How to Adopt Green Landscaping Practices for a Healthier Planet
Green landscaping design practices can help improve your local landscape and protect the environment.
Adapting to climate change is something we all need to concentrate on in our everyday lives, and one way that you can do so is by choosing to use green landscaping practices. Green landscape design is not only better for the planet, but can also help prevent some of the problems with modern landscape design in a changing climate – such as drought, salt water intrusion, and the heat island effect.
Benefits of green landscaping practices include reduced soil erosion, less pollution, water conservation, and a healthier environment in general.
Choosing native plants, grasses, and trees is one good way to do this, but here are a few other ideas for implementing sustainable and green landscaping methods around your home and community:
Tree Science
…Whether deciduous or evergreen, planting as many trees as possible will add much needed oxygen to the atmosphere. Mature trees are natural carbon- capture creatures storing up to a ton of CO2…
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Plant Strength
If you live in an area that is particularly hard hit by climate change, your green landscape design needs to include plants that are capable of withstanding cold temperatures, rain, sun and wind elements.
- Heat – For drought risk areas choose plants that need minimal watering such as: succulents, lavender, rosemary, sage, catmint, oregano, and thyme…
- Cold – Plants that do well in frost and cold include: Broccoli, cabbage, calendula, carrot, chives, lettuce, pansy, peas, radish, swiss chard and spinach.
Pave Friendly
If you pave paths and other areas of a green landscape design…it is best to use recycled materials that allow for high permeability to avoid rainwater runoff and maximize capture of precipitation…
Mow Electric
There’s no reason you should use a gas powered mower to cut your grass. It is estimated that these machines spew as much pollution in one hour as it takes a car to create carbon in forty hours… Electric lawn mowers are finally able to compete with carbon producing gas mowers. They easily charge, are clean, and make minimal noise.
Reduce Heat-Island Effect
Installing vegetative roof and climbing wall systems as well as photovoltaic shade canopies can reduce the heat-island effect. Heat island effect is described as a rise in temperature of an urban center compared to that of the surrounding rural area by as much as five to nine degrees Fahrenheit. Green landscape design, particularly in urban areas, should include grass and trees…planted on rooftops, and vine plants along the base which help cool the area and, thereby, reduce fossil fuel use.
Rain Catch Barrels
Place rain-catch barrels throughout your green landscape design so you can utilize free rainwater to keep your landscape hydrated without wasting water…
Read more at HealEstate.com…
