Landscaping a lawn requires taking many different factors into consideration; however, its important to address that it’s not always eco-friendly to maintain an expansive lawn because of the vast amount of water, fertilizers and pesticides it takes to maintain it. Fresh water is quickly becoming a scarce commodity and should never be used to excess. Similarly, the pesticides and herbicides that are required to maintain your yard can have a lasting and unhealthy effect on your immediate environment. Taking all of this into consideration, it can be very easy to landscape a lawn in an eco-friendly manner.
One of the first things to consider is the size of the lawn you plan to have. A wide expanse of lawn looks beautiful and inviting but it also takes a lot of resources to maintain. You can reduce your consumption of water and pesticide or fertilizer by reducing the size of the mowed lawn. You can downsize your grassy areas by utilizing pavers, natural gardens, and native plants and shrubs. A very simple start to eliminate grassy areas is to create circular natural and wildflower gardens surrounding the trees in your yard.
Remember, when purchasing plants and trees for any new eco-garden, it’s important to scatter drought-resistant plants and trees throughout your garden. If you live in a Northern climate, the Green Ash is one that will serve you well. Some of the better drought-tolerant plants that still have a significant bloom cycle are Black-Eyed Susan, Yarrow, Perennial Sunflower, Coneflowers, Poppies, Evening Primrose, Tickseed, Blazing Star. Most of these plants can be grown from a seed and will continue to proliferate year after year. If buying new plants is out of your budget, think about using natural blooming plants that live in your environment! Plants native to your region will have natural defenses against drought, disease and usually don’t need any fertilizers and herbicides to stay healthy.
If you do plan to keep a large open yard, you should consider investing in an automatic underground irrigation system. Although these water systems can be expensive, once installed, they will reduce the amount of water your garden and yard consume and brings water wastage down to the absolute minimum. One of the better water systems is a “drip system” explained HERE. <http://www.irrigationdirect.com/expert-advice/drip-irrigation-tutorials/general-overview/anatomy-of-a-drip-system>
In drought regions, where limits are placed on your yards water consumption, tying your irrigation system into rain-water collection barrels will allow you to water for longer periods – making your gardens and yard look healthier. You will also find that this method of irrigation saves you from constantly worrying whether the yard or garden needs watering.
Need a cheaper way to conserve water? A 2 to 3- inch layer of bark, pine needle or organic mulch is another way to conserve water and keep the roots of plants and trees moist and thriving. These mulches hold water vapor in and keep it from easily evaporating.
With the landscaping season quickly approaching, you may want to include some of these concepts into your yard. Your wallet, children and planet will thank you by making a greener Earth!
