Sustainable choices aren’t just good for the environment. Even if the climate crisis wasn’t knocking on our door, sustainable choices would always come out on top since they usually reduce maintenance and operational costs. There’s no good reason to keep it out of your landscaping design.
When you’re building a new home, a sustainable and eco-friendly yard goes a long way since it checks soil erosion, reduces water wastage and brings a lot of other benefits. Custom home builders in Salmon Arm can help you design and build an amazing yard that doesn’t go out of its way to harm the planet.
Let’s check out a few amazing eco-friendly landscaping tips:
1. Favour natives
Whether it’s importing a new bush variety, a perennial or the lawn grass, when you import exotics, it creates a lot of problems for both you and the environment. Since those exotics aren’t adapted to the local climate, wildlife, rain cycles and germs, they need extra attention and care. You’ll need to invest more water, fertilisers and pesticides to keep them alive and healthy. This doesn’t take away more money from your budget, but also lowers the soil fertility of your precious real estate in Salmon Arm.
On the other hand, natives are adapted to the local conditions and have evolved to thrive in that area for thousands of years. They can grow and survive without any major help from you. Apart from being resistant to local pests, natives also invite local wildlife who depend on them for food and shelter. With natives, your yard becomes more beautiful and lively and makes living in Salmon Arm a bit more fun.
2. Opt for permeable hardscapes
While soft grass and sand are great to walk on, nothing beats the aesthetic brilliance of hardscapes. However, concrete slabs and asphalt are the worst types of hardscaping you can have. They are solid and prevent water from seeping underneath. Instead, when it rains, it splashes against the hard surface and leads to runoff which in turn contributes to soil erosion.
Residential builders in Salmon Arm recommend adding permeable hardscapes to combat this issue. Permeable hardscapes like river rock, granite tiles and pea gravel are great at the job. They allow water to seep through and minimise soil erosion and pollution. If you want the reliability and familiarity of traditional options, go for porous asphalt or permeable concrete.
3. Rainwater harvesting system
While this one isn’t a visible part of your landscape, it’s a very useful design addition that works flawlessly with permeable hardscapes. Construction companies in BC can help you install a rainwater harvesting system under a permeable hardscape and enable you to save on utility bills and tap into a new source of water for growing your garden.
4. Install energy efficient lighting and smart watering systems
Another way to make your landscape more sustainable is to increase its energy efficiency. Just a decade ago, making your garden or yard more energy efficient used to be an expensive affair. However, technological advancements and widespread adoption have helped bring the cost down and allow you to create a dazzling yet energy-efficient landscape while on a budget.
Salmon Arm home builders can help you create a backyard with stunning outdoor lights that accentuate the beauty of your thoughtfully crafted landscape. Moreover, these lights have inbuilt solar panels that charge up the lights all day so that they can keep your green space well lit after dark. You can also get a smart drip irrigation system that’s in sync with the weather and delivers the necessary amount of water to keep your plants healthy and conserve water.
5. Add a compost bin
Compost bins allow you to recycle the waste of your water, garden and kitchen. Organic waste like autumn leaves, mowed grass, trimmed bush clippings and kitchen waste can go into the compost bin to get decomposed. As a result, you get high quality and nutrient-rich fertiliser for growing your own crops or flower garden.
The idea of a compost bin doesn’t need to be repulsive. Compost bins don’t need to look drab and ugly. Instead, you can have it right next to your garden in the form of sealed wooden bins and cute potted flowers to complete the overall decor.
When you’re designing and brainstorming ideas for landscaping your new home, it’s important to be transparent about your expectations and budget. Reliable builders are great at their job and have access to all kinds of materials along with ingenuity to bring your vision to life.