How to Establish an Eco-Friendly Garden in Your Backyard
As the world changes, society’s view of sustainability and the environment is beginning to shift. This is the perfect time to consider implementing changes in your landscaping to create an environmentally friendly garden in your backyard. Sustainable landscaping goes beyond creating a green, healthy lawn to encompassing the more comprehensive concept of creating a garden soaked in nature’s motherly care and protection. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to get you started on establishing an eco-friendly garden in your backyard.
Develop a Plan
The first and most crucial step in establishing an eco-friendly garden is to come up with a plan. It’s important to know what type of landscape and type of plants best suits your region and climate. Start by considering the four aspects of landscaping:
Choosing Native Plants: The use of native plants and wildflowers is important when it comes to sustainability. Native plants require fewer pesticides and are less susceptible to environment-related damages like droughts and pests.
Creating Hardscapes: Hardscapes involve elements such as rocks, bricks, and pathways. By including these elements in your garden, you can reduce the amount of grass, which can help promote water conservation.
Creating Renewable Materials: Reusing, recycling and upcycling materials can be a great way to create a sustainable garden. Include items such as old doors, windows, old furniture, and other materials that can be quickly incorporated into your landscape design.
Preserving Natural Landscapes: Respect the earth by ensuring you don’t disturb natural patterns of water flow or contaminate surface or groundwater with fertilizers, chemicals, or pesticides.
Water Conservation
Conserving water is another essential pillar of sustainable landscaping. You can create easy-care water-wise gardens by using water-efficient irrigation strategies, mulching and improving the soil with organic matter such as compost. Additionally, native plants may require less water than non-native plants, allowing your eco-friendly garden to flourish while saving water in the process.
Smart Pest Control
Eco-friendly pest control is key to maintaining a sustainable landscape. It includes identifying pest problems and then implementing appropriate treatments. This includes eliminating plants that attract animals and pests, tracking the population of pests, using Mechanical or Physical Pest Control to trap, or disrupt the life cycle of the insects. You can also opt for natural pesticides, like neem oil, that are non-toxic to plants, animals and humans to keep pests out of your garden.
Keeping your Garden Green
Creating an eco-friendly garden doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice a lush and vibrant look. There are many varieties of low-maintenance plants, like groundcover and low-water-need shrubs, that can be used to create a garden that is aesthetically pleasing, too. Plus, adding color with annuals allows you to change up the look of your garden, while adding life and color to your garden all season long.
Creating an eco-friendly garden is relatively easy with the right planning and industry knowledge. Utilizing hardscapes, native plants and sustainable practices such as composting and water conservation will give you the lush and vibrant garden you’ve been wanting, while doing what’s best for the environment. Utilizing these tips and tricks to create a sustainable garden will ensure you have an environmentally-friendly backyard for years to come.
