Eco-Friendly Landscaping, Landscaper Amherst NH
Can you have an eco-friendly landscape that’s still beautiful to look at? Yes! Your landscape doesn’t have to look like a mountain meadow to be eco-friendly. In this post, you’ll find 4 tips for eco-friendly landscaping in Amherst, NH.
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A Pollinator’s Dream
One of the hottest and most eco-friendly trends in landscaping is to designate a relatively undisturbed area to support pollinators such as bees and butterflies, whose populations are plummeting at alarming rates. These areas are completely free of toxic herbicides and pesticides. To thrive, pollinators need undisturbed nesting sites and clean food and water sources that are free from toxic chemicals. But don’t worry. Your landscape will not suddenly become a haven for weeds and pests! The trick is planting native plants and supporting robust root systems with infrequent and deep watering until they become well established. Natives are naturally more resistant to pests and weeds once established, which also has the added bonus of being a low-maintenance area of the landscape. Add a naturalistic fountain to the pollinator garden to create a complete eco-system for our pollinator friends. If you want to keep the area looking neater than a wild meadow, you can plant bee- and butterfly-attracting plants in containers or in raised beds.
Permeable Hardscapes
Many homeowners don’t realize just how much rain and snowmelt run off their driveways, walkways, and patios. While the surrounding vegetation can absorb the water, hardscapes cannot; so the water will pool or runoff. This can overwhelm municipal storm systems and cause water to pool in low-lying areas of the landscape. One very attractive solution is to use permeable pavers. The pavers themselves are rock-solid; the secret is in the joints between them. Permeable pavers are set slightly farther apart, and the jointing compound is specifically designed to allow water to percolate through to a permeable base beneath the pavers. Eventually, this water will seep into the ground, where it will replenish the aquifer instead of remaining on the surface or running into storm drains. With permeable pavers, you have many design options that ensure the finished product perfectly meets your design and functional needs. Permeable pavers are safer (less pooling of snowmelt that will re-freeze), and reduce the heat island effect by allowing the surface to “breathe” through the larger joints.
A Native Landscape
Native plants may, at first glance, seem “ordinary” because they’re everywhere in wild areas and uncultivated gardens. However, if you value eco-friendly approaches to landscaping, then natives are your best bet. They’re perfectly adapted to the local climate (and micro-climate), which means they require less effort and money to maintain. And just like any other landscape plants, you can treat them as focal points. Draw attention to a special tree or shrub with landscape lighting and/or by surrounding it with mulch that helps it stand out.
Water-wise Irrigation
No matter how drought-tolerant your landscape plants are, they still require irrigation to maintain their health and appearance. Installing a professional irrigation system takes the guesswork out of how much and how often to water plants, and it delivers water to the root system much more efficiently than a garden hose or hose-attached sprinkler. Targeted drip irrigation is the best method for avoiding evaporation and ensuring that drought-tolerant plants in the landscape aren’t drowned when a nearby water-loving plant is getting what it needs.
Related: LANDSCAPE DESIGN IDEAS FOR PRIVATE PATIOS IN HOLLIS, NH
