In recent years, sustainability and being eco-friendly have become a major concern for many people. If you’re interested in beautiful landscaping while still being mindful of the environmental impact, just follow these tips for sustainable landscaping. There are more options than you might think.

Work With What You Have

It’s understandable to want to start with a clean slate when you hire a landscaping company or set out to redo your landscaping. The truth is, though, that can be counterproductive. The best course of action is to remove only the invasive plants and the plants that have chronic problems (consistently requiring excessive water or labor). Any remaining native plants can be a great base for your future sustainable landscaping plans. After all, why mess with what works?

Ditch the Grass Lawn for Native Plants

Traditional grass lawns can consume massive amounts of water to stay green and luscious. For a low-water option, let your lawn die out and replace it with perennials and native landscapes. Native plants are well-equipped to withstand droughts that may be common where you live plus, they offer much greater variety and interest than simple grass lawns. A professional landscaping company can help you pick out native plants that will work well for your area, require minimal care, and look fantastic. You’ll save water and be the envy of all your neighbors.

Grasscycle

For those who still want a grass lawn, a great sustainable option is to practice grasscycling. Grasscycling is when you leave the grass clippings from cutting your lawn right where they are. It allows the valuable nutrients to go right back into the soil.

Use Mulch

Mulch is the unsung hero of landscaping and an absolute must for any sustainable landscaping design. It helps cool down the soil and keep moisture contained so you don’t need to use as much water. As a bonus, mulch can keep away weeds and reduce the amount of work it takes to maintain the landscaping. If you want to reduce the amount of mulch you need to purchase at a store, you can rely on plant litter that comes when plants naturally drop-dead leaves. The plant litter, if left in place, will provide the surrounding plants nutrients, and weed control just like store-bought mulch would.

Reduce Fertilizer and Pest Control Use

Sometimes, fertilizers and pest control products are necessary to nourish and protect your landscaping. However, whenever possible, it’s best to avoid overusing these products. More is not always better when it comes to chemicals like these. They can hurt a wider range of wildlife than your intended targets and are hard to get rid of once they’re in place. Follow the instructions on the packaging or rely on professionals like a landscaping company for guidance on proper usage. You can end up doing more harm than good if you use too much fertilizer and pest control or use it in the wrong places. It’d be such a shame to damage your landscaping in the process of trying to protect it.

Use Water Wisely

It’s a simple fact that plenty of landscaping requires watering. You can keep all of your plants and landscaping healthy while still being smart about your water use, however. Some strategies to reduce water usage include simply not overwatering your plants, taking advantage of runoff, and adjusting water use seasonally. If allowed in your area, consider capturing rainwater and using that to water your plants rather than potable water.

Plant a Pollinator Garden

Choosing native plants will go a long way toward making your landscaping friendly to pollinators like birds and bees, but if you want to take it to the next level, you can plant a pollinator garden. A pollinator garden full of wildflowers and hearty perennials in the partial sun is an ideal healthy habitat for pollinators. Once your garden is up and ready to go, you’ll get to enjoy the beautiful sights of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators making the most of the garden.

Choose J&S Landscape

If you’re looking for an experienced, talented landscaping company, look no further than J&S Landscape. With more than 30 years of experience serving Boulder, Colorado, we’ve seen and done it all. We’ll work with you to bring your landscaping dreams to life, including sustainable landscaping options like those listed above. To learn more about what we do as a landscaping company and what we can do for you, check out our expert blogs here. We can’t wait to help you!