How Green Landscaping Works

Green landscaping takes careful steps to protect the environment, reduce negative impacts on the earth and provide other environmental benefits. Green landscaping is actually fairly easy and merely requires some research, start-up effort and follow-through. Green landscaping relies upon the use of native plants, strategic planting locations that benefit the environment and the use of non-toxic products.

The landscaping location can have a huge impact on the way in which your landscape functions. Through the effort of well-placed plants, green landscapes can actually help make a building much more heat efficient which leads to reduced reliance on your air conditioning and heating system. Green buildings can be combined with green landscaping, which can help you to reduce your energy bills in a highly significant way. Carefully placing trees can also work as a barrier against wind, protecting buildings from chilling winds and other harsh weather. Planting deciduous trees and vines on the south side of a building can also help to create shade for your home in the summer and help your home maintain heat in the winter.

Landscape design has some other impressive benefits as well. By properly researching your native plants’ needs, you will find that your plants will thrive with little to no effort on your part. Simply put: Merely finding a plant’s sweet spot can help you cut down on your long-term lawn maintenance and upkeep!

Water conservation can also be taken into account with green landscaping. Irrigation systems can be set up within the design of the landscape, using conserved and collected water to the best of nature’s ability. Consider purchasing a rain cistern or water barrel which you can place under your gutter’s spout to start conserving water quickly and effortlessly. This will save you some time and money in the long run.

Of course, green landscaping goes further than plant choice, design and water conservation. Fertilization is also very important. Try to use natural compost, it’s free and can be created using your lawn trimmings and biodegradable waste from your home. Compost has many uses, such as being used as a fertilizer spread or as a foundation for plants. Composting is easy, inexpensive and monumentally better for the environment than chemical fertilizers. While there are many environmentally friendly products out there, they do have a small impact on the environment due to their production. Composting can help you avoid having to use these products.

If you plan to start composting or working on your green landscape, EnviroCitizen.org has some great green landscaping and planting tools to make the job a bit easier and more eco-friendly !