For many homeowners, taking care of your lawn and landscape implies
using large amounts of fertiliser and pesticides.
(ARA) This doesn’t need to be.
A new concept, Sustainable Landscaping, outlines steps that give you the results
desired while reducing impacts on the environment. In fact, some of these
practices will enhance your environment.
Sustainable Landscaping is a method that encourages using as many renewable
resources
 as
practical. It also works to minimize the impact of using these resources. One
example of a renewable resource is using recycled bark as mulch to control weeds
and moisture. Another is recycling nutrients in grass clippings by leaving them
on your lawn. Also, using plants that are best suited for where they are placed.
These strategies reduce the resources you need to add for them to thrive.
Sustainable Landscape Design
To design your landscape with a
Sustainable Design, place a rain garden below your roof down spouts to collect
runoff water. This collected water will soak into the ground and not flow away
and be lost. And, because this water stays in your yard, it will continue to
water your plants. Saving your runoff water also ensures this water does not
pollute lakes and rivers with any pesticides and fertilisers you have applied.
Choose plants for your rain garden that tolerate extremes of wet and dry.
Sustainable Plant Selection
Choose locations where your
plants will grow best. Every plant is genetically predisposed to grow best in a
certain environment. Take a look at plant tags while at the nursery. These tags
note the best planting location for that variety. Locating plants where they
grow best reduces the need for soil amendments and other inputs.
Sustainable Pest Management Integrated Pest Management, or IPM,
is another aspect of Sustainable Landscaping. One tenet for IPM is to
treat pests only as they multiply to damaging levels. Another is to,
when possible, use natural pest control measures. This lessens the
environmental impact of pest management. IPM techniques can be used
against insect, weed and disease invaders. Sustainable
Fertiliser
Selecting the right fertiliser is an important part
of a Sustainable Landscape. Most common fertilisers are manufactured from
non-renewable resources such as natural gas and mined minerals. You’re really
better off choosing fertilisers that are derived primarily from natural sources
which recycle their nutrients rather than discarding them in a landfill.
Sustainable Water Planting a rain garden, which retains
water and allows it to soak into your soil, is one way to practice Sustainable
Water. Another technique is to balance the water needs of plants with the amount
of rainfall you normally receive. Placing mulch around landscape plants to help
cool their roots and retain needed moisture is another good practice. To
encourage plant roots to grow deep, water to rooting depth. This also helps
reduce watering frequency. Sustainable Lawn Maintenance
You can do several things to maintain your lawn in a sustainable manner. Use
fertilisers manufactured from recycled materials. Make use of grass varieties
that do not need high amounts of nitrogen and water. Reducing the amount of top
growth also reduces the amount of nitrogen and water your lawn requires. Remove
1/3 of the grass at each mowing. This helps grass recover quickly. Also, make
sure your mower blade is sharp. A sharp blade makes a clean cut that heals
quickly, which reduces the opportunity for disease to enter. More fun!
How does this all lead to more fun? Easy! By
lessening the impact of landscaping and raising plants that do well in your
area, whether they are native or introduced, allows you create an environment
where local wildlife thrives. Whether they are butterflies, song birds, or furry
creatures, you and your yard will enjoy these new visitors. And that is fun!
Courtesy of ARA Content |
