7 Easy Ways to Create a More Sustainable Yard and Garden
Discover the steps you can take to have a landscape that supports wildlife, saves water and reduces environmental impact
If you’re eager to plan a landscape that can help to protect the environment, there are a few simple things you can do. From reducing waste and saving water to creating habitats and food for wildlife, taking these measures can make an impact even with small plots. Read on to find seven key ways to create a sustainable yard and garden.
2. Save Water
Droughts have made it more important than ever to save water, but that can be easier said than done if you want a blooming garden. Even if you don’t live in a drought-prone area, there are some simple and effective ways to reduce water use in your yard.
An important purchase, for example, is a rain barrel or water cistern, which you can use to collect rainwater for irrigation during drier months. (This side yard features a rain garden and a cistern that replenishes a bubbling water feature.) Also, choose water-wise plants, take the time to prepare the soil and add mulch to slow down the evaporation of water from the surface.
Tip: Before you purchase or install a rain barrel, be sure to check local laws. Certain states have issued rainwater-harvesting restrictions.
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Droughts have made it more important than ever to save water, but that can be easier said than done if you want a blooming garden. Even if you don’t live in a drought-prone area, there are some simple and effective ways to reduce water use in your yard.
An important purchase, for example, is a rain barrel or water cistern, which you can use to collect rainwater for irrigation during drier months. (This side yard features a rain garden and a cistern that replenishes a bubbling water feature.) Also, choose water-wise plants, take the time to prepare the soil and add mulch to slow down the evaporation of water from the surface.
Tip: Before you purchase or install a rain barrel, be sure to check local laws. Certain states have issued rainwater-harvesting restrictions.
Find a landscape designer near you
3. Be Considerate With Lighting
If you want to enjoy evenings outdoors, lighting is essential, but it’s important to consider wildlife too. Excessive artificial light can have a negative impact on many species, so take the time to find the right balance.
By highlighting only the areas you need to, pointing lights downward and using low-level illumination, you can reduce the impact your landscape lighting has on nocturnal creatures.
Landscape Lighting That Doesn’t Wake the Birds
If you want to enjoy evenings outdoors, lighting is essential, but it’s important to consider wildlife too. Excessive artificial light can have a negative impact on many species, so take the time to find the right balance.
By highlighting only the areas you need to, pointing lights downward and using low-level illumination, you can reduce the impact your landscape lighting has on nocturnal creatures.
Landscape Lighting That Doesn’t Wake the Birds
4. Make Your Own Compost
Avoid the time, money and effort of lugging heavy plastic bags of compost home from the garden center by making your own. As well as being less wasteful and kinder to the environment, the rich, fertile soil will give your garden beds a boost.
Compost bins come in many shapes, sizes and materials, but the key elements you need are air, moisture and heat. Choose the biggest size you can fit into your space, as a larger amount of material will heat up more quickly and therefore speed up the decomposition process.
What You Should Know About Composting in Winter
Avoid the time, money and effort of lugging heavy plastic bags of compost home from the garden center by making your own. As well as being less wasteful and kinder to the environment, the rich, fertile soil will give your garden beds a boost.
Compost bins come in many shapes, sizes and materials, but the key elements you need are air, moisture and heat. Choose the biggest size you can fit into your space, as a larger amount of material will heat up more quickly and therefore speed up the decomposition process.
What You Should Know About Composting in Winter
5. Avoid Plastic Where Possible
It can be surprising how much plastic we use in the landscape. There are those single-use black pots that garden center plants come in, for example, as well as plastic seed trays, plant labels and twine.
But with a little thought, you can replace these unsustainable items with more environmentally friendly alternatives. Use wooden labels and traditional garden string, and seek out garden centers that will recycle the black plant pots. Also, hunt around for biodegradable seed trays that will break down into the soil when they reach the end of their lifespan.
When you’re planning outdoor structures such as greenhouses, opt for glass instead of plastic if possible. The initial cost may be higher, but a model glass will last a lot longer than a cheaper plastic one.
It can be surprising how much plastic we use in the landscape. There are those single-use black pots that garden center plants come in, for example, as well as plastic seed trays, plant labels and twine.
But with a little thought, you can replace these unsustainable items with more environmentally friendly alternatives. Use wooden labels and traditional garden string, and seek out garden centers that will recycle the black plant pots. Also, hunt around for biodegradable seed trays that will break down into the soil when they reach the end of their lifespan.
When you’re planning outdoor structures such as greenhouses, opt for glass instead of plastic if possible. The initial cost may be higher, but a model glass will last a lot longer than a cheaper plastic one.
6. Incorporate Permeable Paving
Hardscaping is great for creating seating areas and places to walk, but it’s important to hit the right balance of hard and soft surfaces. When there aren’t enough porous surfaces, it increases the chances that rainwater will run off, overwhelming drainage systems and causing local flooding. So having plenty of soil and plants in your yard is essential.
However, that doesn’t mean you have to cover the bulk of your plot with a lawn. The key is to mix plants with your paving, perhaps by slotting ground covers within the gaps, as seen here. Creeping thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus and T. serpyllum; USDA zones 4 to 8; find your zone), for example, will look and smell lovely, as well as provide nectar for bees.
So Long, Lawn: 6 Walkable Ground Covers to Consider
Hardscaping is great for creating seating areas and places to walk, but it’s important to hit the right balance of hard and soft surfaces. When there aren’t enough porous surfaces, it increases the chances that rainwater will run off, overwhelming drainage systems and causing local flooding. So having plenty of soil and plants in your yard is essential.
However, that doesn’t mean you have to cover the bulk of your plot with a lawn. The key is to mix plants with your paving, perhaps by slotting ground covers within the gaps, as seen here. Creeping thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus and T. serpyllum; USDA zones 4 to 8; find your zone), for example, will look and smell lovely, as well as provide nectar for bees.
So Long, Lawn: 6 Walkable Ground Covers to Consider
7. Choose Hedges Rather Than Fences
When planning the boundaries of your yard, consider swapping a standard fence for a hedge. As well as providing food and shelter for birds, animals and insects, a hedge will create a corridor through which small animals can move freely in and out of your garden.
For the most sustainable option, plant a native hedge, as this will be most helpful for the needs of the wildlife species that use your yard. A hedge that includes a mix of native varieties can produce a succession of different types of fruit and flowers for birds and insects throughout the year.
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When planning the boundaries of your yard, consider swapping a standard fence for a hedge. As well as providing food and shelter for birds, animals and insects, a hedge will create a corridor through which small animals can move freely in and out of your garden.
For the most sustainable option, plant a native hedge, as this will be most helpful for the needs of the wildlife species that use your yard. A hedge that includes a mix of native varieties can produce a succession of different types of fruit and flowers for birds and insects throughout the year.
More on Houzz
Read more landscape design stories
Browse landscape photos
Find a landscape designer
Shop for outdoor products
To create a biodiverse outdoor space, try to include as many wildlife-friendly features as possible. A simple idea is to incorporate a bee hotel or other kind of insect hotel, like the one pictured here, to provide a nesting space for solitary bees and other native insects.
Having a garden pond is another way to support wildlife, but even a small saucer of water will help smaller creatures stay hydrated.
Think also about the types of plants you include, and opt for a range of pollinating varieties — especially natives — as well as shrubs and trees to provide habitat and berries for birds.
How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden