Before considering some
green landscaping ideas you need to keep a few things in mind. The first thing to keep in mind is the climate where you live. The temperate climates will support a wide assortment of plant life but in the arid climate areas you may be restricted to a smaller variety of plants. In order to conserve water it is better to select drought tolerant plants for each of these climate zones. The second thing is the area in which you live. In the mountain areas plants that are able to grow and thrive in higher elevations and rock soils are needed and marshy areas the plants need to thrive and grow in soil that is water-heavy. It does not matter where you live it just requires purchasing plants that are native to the area and will be able to grow with a minimal amount of irrigation.
In many cases it is not how often the landscape needs water it is how that water is used. I am sure you have seen many sprinkler systems that spray water so high that most of the water is not hitting the areas that need it but is wasted by watering the driveway and sidewalk of homes. Most of this excess water ends up in the sewers and is completely wasted. The best watering system to use is a drip irrigation system that has spray nozzles low to the ground and go directly to the roots of the plants or a drip system with soaker hoses because these hoses sit on top of the ground and seep out water directly to the root systems. These types of irrigation systems work well for lawns, trees, shrubs and the individual plants of your green landscaping.
Gray water is the water that comes from washing machines, dishwashers, and showers and can hook up to your drip irrigation system but only if you and your family use soaps, shampoos, and detergents that are environmentally friendly, this method will save quite a bit on fresh water usage. Collecting rain water is another excellent way of conserving water not only for home use but also as part of the green landscaping design. People have been using
rain barrels for many years and you can find many more places to purchase these containers. The amount of rain water that comes off a roof is a lot more than most people think, so why not start saving it.
There are several constituents that can help you with green landscaping such as natural fertilizers or compost, mulch, along with native plants and ornamental grasses. Your grass lawns can become a water hog but if you cut down on how often you water, cut the grass to an optimal length and mulch, it will cut down the need for water. In hot weather leave the grass length a little longer so it will keep the soil cooler and help to retain moisture. You can even start using a push reel mower, this way you will not be sending harmful pollutants into the atmosphere; you will also cut down on noise pollution and maintain those muscles.
You may even want to think about a mulching lawn mower since it will finely chop up the grass clippings and leave it on the grass; this will begin to decompose and fertilize your soil. If your grass is too long you may want to bag the clippings and add them to your compost pile for later use. You can also use organic mulch around your plants to conserve water, cool the roots, and prevent weeds. These are just some of the ways that can help you create a
green landscaping.
