First off, we want to say that we hope you, your family, and fleet are staying healthy in the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily, it seems that the need for landscaping is still strong. Fleets are still staying busy and homeowners are taking advantage of their time off by cleaning up and maintaining their yards. There are bound to be some financial effects from the virus and because of this, homeowners may want to make their landscape more sustainable. Today we will discuss ways to make a landscape more sustainable.
One of the most important and simple ways to make a landscape more sustainable is to reuse water. Rain barrels are fairly inexpensive to buy or create. These can capture fallen rain or, you can place them at the end of a gutter. This will give you or the homeowner a sustainable source of water to use for plants, lawns, and gardens. Using less water is also a great way to make a landscape more sustainable. This can be done by keeping your plants native. Native plants tend to be hardier and require less water.
Native plants are also great for attracting pollinator species. Having a pollinator-friendly landscape is another great step in sustainability. Pollinators such as bees and butterflies play an important role in plant, fruit, and vegetable growth. You can also add a water and nesting source for pollinators which will also play a part in attracting them. Check out our article on how to create a pollinator garden here.
Another common part of landscape design is adding light sources. Common places where lights are added are the edge of sidewalks and around outdoor gathering places such as patios. There are several choices for nonelectric lights but the best ones by far are solar-powered. They are extremely easy to set up and can be placed anywhere. The best part is that they are easy to maintain. You can clean them at summer’s end and then store them in the winter.
Hardscapes can also be a part of a sustainable landscape. You or the homeowner can source materials such as stone and brick that are salvaged. If you want to incorporate wood, salvaged planks are often a great option. They can be sourced from construction sites, or even the home itself. Mulch can also be sourced substantially as well. Mulch itself can even help with keeping soil moist which will save water. Reused shredded bark, cocoa bean hulls, pine needles, and grass clippings all make great mulch.
