There’s a big trend among homeowners toward more eco-conscious landscaping. If you want to reduce your footprint while ensuring that your landscape is beautiful and functional, here are 11 landscape design features of sustainable landscaping for an eco-conscious 2021 in Southampton, NY.
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Choose Permeable Pavers
Concrete in and of itself may not be the most eco-friendly option for hardscapes; but, when it comes to patios, pool decks, walkways, or driveways, you can enjoy the convenience of a solid surface while contributing to a more natural movement of water. When water hits a solid surface like a poured concrete patio or an asphalt driveway, it can’t absorb, and so it has no choice but to pool in low-lying areas or runoff.
You may be familiar with lattice-style permeable driveway systems that can be filled with gravel or soil (to allow for grass), and these are great options if you don’t mind having grass (and weeds) growing through the units. These systems aren’t really suitable for patios or pool decks since they don’t provide a perfectly level surface for furniture, and they’re not barefoot-friendly.
If you want a more upscale and finished look on any hardscape area with the benefits of a permeable surface, then permeable pavers are the way to go. These pavers look just like regular concrete pavers. The difference is that they feature larger joint spaces and a more permeable substrate than what’s used in traditional installations.
When you install permeable pavers, you allow water to seep into the ground to replenish the aquifer and prevent flooding or pooling. This will result in a surface that will dry quicker after rain or snow, less ice build-up in winter (especially if the sun hits that part of the patio or walkway), better soil stability on your property, less erosion damage to downhill landscaping, and less strain on municipal stormwater systems.
Permeable pavers are available in a wide range of styles. You can find looks that mimic brick, flagstone, or granite. Most permeable pavers are suitable for residential vehicular use which helps to create a cohesive look between your driveway, walkway, patio, or pool deck.
Install Low-voltage LED Landscape Lighting
Landscape lighting has come a long way in recent years with the advent of LED technology. You may remember the harsh glare of the single high-wattage bulb mounted on the house above the patio. Or, you may remember the nuisance of constantly changing out conventional light bulbs. Today’s lighting is a stunning blend of function and beauty, along with the eco-friendliness of long-lasting LED bulbs and customizable lighting that prevents excessive glare or illumination while still providing safety and security.
Many LED light fixtures are easily hidden in the landscaping for a beautiful unobtrusive look during the day. At night, you can choose from a variety of artistic lighting techniques, including moonlighting, spotlighting, silhouetting, or washing that highlight special features and textures in your nighttime landscape.
Modern landscape lighting is also designed according to zones - providing more lighting in high-activity zones such as the outdoor kitchen and more subtle lighting in relaxed zones such as a firepit area.
The beauty of this approach is that the qualities that make nighttime magical, are preserved, which helps to lessen the impact on nocturnal wildlife while keeping your landscape safe and secure.
Less Lawn, More Xeriscaping with Natives
More and more homeowners are opting to reduce the size of their lawns. While beautiful and lovely to walk on, vast expanses of lawns, with a few evergreen shrubs, are food deserts for local wildlife (other than the occasional rabbit or deer). Wildlife has it hard enough with the loss of habitat and increased human presence, so devoting at least a portion of your property to wildlife by reducing your lawn and planting native trees and plants, is the way to go if you want to be eco-conscious.
Lawns are also disproportionately thirsty, relatively fragile (especially if non-native grasses are chosen), and require a lot of upkeep (including gas or electricity for mowers). Replacing a lawn with xeriscaped areas will save water, free up a significant amount of your time (or your landscaping budget), provide habitat for local wildlife, and still be very attractive.
Take it a step further and xeriscape with native plants.
You may have heard the term xeriscaping and thought, “I don’t want a yard filled with rocks and succulents.” Xeriscaping is actually much more sophisticated than that!
Xeriscaping is a landscaping practice focused on surviving drought. Even in the relatively rainy northeastern United States, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t think about drought - it’s also about reducing the need for supplemental watering and not worrying about plants in an exceptionally hot and dry summer. If nothing else, you’ll save money on your water bills.
One simple way to embrace xeriscaping is to group plants by water requirements. Most people already group plants by light requirements, but considering water-groupings will help reduce water use even more - and it will simplify your maintenance chores too.
