Guest Blog by, Kelsey Luvisa
With spring in full swing, it’s time to give your yard a refresh or upgrade. If your goal is to go green, you can go beyond your yard’s looks, to mean an ecologically friendly approach to how you plan your landscaping upgrade. There are some ways to rethink the outdoor area of your home with the environment. Using organics, watering less, and opting for native plants can have a very positive value difference for you. Here are some tips as you plan your yard upgrade.
Go as native as possible with plants
Everyone wants a beautiful yard but picking the ideal greenery to truly make your yard sing means selecting plants that will thrive, and be a hospitable environment for butterflies, bees, birds, and other pollinators. These choices will naturally require less maintenance because they will already be acclimated to your home’s weather patterns, including rainfall and humidity levels. They will not need as much added boosts from fertilizers or pesticides, which could have a negative impact on your home’s hazard risk. Another bonus is that you’ll likely find that native plants are more cost-effective than those that will be traveling from other parts of the country or the world and have spent time in a greenhouse before arriving at your home garden center.
Opt for organics
Another draw of native plants is that they can contribute to a yard focused on organics, as you can avoid the pesticides mentioned above. If you want to sell your house soon, potential buyers will likely see a big plus in a yard with organic features. If you need to fertilize, composting can provide a natural alternative while saving you money on gardening supplies. You can find organics in garden centers or you can hire yard maintenance companies that only use Organic fertilizers. Organics can also mean using mulch or compost, leaves, and other natural ground covers. Mulch can support moisture in your yard (cutting down on watering) while at the same time adding nutrients to your soil. Mulch is also a cost-effective and water-saving alternative avoiding aggressive water irrigation.
Grass alternatives
As you may already know, grass can increase your home’s water consumption, which is not exactly environmentally friendly. Most of the water providers also increase the cost of water during warmer weather. There are your other options, if you have a large space in your yard, and do not want a lawn? Mulch is one way to go but you can also consider ground cover which does not need a lot of mowing. A rock garden is another way to go, you can intersperse it with native plants for variety. This type of yard can appeal to buyers who are seeking a low maintenance yard.
Conserve water
Water is a precious natural resource and considering how your yard is consuming water is a necessity of rethinking an eco-friendly yard. Beyond the options we’ve already mentioned above, some other strategies are to use an automatic rain shut-off device, which cuts your irrigation systems when rainfall has been sufficient. You can also upgrade your sprinkler heads, rotors, or drip irrigation emitters with water-efficient alternatives —this check can include eliminating leaks that lead to more water flow than necessary. A rain barrel in your yard, which collects rainwater and then recirculates it into your irrigation system is another eco-friendly yard addition.
A few conscious choices can make a huge difference when crafting an ecologically friendly, beautiful yard and will save you money in the long run.
Guest Blog By,
Kelsey Luvisa
Marketing Coordinator, Communications at HomeLight
https://www.homelight.com/