Tips for Sustainable Landscaping

Sustainable landscaping is a set of practices that work with nature to sustain local wildlife, conserve energy and water, improve air and water quality, and provide pleasure to the owners.’  In contrast to traditional landscape practices that highlight ornamental value, sustainable landscaping is driven by mindful choices of design, plant selection, and gardening practices to maximize the value to the environment.’  Over time a sustainable yard will save time
and money.

A’  few basic practices can start you on your way …

Take Stock

Your yard probably already has a lot to like if not love, so build on what you like and tackle what you don’t like.’  As a first step observe.’  Which plants thrive in your yard and which seem to require too much time and attention (as well as water, fertilizers, and pest control)?’  Are there signs of water issues such as erosion or standing water after a heavy rain?

Have a Plan

Decide how you want to live in your yard. Do you want a comfortable place to relax, a play area for the kids, entertaining space, and/or space to grow fruits and vegetables?’  How much time do you want to spend on your yard?’ ‘  Your plan could be as simple as a few goals your want to accomplish, a rough outline of what you want to do, or a detailed to-scale landscape plan.’  Your plan will provide you a framework for starting moving toward a more sustainable landscape.’  As you gain experience and conditions evolve you’ll want to modify your plans.

Start Small

Expand an existing bed or create a new one.’  Tackle a problem area–plant shrubs or perennials in those areas where grass doesn’t grow or replace invasive plants with environmentally-friendly alternatives.’  Build a rain garden to deal with water runoff problems. By starting small you can pace yourself and learn from your successes and (inevitable) failures.’  As a corollary, buying plants in smaller sized containers saves money and they will more easily establish themselves than a more mature plant.

Plant a Tree (and Some Shrubs)

Trees offer multiple environmental benefits.’  A tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.’ ‘  Trees provide shelter for birds and
mammals and serve as host plants for many insects.’  Trees create micro-climates, reducing temperatures and increasing moisture in the air.’  A deciduous tree planted on the south side of your house will eventually offer shade in the summer, while letting sunlight through during the winter to reduce energy costs for both heating and cooling.’  They can also serve as windbreaks along western and northern parts of the property (2 to 5 times farther than the mature height of the trees or shrubs).’  Smaller trees and shrubs can help fill in space in garden beds and provide added source of food and habitat for wildlife and, depending on your selections, fruits and nuts for your own consumption.’  Trees and shrubs make up the skeleton for your landscape plan.

Rule of Three (or Five or Seven)

Odd number arrangements for small trees, shrubs, and perennials are generally more aesthetically pleasing to the eye than even numbers.’  By repeating patterns of plantings in several parts of your garden, as long as the growing conditions are more or the less the same, can help create a sense of uniformity and continuity throughout your yard.

Go Native

Native plants are uniquely suited for conditions in our region and when planted in the right spot, require minimal care once established, reducing the amount of water, fertilizers, and time required to care for them.’  Many natives are essential host plants for butterflies and other insects, which in turn provide food for birds and their offspring. The oak tree supports 536 species of insects.’  The milkweed is the only plant that monarch butterflies–already severely stressed by loss of habitat–will lay its eggs on.’  Aim for a diverse set of plants to support wildlife and provide enjoyment year round.’  The US Fish and Wildlife Service’s publication, Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed, is a useful resource of identifying regional natives.

Avoid Problem Plants

Invasive plants have become a serious problem in our parks and wildlife areas and many of these plants–such as English Ivy, Burning Bush, Bradford Pears,
Asian wisteria, daylillies, common periwinkle–have been and continue to be a mainstay of suburban landscape.’  Invasive plants push out native plants that provide food and habitat for birds, insects, and other animals and undermine the diversity needed for a healthy ecosystem.’  The’  Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia website (http://mgnv.org/) offers a list of problem plans and better alternatives.’  When selecting plants you should also consider whether it is susceptible to disease or pests and whether it will hold up under weather and wind conditions? For example, Weyland Cypruses have shallow roots and can be pushed askew or even uprooted as the result of heavy winds or snow.

Know your Plants

Plants will only do well if planted in the right place so you’ll save time in the long run by spending time up front selecting plants that are suited to the specific spot you intend to put them.’  Is it in full sun, partial shade, or deep shade?’  Is the spot constantly wet, generally dry or somewhere in between?’ ‘  The PH level of the soil is also important, and digital PH reader is easily obtainable from your local gardening store.’  Your soil can be amended as needed to ensure right PH level for your plants.’  You can also group plants together that have similar needs to reduce the amount of work you have to do.’  Some plants can help enrich the soil; for example False Indigo is a nitrogen accumulator.’  Plants such as asparagus and strawberries or mayapples and wild ginger make good companion plants while pairing of other plants that grow at different rates could lead to one pushing the other out or constant efforts to keep them in balance. The Master Gardeners of Norhern Virginia website (http://mgnv.org/) offers lists of useful plants for your sustainable garden.

Give Them Space

Pay attention to the expected mature size of the plants, particularly trees and shrubs, you plan to put into your garden and space them accordingly.’  If you’re working with a landscaper verify that they have allowed enough room for growth.’  Plants too close together may offer some instant gratification and you may still be pleased with the results after five years.’  In 10 to 15 years, however, you may be facing an expensive makeover to correct the damage from trees and shrubs crowding too close together.

Reduce Grass Area

A green expanse of lawn has often been the pride and joy of the homeowner but grass offers few environmental advantages for local wildlife while requiring
considerable time, water, chemicals, and energy to maintain.’  Grass contributes to water run off, and with the water goes much of the fertilizers and pesticides added to keep it green.’  While a sustainable landscape has room for lawn areas, you should consider what purpose the lawn plays in your yard and plan to ‘œright-size’ your lawn as time and money permits.

Grasscycle

A starting point for making your lawn sustainable is to use a mulching lawnmower to leave your grass clippings in your lawn to return the nutrients back to the soil.’  Not having to bag and dispose of the clipping means less work for you and reduces what ends up in landfills.’  Other good practices for sustainable lawn care and a healthy lawn include cutting grass to no less than 2 ‘½ to 3 inches to protect the roots and reduce pests; water only once a week when rainfall has been under one inch, and use organic fertilizers only as needed and only in the fall.
Cultivate Living Mulch

Densely planting your garden with perennials and ground cover around your trees and shrubs will create a pleasing and lush landscape and, if you leave the
resulting plant litter in place, will provide free mulch, free fertilizers, free nutrients, and free weed control.’  While not necessary, you may want to remove some of last year’s leaves to tidy up the beds.’  If you have a vegetable garden you might consider planting a nitrogen fixer such as vetch or clover over the winter months that can be turned into the soil come spring to enrich the soil.