Sustainable Landscaping: You Can Do It

 Sustainable Landscaping: You Can Do It

 

Home Improvement Take a moment to visualize your backyard space. There are large trees, colorful flowers, even a waterfall. This is all thanks to a little hard work and imagination. As a do-it-yourself landscaper, you quickly learned what it takes to plant a great garden and how it can almost keep itself up. How? Sustainable landscaping. Every single landscape architect, professional or amateur, must grasp the importance of what this is and how it works. According to the American Society of Landscape Architects website, "Sustainable landscapes are responsive to the environment, re-generative, and can actively contribute to the development of healthy communities." It's the healthy way to landscape, and

 you can help sustain your local environment in your own backyard. To begin your journey, you have to become acquainted with your area's surroundings. Of course, you can enlist the help of a landscape architect. They will survey the area and come up with a creative and concise plan on how to make your sustainable landscaping dreams come true. Take notes in how the land is shaped, how much sun the space receives, what kind of moisture is attained, and how the air moves. These patterns can help

 decide what plants work best. Visit your local garden center and talk to one of the associates about what you are looking for. They should know what plants are effective and which are invasive. Invasive plants should be removed immediately, as they could cause harm to your new environmental friendly space. Designing a watering system for the space is crucial for sustainability. Mulch keeps the soil underneath wet and adds nutrients as it decomposes. It also can be a good re-purposing of waste. Watering your plants with graywater, household water that is untreated and has no human waste, can bring down water waste. You can reuse dish soap water. However, be certain non-toxic cleaning products are being used before repurposing. Also, knowing when and how to water is important. Water early in the morning and follow the season's trends. When you do give your thirsty plants a drink, it

 must soak all the way to the root so the plant can take in the water longer and easier. Rain gardens are also an option if you have an area that is close to your home and to a drain or run-off. These are created with a shallow depression in the middle, and the rainwater will flow off your home's roof and down the garden. Plants within these gardens need to be able to sustain long periods of time without water and some periods of time of standing water. It's important this garden stands near a run-off or a drain, as the standing water attracts unwanted insects after a period of time. Sustainable landscaping can give you a beautiful, flourishing backyard if you put in time and creativity. Making the local environment a little bit better will be well worth the work you put into creating a beautiful space. For help with landscaping, Eden Prairie, MN, residents rely on Outdoor Living and Landscaping Inc. Learn more at