How to Create an Environmentally Friendly Landscape
In Calhoun and throughout the United States, more and more homeowners are becoming interested in creating a living space that is environmentally friendly, and it's not hard to see why. Being environmentally friendly can benefit the environment at large, your community, and yourself directly.
"Green" practices aren't just a trend. They'll help you increase your home energy efficiency, and they can save you a significant amount of money of the resources you need for your home. No matter you look at it, going green is smart. And while you'll find plenty of resources to help you be more environmentally inside your home, it can be more difficult to find tips on how you can do the same for your landscape.
Thankfully, going green is not complicated, and the professional landscapers at Landscape Creations, Inc. have put together a few helpful tips.
Here are some great ways to make your landscape more environmentally friendly while keeping it attractive, comfortable, and enjoyable:
Choose Water-Wise Plants
Water-wise plants are a fantastic way to help you conserve water in your Calhoun home's landscape or garden. These plants have the ability to thrive in even the driest conditions, so they won't require nearly as much water as other plants. Plus, they're just as attractive, and often more distinctive, than more common plants.
While you may not think the amount of water you use for your garden or landscape is very high, it's actually very easy to use more water than necessary, and while it's readily available to most people in the US, water is a limited resource. The more you can do to conserve it, the better off everyone is.
There’s no way to get around using water, but including water-wise plants in your landscape design can help limit the amount you waste. Consider using:
- Sage
- Yucca
- Sunflowers
- Purple Coneflowers
Use Mulch in Your Garden
Mulch can help you conserve a huge amount of water. Here are the main ways it does that:
- Mulch keeps out weeds that can suck up much of the water you're using for your Calhoun home's garden.
- Mulch will retain water for your plants, so you won't need to water them as frequently.
On top of those benefits, mulch can also come from just about anywhere! Some of the things you can use as alternatives to expensive, chemical-rich store-bought mulches include:
- Compost
- Chopped Leaves
- Shredded Newspaper
Base Your Landscape Design On a Mediterranean Layout
Mediterranean cultures traditionally spend lots of time outdoors, whether they're dining, socializing, cooking, or gardening. That lifestyle is reflected in Mediterranean landscape designs.
Mediterranean landscape designs often feature open courtyards that are easily maintained and which do not require much water. Concrete walls and gravel beds are also prevalent and are often decorated with topiary trees, vines, and other water-wise plants.
At Landscape Creations, Inc., our professional Calhoun landscape company can help you create this type of environment, and we can add any other features you’d like to include.