In today’s day and age, being environmentally friendly and conscious is a key thought in everyone’s minds. From climate change protests to Greta Thurnberg’s impassioned speech for the UN, more and more people around the world are beginning to focus on how to be more eco and environmentally friendly. Luckily, there are a few easy steps that anyone can take to make their own landscape designs and gardens more friendly, with changes to water use, lawn size, and plant choices!
Table of Contents
Reduce Lawn Size
One of the biggest eco-friendly design tips and one of the simplest is to reduce lawn size. The bigger the lawn, the more grass there is. The more grass there is, the water is required to keep it green and flourishing. Water conservation is easily the biggest, and easiest, way to be eco-friendly.
Choose Plants Wisely
Certain plants require far more care than others do. Certain plants also require much more water than others do, so picking the right plant can immediately add to water conservation efforts. With perennials, there are various different plants that can be used! There are perennial flowers, such as dahlias and hibiscus plants.
There are perennial fruits, such as apples, apricots, pineapples, and strawberries. There are also perennial herbs such as alfalfa, basil, mint, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Any of these plants will live far longer than annual plants, and use far less water!
Use Mulch
Mulching is a common landscape tool, and doing it correctly can save a lot of water! This is because mulch prevents the evaporation of water, meaning plants can be watered less. Mulch also prevents weeds, so it serves multiple purposes. However, it is very important to pick a mulch that is also eco-friendly, since not all mulch is. There are many ways to get local mulch resources such as straw, peanut shells, corn husks, chemical-free sawdust, or composted manure. It is also possible to shred autumn leaves, compost the leaves into leaf mold, and then spread that into mulch.
If you’re still wondering about whether to mulch or not, make sure to check out our guide on mulching
Use Smart Irrigation
Irrigation is a good way to avoid wasting water. One way to implement a smart irrigation system is to install a drip-irrigation system. A drip-irrigation system is a system that drips water slowly directly to the roots of the plants, either above the surface or below. This is implemented to minimize evaporation and prevent water waste! If you already have a lawn system implemented, it can be key to inspect that system and make any adjustments you need to make so be sure that there are not any leaks or that water is being directed in the wrong way and watering areas that it should not be.
Conserve Water
Are you a little hesitant to have your commercial property properly landscaped because you are weary of a skyrocketing water bill? While professionally landscaped areas can add to the appearance and functionality of your restaurant, bar, high rise condos or corporate headquarters, you will likely need to make a little room in your water bill budget for maintenance. However, before you go assuming that your water bill will be too high for your budget to handle, take a look at these tips you can use to save a little H2O and some of that hard earned money. There are many ways to save water landscaping but here are just a few.
Do Your Research & Hire a Pro
There are many experts out there who know exactly how to design your landscape in order to preserve water. If water conservation is one of your main concerns, it’s recommended you hire a professional who has plenty of experience working with business owners, CEOs and landscaping crews who are looking to present a clean cut appearance without letting the water bill get out of control.
Update Your Sprinklers
If you plan to take care of your irrigation independently, the first thing you should do is replace your old sprinkler system. When shopping around for new sprinklers, make sure you choose ones that save water. Typically, jet sprinklers are recommended over traditional spray sprinklers.
Invest in a ‘Smart Controller’
Yet another way you can save water is by getting yourself a smart controller that allows you to program waterings. These controllers are also equipped with sensors that monitor weather conditions and automatically activate when needed. This means they shut off during freezes in order to prevent costly accidents, conserve during rainy periods and avoid peak demand times without human involvement.
Install a Drip Irrigation Systems
Most of the smart systems you will find on the market today monitor conditions, but drip systems monitor and act. Many of them are also compatible with mobile apps and software, so you can keep track of water usage and settings on your smartphone or tablet. They also shut down automatically if any issue were to arise, saving you time, money and resources that is otherwise wasted.
Select Drought Tolerant Plants
The easiest thing you can do to conserve water around the office is select plants that are tolerate drought. This is of course especially important if you live in dry and arid conditions. Some drought-resistant perennials include hollyhocks, lavender, foxglove, stone crops and English ivy. If you’re not sure which drought tolerable plants or shrubs will work best in your environment, you can always ask the owner of your local nursery or your landscaper.
Having your commercial property professionally landscaped no longer means you will be forking over hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars each month to the utility companies. All you have to do is put these tips to use and you’ll be well on your way to having a landscaped lawn, courtyard or garden that saves your company or tenants lots of cash.
Repurpose
Making small changes can make a very big impact, and everyone doing their own small part can be what ends up making a very large change! Following these few tips and tricks will allow for eco-friendly landscape designs that everyone can approve of and implement in their own way. Fiberglass planters are a good step towards an eco-friendly design, so be sure to look through the Jay Scotts collection today!
