Spring Into Sustainable Landscaping

PORTLAND, Ore., April 19, 2010

Spring is here and homeowners will be readying their yards for summer. By incorporating sustainable practices and materials into a home’s landscaping, homeowners can prevent landscape degradation, improve the overall health of landscaping, conserve water while lowering utility bills, and reduce the amount of time and money spent on maintenance. Here are five ideas to make a home’s landscaping more sustainable. 

Fencing

Fences, especially those in the Pacific Northwest, require routine maintenance. Homeowners who need to install a new fence or replace an old one should consider bamboo. Bamboo is natural way to create privacy and shade. It requires almost no maintenance or watering and is available in many different species that grow to various heights and densities, and thrive in all types of climates. 

Compared to the cost and materials of a traditional new fence, bamboo is an inexpensive, renewable alternative. Being a renewable resource means that bamboo rapidly regenerates and will overgrow a yard if unmaintained. Research the best practices for planting bamboo in order to stay on good terms with neighbors who might not appreciate bamboo migrating into their yards. Also, keep in mind that it will take a couple of years for the bamboo to grow into a full fence; bamboo is not an immediate solution if the purpose of the fence is to contain animals or children. 

Other sustainable fencing options are recycled material fences. Recycled content fences are available in a variety of materials, including vinyl, plastic, and metal. The products help reduce the use of new materials, require almost no maintenance, and are extremely durable. The average life of a properly maintained wood fence is between 5 and 20 years. Depending on the material, a fence made of recycled content can come with up to a lifetime warranty. Unlike bamboo, recycled material fences cost more than wood fences. Homeowners might argue that the time and money saved on paint, stain, and replacement parts makes these products well worth the investment.   

The Garden

Daily watering is essential to maintaining healthy landscaping. One of the easiest ways to conserve water and reduce watering costs is to use compost or mulch. Compost is beneficial in many ways. It can be used in gardens, plant beds, and in conjunction with mulch. Composting reuses food that would otherwise end up in the waste stream, adds nutrients to the soil, and increases the soil’s ability to retain water. 

Mulch can be used in a garden but is primarily used in landscaping beds. Mulch does an excellent job of retaining water and comes in a range of colors and sizes. Most mulch is wood, however, recycled mulch made out of used tires is becoming more available. Recycled mulch is more expensive, but it will never need to be replaced and is actually preferred in rainy climates or areas prone to excessive runoff. Compost and mulch are valuable solutions to prevent runoff and erosion. 

The Yard

Every yard has a troubled patch of grass or area where vegetation will not grow. Most grass varieties and plants used for landscaping are not natural to the area. These trouble spots are areas where the local environment does not support the demands of the non-native species. Instead of continuing to waste time, money, and water trying to rejuvenate the area, contact your local nursery about native, drought-tolerant plants. 

Patios, Walkways, & Driveways

Stormwater runoff from rain and melting snow can cause ruts to form next to walkways, patios, and driveways. Homeowners who are considering replacing or installing any of these surfaces should think about using permeable materials. Brick, asphalt, and other hard-surface materials force runoff into streams and other unnatural collections. These masses of water can lead to erosion, flooding, or other landscape damage. Permeable paver products permit stormwater to flow through the material into the ground, allowing the water to naturally distribute. If replacing an existing paver feature with a permeable option is a possibility, please remember that there are recycling opportunities available for used stone materials.

The most sustainable option is always to avoid using new products. Homeowners who are experiencing some of the runoff problems mentioned here should know that there are DIY installation practices that can help mitigate these drainage problems. Bricks and pavers are usually laid on a combination of different materials. Stone dust, crushed stone, fill, and sand are just a few of these materials. Correctly layering the base materials will enable a walkway or patio to drain easier. Soil composition and climate play important roles in base material selection, so understanding which base materials are most suitable for a climate and soil type is important. Reinstalling a walkway or patio on a more permeable surface is a great way to improve the sustainability and performance of a home’s landscaping. 

For solid surface walkways and patios, installing a drainage system, such as a French drain, is one solution to prevent stormwater runoff from causing future damage.

Let Nature Be Your AC

Before turning on the air conditioner, experiment with cross ventilation. Successful cross ventilation involves opening and closing a combination of doors and windows. Every home will be different, but it is a no-cost way to cool your home. Door and window screens are relatively inexpensive investments that can solve the inconveniences of cross ventilation. Normal screens will keep insects and airborne debris out of a home. For people with allergies, there are special screens designed to prevent pollen and other allergens from entering the home. Solar screens are designed to reduce the amount of heat absorbed by a door or window. By installing solar screens on south-facing windows and determining a home’s cross ventilation pattern, the AC might just stay in storage this summer.