Landscaping is an important part of curb appeal. Without it, your house can resemble a barren wasteland. People often try to outdo one another when it comes to landscaping. For many, a green lawn represents a symbol of their social stature. However, this frivolous competition can take a toll on both the homeowner’s wallet and our environment’s precious resources. Adopting eco-friendly landscaping methods can address both of these concerns. Here are a few green tips you can implement right away for your home’s yard.
1.) Reduce the Area
Reducing the landscaping area will automatically minimize both costs and the negative impact landscaping has on the environment. This will also reduce your workload when you’re trimming the grass. You can plant an inexpensive garden in areas that won’t require landscaping. A few potted plants paired with few lilies will complement your landscaping beautifully. Also, widening the driveway and footpath will cut into the landscaping area, thus allowing more walking space and less labour for you.
2.) Save Water
Contrary to popular belief, most plants don’t need to be watered daily, twice or three times a week. Infrequent irrigation will encourage the roots to grow deeper and find ground water. This will further decrease their water dependency on you. Use a garden hose instead of a sprinkler to water your lawn. It will give you more control over your irrigation. Use short bursts, so you don’t end up wasting excess water. When grass remains wet for too long, it invites all sorts of unwanted diseases which further ads to the cost of maintenance.
3.) Use Fertilizer Carefully
There’s an intelligent way of applying fertilizer, then there’s the way amateurs use it. Before utilizing any type of fertilizer, you should test the soil to see what it’s lacking. Most fertilizers aren’t cheap, nor are they eco-friendly. Some brands might as well be called ‘the environment killer’. Even if you’re using an organic fertilizer it’s important to check its composition. It needs to be rich in those minerals that your soil is lacking.
4.) Synthetic Grass
Fake grass is far cheaper and more eco-friendly than real grass. Fake grass is useful if you’re thinking about a DIY landscaping project. Synthetic is visually appealing and there’s no fuss over water or soil. Busy professionals who don’t have time to maintain their lawn can benefit greatly from synthetic grass. When your lawn doesn’t require any maintenance, you can take all the vacations you want without worries. When you return home you’ll still be greeted by a lush green sight.
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5.) Plants that Require No Maintenance
There are many beautiful plants that survive in extreme conditions. Include these plants in your landscaping and you won’t regret it. Tulips and Marigolds are two such plants. They are beautiful and they require low upkeep. Also, choose plants native to your region for beautification that won’t take a toll on your specific habitat and learn more about the benefits of xeriscaping.
If you’re serious about landscaping, you should also be serious about saving the environment. These two elements go hand in hand. As you’ve just learned, adopting eco-friendly methods of landscaping also benefits you, the homeowner. Annually, you’ll end up saving a fortune. If you don’t care about going green, you should at least be motivated about the green in your wallet. If you want to keep the green in your wallet lush you should adopt these tips immediately. They’ll benefit you and, inadvertently, the environment as well. Got a favourite tip? Let us know in the comments below.
Guest blogger, Leslie Kramer, is a freelance blogger who currently writes for Ever Green, one of the leading providers of synthetic grass. Leslie loves nature and takes active participation in ‘going green’ movements.
Make sure to water during the right time of day to not waste water.
Artificial grass is also great for pets and kids. Good quality turf should be lead free and have uv protection to stop it from breaking down. You never have to worry about weeding ever again.