What are some ways to make your landscape more eco-friendly?

1 Choose native plants

One of the easiest and most effective ways to make your landscape more eco-friendly is to choose native plants that are adapted to your climate, soil, and wildlife. Native plants require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides than exotic or invasive species, and they provide food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other beneficial animals. You can find out what plants are native to your region by visiting a local nursery, garden center, or online database.

2 Reduce lawn area

Another way to make your landscape more eco-friendly is to reduce the amount of lawn area that you have to mow, water, and fertilize. Lawn grass is often a monoculture that consumes a lot of resources and offers little ecological value. Instead of lawn, you can plant groundcovers, shrubs, flowers, herbs, or vegetables that are more diverse, productive, and attractive. You can also create paths, patios, or decks with permeable materials that allow water to infiltrate and prevent runoff.

3 Harvest rainwater

Rainwater is a precious resource that you can use to irrigate your landscape and reduce your dependence on municipal water. You can harvest rainwater by installing rain barrels, cisterns, or tanks that collect water from your roof or other surfaces. You can then use a hose, a pump, or a gravity system to distribute the water to your plants. Harvesting rainwater not only saves you money, but also helps prevent erosion, flooding, and pollution.

4 Compost organic waste

Composting is a great way to recycle your organic waste and turn it into a rich fertilizer for your landscape. You can compost kitchen scraps, yard trimmings, leaves, paper, and other biodegradable materials in a bin, a pile, or a worm farm. Composting reduces the amount of waste that goes to landfills, where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. It also improves the soil quality, structure, and fertility, and provides nutrients and microorganisms for your plants.

5 Use renewable energy

You can also make your landscape more eco-friendly by using renewable energy sources to power your lighting, heating, cooling, or pumping systems. You can use solar panels, wind turbines, or geothermal systems to generate electricity from the sun, the wind, or the earth. You can also use solar water heaters, solar cookers, or biomass stoves to heat water or food with solar or biomass energy. Using renewable energy not only reduces your carbon footprint, but also lowers your energy bills and increases your resilience.

6 Join a network

Finally, you can make your landscape more eco-friendly by joining a network of like-minded people who share your passion and vision. You can join a local or online community garden, a permaculture group, a native plant society, or a sustainability organization. You can learn from others, exchange ideas, resources, and seeds, and collaborate on projects that benefit your landscape and the environment. You can also inspire others, raise awareness, and advocate for change.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?