Native plants are resistant to local weather conditions, which means less maintenance on your part.Water conservation is a fundamental goal of sustainable landscaping, especially if you live in a dry climate. Native plants help save water, thanks to their deep root systems.Here are six reasons why native plants are better for a sustainable landscape than non-native plants:
In other words, they can thrive with little to no chemicals. They’ve adapted to the native soil’s fertility levels and have developed their own resistance to local pests. The fewer fertilizers and pesticides you use on your landscape, the better. In a nutshell, native plants can thrive without human aid, whereas non-native species require lots of fertilizers, pesticides, and maintenance. Non-native plants do not occur naturally where they currently exist and are often introduced to the area by humans. Native plants have evolved and adapted to an area’s environmental conditions without human intervention. Your neighbors have been raving about growing native plants, but what’s the big deal? Aren’t non-natives plants just as good for the environment? Not quite. Makes recreational water activities difficult.Increases the cost of treating drinking water.Clouds the water, making it difficult for animals to find food.Raises water levels and increases the threat of floods.Not only does erosion add chemicals to runoff, but it also pollutes the runoff with sediment. The rushing rainwater dislodges soil that often contains toxic fertilizers and pesticides. Yet half the Earth’s most fertile soil (which farmers use to grow crops) has been lost in the last 150 years, and erosion is a big reason why.Įrosion also contributes to the polluted stormwater runoff that enters our local streams, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water. The Earth’s soil is a valuable resource and plays a vital role in the ecosystem. Spruce up your landscape with these creative (and cute) erosion control ideas: Silt fencing, sandbags, riprap –– these erosion control methods don’t necessarily scream “charming landscape.”īut controlling erosion doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice beauty. When you think of erosion control in the landscape, you might envision unattractive obstacles that will upset your landscape’s curb appeal. Minimizes rainwater runoff and polluted local waterwaysĬontributes to rainwater runoff and polluted local waterwaysġ4 sustainable landscape design ideas 1. Requires little to no fertilizers or pesticides to thriveĬannot thrive without fertilizers and pesticides Here’s what separates a sustainable landscape from a non-sustainable landscape: Sustainable Landscape Sustainable landscaping is an approach that uses multiple design techniques to create a thriving, functional landscape that benefits the environment.īut aren’t all landscapes good for the environment? Not exactly.
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