The idea of Earth friendliness has been around for decades, but catastrophic weather, visible climate change and scientific findings during the early years of the new century have contributed to the popularization of “going green.” And in our industry, landscaping in a sustainable way has become a way of addressing many of the negative effects of over-development.
What does that mean, exactly? It means not sacrificing the needs of future generations for our own. Sustainable landscaping requires less maintenance, reduces environmental harm, uses native plants, and encourages the use of local, renewable, and recyclable materials. And commercial properties that follow the practices yield higher occupancy, report increased profits and promote a better public image and a healthier, more prosperous landscape.
Here are three sustainable landscaping upgrades you might consider for your property:
- A bio-nutritional fertilizer translates into a dramatic decrease in the amount of pesticides and insecticides needed.
- A smart irrigation system will ensure your landscaping is looking as good as it possibly can without wasting water.
- Selecting low-maintenance plants that don’t demand a lot of irrigation will save you money that could be allocated to other projects.
It’s certainly important to encourage sustainability on a large scale, but these simple changes can also be adopted at home for an even greater impact. A little thought and planning before you start planting will pay off in the long run.