An environmentally friendly garden can incorporate numerous characteristics but some of the ones that Designscapes of NC thinks are easy to consider include creating habitat for pollinators, promoting plant diversity and minimizing water and chemical usage.
Incorporating native plants into the landscape is important because they are adapted to the conditions of the area or region. This means that they will require less maintenance – water, fertilizer and pesticides. However, you do want plant diversity in your landscape because it creates stability within the environment and also ensures color throughout the entire year. So all of your plants do not have to be native for an environmentally friendly landscape, but incorporating them into your design is best. A varied selection of plants creates sustainable habitat for the bees and butterflies while supporting other pollinator species like bats and birds who will also provide some mosquito control.
Additionally, consider reducing lawn areas especially fescue as it requires a lot of water. Using warm season grasses such as zoysia and centipede in areas that get at least six hours of sun is recommended. Adding mulch around your plants and plant beds will also retain moisture. Minimizing fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides is also important. Determine what your soil really needs by taking a soil sample. A soil sample will provide you with information regarding soil requirements such as whether your soil is acidic and may need lime. This will prevent you from chemical over-use by knowing exactly what your soil does and does not need. In addition, this will protect our waterways (streams, creeks, rivers) because it will minimize the amount of chemicals in runoff.
We can help you create an environmentally friendly landscape. Call us at 919-844-3441 or fill out the contact form below.