Choosing native plants (and grouping them by water needs as well as light needs) is another way to maintain an attractive landscape while being eco-conscious. Native trees and plants are perfectly acclimated to the local rainfall and weather patterns and this makes them exceptionally hardy and low-maintenance. Natives rarely need supplemental watering, fertilizer, or pesticides. Local wildlife is also perfectly adapted to using native plants for food and shelter.
In some areas, you could plant ground covers instead of grass. Most ground covers require little to no maintenance and look and smell much nicer than grass.
Install a Professional Irrigation System
Install a professional irrigation system if you want to have some lawn on your property or if you want worry-free and eco-friendly irrigation of trees, shrubs, and flower beds. Manual watering with a hose or sprinkler wastes a lot of water; and, a smart irrigation system that tracks rainfall eliminates the need to manually track a time and application rate.
In addition, drip irrigation systems are more efficient at keeping young plants hydrated while they develop deep and drought-tolerant root systems should work best for garden beds. Drip irrigation also saves water by targeting the root systems rather than foliage.
Go with Gas
A fire pit or outdoor fireplace is a wonderful addition to any outdoor living space, adding ambiance and physical warmth on chilly days and evenings. The debate over whether it’s better to burn wood or natural gas (or propane) rages on in many parts of our country. However, unless you can source naturally fallen wood locally, you may be getting wood from large lumber operations that contribute to deforestation in other parts of the country. As well, burning wood does contribute to air pollution, and unattended fires can spark wildfires on a windy day, as burning embers can fly a long way.
Natural gas is safer, cleaner, and while it doesn’t quite give you the wonderful aroma or crackle of a wood fire, you also won’t get smoke in your eyes. It’s not a perfect solution either, but it is more eco-friendly than burning wood.
Create Pollinator Gardens
A growing trend is to devote a part of a landscape to local pollinators, including birds, bees, and other insects. Like larger wildlife, pollinators are really struggling since so many people routinely use toxic pesticides and herbicides just to maintain picture-perfect lawns. Thankfully the trend toward smaller lawns is growing, which gives hope that we can reverse much of the damage we have done.
A pollinator garden doesn’t have to be wild. It can be enclosed in an attractive masonry raised bed planter if you want a somewhat more cultivated look. It can also brighten up an otherwise unused corner of the property. Defining the space with a beautiful masonry seat wall will give you a comfortable place to observe the busy goings-on once pollinator-friendly plants are in bloom.
Adding a small fountain or birdbath to your pollinator garden will also attract pollinators and give them a much-needed drink of water on hot days.
Use Mulch
A layer of mulch should be used around shrubs, trees, and in garden beds to prevent weeds from germinating (and the few that do will be easy to pluck by hand). Mulch helps regulate the temperature of roots and helps retain moisture, which means less watering. Be sure to use organic mulch, and leave it in place for several seasons so that it can release nutrients into the soil as it decomposes. When the mulch is ready to be renewed, add mulch on top instead of replacing the old mulch; this will help the old mulch continue decomposing.
Eco-Friendly Lawn Care
Mow your grass a little taller, and mow more frequently to help hold in moisture and reduce watering needs, and help prevent the germination of weeds.
Avoid chemical fertilizers, which are some of the main sources of polluted waterways. Instead, amend your lawn’s soil by using composted organic matter, including lawn clippings, aerate the soil regularly, and mowing high.
Instead of using chemical herbicides to prevent weeds, keep your lawn thick and healthy as a preventive measure. Yes, it’s more work to keep a thick lawn, but you’ll save time and money and avoid using toxic herbicides that are known to kill pollinators and cause cancer in pets and humans.
Eco-Friendly Pest Control
Pesticides are extremely toxic to the environment and ultimately our own health. Control unwanted insects through hand removal and by attracting beneficial insects such as praying mantises and ladybugs. Use humane traps and relocate mice, woodchucks, rabbits, and other small mammals.
Add a Living Wall
Instead of building a privacy fence to keep out nosy neighbors, plant a living wall with cedars or hedges which will provide wildlife habitat. Or, install an inexpensive wire fence that is sturdy enough to hold the weight of vines, and let vines create a living wall. You’ll be rewarded with fall color, and local birds and small wildlife will thank you for the habitat.
Be Strategic About Planting
Plant deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your home to provide cooling shade in summer and increase your home’s warmth in winter. Plant dense evergreen trees such as spruces on the north side to help block cold winter winds.
Remember to group plants by water needs as well as sun needs to achieve a beautiful but low-maintenance landscape.
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