Are you looking to elevate the look of your property while protecting the environment? If so, green landscaping is perfect for you. It offers the same benefits of landscaping traditionally while also being low maintenance and environmentally friendly, allowing you to save time and money while protecting the planet.
But what is green landscaping, and what are the environmental benefits of green landscaping? Continue reading to learn the answers to these questions and more.
What is Green Landscaping?
Also called naturalistic landscaping or ecological landscaping, “green landscaping” refers to the method of designing and maintaining your landscape to make it more environmentally sustainable and supportive of the local ecosystem. To implement green landscaping, you must consider the soil type, local climate, and native plants of your area to prevent wasting water, chemicals, and other resources.
Planting flora that is native to your area ensures that your yard will thrive without much intervention, allowing you to reduce your use of water, pesticides, and fertilizers while also creating additional habitats for local wildlife. The birds, bees, butterflies, and other critters native to your area will certainly thank you.
What Are the Environmental Benefits of Green Landscaping?
As more and more people turn towards sustainable lifestyles, green landscaping is becoming increasingly popular with each passing year. Apart from the aforementioned benefits of landscaping in this way, it also offers a positive impact on your well-being and that of the environment, as well.
It’s not called “green landscaping” for no reason, but what are the environmental benefits of green landscaping?
The following are ways in which this method of landscaping can support your local ecosystem:
Enhances Air Quality
The plants and trees you plant will absorb pollutants from the surrounding air, such as sulfur dioxide, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. As a result, you’ll be improving the air quality around your property and your whole community.
Conserves Water and Energy
One of the major benefits of landscaping with native plants is water and energy conservation. Because native plants can naturally survive in your climate, you won’t need to water them often; the amount of rain you receive should be sufficient. Plus, because plants can protect your home from the wind and provide shade, your home can be made more energy-efficient by their presence.
Thus, you can conserve water and energy, reducing both your bills and your carbon footprint.
Provides Habitats for Wildlife
Native plants and trees provide habitats for bees, butterflies, birds, and other local wildlife. By providing these habitats, you’re not only protecting the environment and supporting the local ecosystem, but you’re also ensuring that you’ll have plenty of local wildlife to watch from your window.
Provides Food for Animals and People Alike
If the plants native to your area are edible, then you can also provide food with your landscaping. Whether it’s for your family or for the local wildlife, any fruits, vegetables, or herbs grown on your land can be a valuable source of food.
Before feeding anyone food grown in your yard, however, be sure to test the soil’s lead levels, especially if you live in an old neighborhood. Lead paint from old houses may have contaminated your soil, leaving anything grown in it unsafe for humans to eat. If this is the case, you can still build raised garden beds and fill them with safe soil to grow food.
If you’ve ensured that the food you grow is safe to eat, you can cook them up with dinner and donate your surplus to community members in need.
Personal Benefits
Green landscaping doesn’t only benefit the environment; it can also improve your quality of life in a number of ways.
Here’s how:
Reduces Noise Pollution
Because plants and trees absorb sound waves, less of the noise of the world around you will make it to your home, thus lowering the area’s noise levels. This is especially effective with trees and tall hedges or bushes. This can make a huge impact on your quality of life if you’re living in a loud area.
Protects Your Property From Flooding
Plants and trees absorb a lot of rainwater. Thus, runoff and sediment deposits after storms will be reduced. This also slows the flow of the water through the soil, allowing it to seep into the ground instead of triggering erosion or flooding. If you want to protect your family and property against the negative effects of flooding, green landscaping would be a great practice for you to pick up.
Increases Your Property Value
Did you know that homes with beautifully-landscaped gardens are sold for 5–10% more than properties with no garden? Green landscaping can not only help you save on energy costs — it can enhance your property’s value, too. This can make a huge difference if you’re thinking of selling your property in the future.
Connects You With Nature
Given the hustle and bustle of today’s fast-paced world, people tend to forget to take a pause and appreciate the nature around them. With green landscaping, you will be reminded to slow down and appreciate what you have, helping you recharge and appreciate the beauty of nature.
Improves Your Mental Health
Spending time in nature is known to improve a person’s state of mind. If you get into the regular practice of spending time in your yard, you can become less stressed and find yourself in a lighter, happier mood. Green landscaping is thus not only great for the environment, but also for many people’s mental health.
Are You Ready to Reimagine Your Yard?
Not only can green landscaping protect your local ecosystem, but it can also improve your own mental health.
If you’re considering green landscaping for your yard, you’ve come to the right place. Our green landscaping experts at Out of Eden are here to help you ditch the old ways of landscaping so you can support your ecosystem, community, and mental health from the comfort of your own yard.
Give us a call at (865) 984-8500 or get in touch with us through our contact form to take the first step towards green and healthy living today!
FAQs
How does our landscaping affect our environment?
Landscaping in general has a large impact on your local environment. High-maintenance grass lawns, especially those in arid areas, require a shocking amount of water to maintain. Plus, by uprooting native flora to make way for non-native landscaping materials, food sources and habitats for native wildlife are destroyed.
What makes landscaping sustainable?
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