and maintenance.
3. Control runoff. Rain gardens, French drains, drain tiles, and dry stream beds are common drainage solutions that keep runoff from roofs and hard surfaces from reaching lakes and streams. Pavers and permeable surfaces allow more water to penetrate the soil than concrete or asphalt.
4. Shrink your lawn. Replace lawn areas with native plants, grasses, and shrubs. Less turf means less water, less fertilizer, less fossil fuel, and less time.
5. Conserve water. A well-designed and properly installed irrigation system that zones turf and bedding areas separately can significantly reduce water use – and save time. Drip irrigation systems and soaker hoses lose less water to evaporation by feeding water directly to thirsty roots. And moisture/rain sensors and electronic timerscan be added to any type of irrigation system to prevent overwatering.
6. Call Southview Design. We’ll help you design and build a landscape that’s good for you, your family, your friends, and the planet. To meet with a landscape designer, contact us.
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