6 Ideas for Green Environment Landscaping

Even if it’s cold where you are now, spring is on the way. Is your homestead ready? One way to prepare is by planning your landscaping projects for the coming warm season. But that doesn’t necessarily entail heading to the big-box hardware store and stocking up on grass seed and lawn fertilizer. Why not get more eco-friendly while simultaneously freeing up hours of weekend time otherwise spent mowing? Here are six ideas for green environment landscaping to inspire your springtime landscape. 

1. Xeriscape

You water. You fertilize. You mow on schedule. Your lawn still features brown patches, and you’re sick of battling it week after week. 

What if you could declare a ceasefire simply by bidding adieu to some or all of your grass? Think about it: unless you have puppies or kids in need of soft play space, it serves no useful purpose other than to break your back with a lawnmower once a week and cost you a small fortune in water and treatments. 

Xeriscaping uses native plants to create a landscape design that needs minimal watering. It also slashes your overall maintenance, eliminating most grass and using pebbles and river rock to fill in around plants. It’s popular in the arid southwest, but it can work anywhere.

Liberate yourself from weekend chores and pat yourself on the back for being a good planetary steward. You’re no longer contributing to runoff and the resulting eutrophication that can occur when excess fertilizer runoff enters waterways, causing algae blooms and toxicity. 

2. Plant Food Crops 

It’s shameful, but even in a wealthy nation like the U.S., almost 38 million people go to bed hungry every night. Meanwhile, affluent areas sport nothing but green lawns as far as the eye can see, the grass often cared for by those who struggle to put food on their family’s tables. 

Imagine what it would be like if everyone planted food instead of lawns. Society could reduce hunger and provide a steady stream of organic goods free from toxic pesticides used by big commercial agricultural operations. You might not be able to change the world, but you can impact your little corner of it by planting a crop or two. 

You don’t even have to spend money on this idea other than buying a bit of potting soil. It doesn’t take much savvy to learn how to save some seeds from easy-to-handle plants like beans and tomatoes that you eat, completing the life cycle. 

3. Harvest Rainwater 

You pay for the water that comes out of your tap, and using it drains the collective supply. However, you might be able to reduce your consumption by saving rainwater to use in your landscaping. 

Check with your municipality before you set up your barrels, however. While it sounds counterintuitive, some areas restrict you from saving rainwater, and you don’t want to run into legal trouble. 

4. Compost 

Your garden grows better when you have the right nutrients. However, you don’t have to spend a fortune on formulated fertilizers. Accelerate the process mother nature uses to keep the soil rich by building a compost bin. 

You can often pick up materials for free — local hardware stores often give away wooden pallets you can use for materials. A smaller bin also works if you have only a few containers lining a sunny patio. Include plant-based scraps like banana peels and lawn clippings. 

5. Use Natural Pest Control 

Pesticides can keep aphids from eating your prized roses. They also emit harmful chemicals into the air and even the water supply. 

Instead, why not opt for natural pest control methods? Gardeners have long turned to ladybugs to keep aphids at bay. You can also mix non-toxic sprays, such as a milk and water solution, to address powdery mildew and other fungal conditions. 

6. Nurture Local Wildlife 

Do you have endangered wildlife where you live? If so, why not dedicate your garden to creating a habitat for those you don’t mind living near your home? 

For example, several species of monarch butterflies are now endangered because of human development, such as border wall construction. However, you can attract these beauties to your home by planting their favorite food — milkweed. You can even score a free packet of seeds from Live Monarch, an organization dedicated to preserving these creatures, even if you can’t afford a contribution. 

Ideas for Green Environment Landscaping

You might have snow on the ground, but spring will be here before you know it. Why not plan your outside projects? 

Draw inspiration from these ideas for green environment landscaping. Make your yard into a true testimony to your commitment to mother earth.