By The shortcomings of traditional landscaping are evident as never before. You can smell them in air pollution 
(lawnmowers, transportation, energy use), you can taste them in our water pollution (fertilizers and pesticides), and you can see them in harmful effects to our biodiversity and consumption of natural resources. At the end of the day conventional landscaping can be just down right cost and labor intensive. That is exactly why more and more folks are discovering the joys of sustainable landscaping.
So what exactly is this “sustainable” landscaping that everyone is talking about and what can it do for us? Essentially, sustainable or “green” landscaping is landscaping that considers things like water conservation, the use of all natural resources and the selection of proper plants to beautify a piece of land while still making it work with the surrounding ecosystem.
In the beginning this may sound a tad complex but rest assured – it’s not. There are countless things that we can try at home on your own. Keep in mind these three mantras – Conserve, Design and Protect.
Conserve means conserving resources like water and using a composting bin to recycle natural yard waste into organic fertilizer.
Protect means preventing or reducing processes that degrade or pollute the environment and harm regenerative capacity of our ecosystems.
Design means designing your landscaping in harmony with the natural environment, and in a way that it enhances the sustainability features of your home.
For instance, if you are planning on redoing the landscaping in your yard, consider the placement of deciduous and evergreen trees. If you plant deciduous (the type that has seasonal leaves) on the south and east sides of your home, you’ll be able to get shade during the summer while still keeping the sun’s heat and warmth during the winter, because the leaves will not block the sun light. Evergreens (the type that always has leaves) that have been planted in the north and the west are particularly wonderful for protecting your home from harsh winds during those colder Bay Area months.
It’s always a great idea to consider the use of recycled materials for your green landscaping project. You’ll find that soil amendments and mulch fall under this category. With wood becoming more and more expensive and increasingly depleted, we may want to consider making sure we can recycle plastic bender board. Similarly, we can recycle broken up concrete into great flagstones, and recycled brick for paths and patios. With a bit of imagination the options to recycle are limitless.
One of the most essential components to sustainable landscaping is of course the water irrigation concerns. Did you know that most people over-water their lawns by 50%? Imagine the water savings if they all just adjusted their sprinkler systems. My next door neighbor’s sprinklers are on day and night, spraying all over including our shared fence which is beginning to rot already. Our cats love watching it though, for them this is pure entertainment.
When deciding what to put in a garden, it’s beneficial to think about how the water will flow and how we can best take advantage of the water that is around. Key things here is install drip-irrigation and use only drought resistant and native plants. This will assure that your deep watering needs are kept to a minimum.
Looking for a place to buy some eco friendly plants? Check out the Santa Clara County Web Page (http://www.valleywater.org) for more info and nursery locations. Want to hear something really cool? The District will give you up to $1000 dollars to take out your lawn and replace it with drought tolerant plants and $1000 to install water conserving irrigation system. According to their website, this rebate expires this June, so don’t snooze on the opportunity.
Another fantastic resource online is the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara website (http://www.mastergardeners.org). It’s jam packed with all sorts of magic tips, wonderful advice, and local events for gardening and sustainable landscaping enthusiasts.
Sustainable landscaping makes financial sense and is truly our way of saying thank you to that earth and soil that have fed so many generations before us. Happy landscaping.
More on Green Homes: http://SanJoseGreenHome.com
