Is it time to spruce up your backyard and even your front yard with some new landscaping? Do you want to get the work done yourself without paying for an expensive contractor? How about making changes to the existing layout of your yard that will benefit the environment while giving it a fresh, updated look? Is that even possible to combine the two concepts? Make an environmentally friendly yard while landscaping it at the same time? It absolutely is when you incorporate sustainable landscaping into your design.
What is sustainable landscaping you might be asking? Well it’s any modern landscaping idea that is designed to be in balance with the look of your home while requiring minimal resource inputs that will benefit the environment in the long run. It can be as small as installing solar lights along the edges of your walkways to as major as installing a fresh produce garden.
Let’s get more in depth and break down some sustainable landscaping ideas you can do at home!
Water Supplies
Whenever you need water while outdoors, whether you are watering the lawn and garden (check out the best lawn sprinklers at backyardboss.net) or washing your car; the initial reaction is to reach for the garden hose and start going to town. This can be hard on water resources, however, especially if it’s something that is done on a frequent basis during warmer temperatures.
You can actually save on water while still meeting your needs by installing a water barrel at the end of the gutter of your home. These sustainable water barrels collect fresh rainwater for future use and this water can be used for watering the lawn, watering flower and vegetable gardens along with washing your car! Depending on the level of filtration you’ve installed in your water barrel, you could even potentially fill up your kids wading pool for the day using this water.
If you don’t want to install a fancy filtration system, you can still ensure that the water is fresh and free of debris or creatures by using a screen over the top of the water barrel. This screen, similar to a window screen, should have tiny holes to allow the water to seep into the barrel but not big enough leaves and other debris can join it.
Produce Garden
Instead of running to the grocery store each time you need fresh veggies and herbs for dinner which increases your carbon emissions that damage the ozone layer; why not just run out the backyard and pick the ones you need? Not only will this save you money on grocery costs, it will help in the fight to save the environment.
By creating and maintaining a vegetable garden in your backyard, you can provide your family with fresh produce for their meals without any pesticides or herbicides. The veggies are grown locally, organically and in clean soil. You can even expand to include fruits and herbs that will grow well in your climate. Don’t have the room for a full-sized garden? Then consider installing vertical gardens on your back porch for a smaller scaled operation.
The lack of grocery store trips will also save you money in the long run and help reduce the cost of car maintenance from gas, miles and whatnot.
Recycling
Recycling materials whenever and wherever you can is extremely beneficial to the environment. Keeping materials out of the landfills where they will not have to be destroyed by questionable methods will go a long way in the fight against climate change.
So what is recyclable? Any type of drink can, drink bottles, and drink cartons. These can be brought to your local recycling depot for reimbursement and will be processed properly to be reused in other items. Reduce the number of plastic bags you are using and instead switch to paper or fabric (reusable) shopping bags.
Save table scraps, vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, newsprint and eggshells to start making your own compost. By serving your lawn and gardens a healthy dose of compost every few weeks, you are not only recycling materials that would be gone to the garbage otherwise, you are providing your greenery with the nutrients it requires to grow lush and strong.
Conclusion
With the environment in the condition that it’s in and the extensive media coverage surrounding this issue, you are probably wondering what you can do to help. Well, by incorporating any of the above ideas discussed today or even making additions to your yard that wasn’t mentioned is helping.
People have the misconception that in order to do their part in the fight against climate change, you have to overhaul your entire lifestyle. This isn’t the case, as every bit counts in the fight. You can make major, minor or a combination of both to help combat global warming. By carpooling once a week, planting more trees around your yard and recycling whatever waste you can; you are helping in the fight against climate change and should give yourself kudos for making that first step.
