Different Elements of Landscaping
The proper use of mulch and compost is an essential part of ecological gardening. When you start composting your food scraps you can create youjr own nutrient rich organic fertilizer to nourish your garden to keep it strong and healthy. Although many gardeners may think mulch and compost are the same, they are actually different. Organic gardening uses compost as a soil amendment to add vital nutrients to your plants instead of chemical fertilizers which can leach into the water table causing harm to the environment over time. Compost can be mixed directly into the soil or added on top as a mulch. Mulch is used to reduce water evaporation, topsoil erosion, and to prevent weeds from growing. While compost can be used as mulch; not all mulches, such as wood chips, or plastic covers cannot substitute for compost and should not be mixed into the soil.
Rainwater harvesting and greywater distribution systems. You can reduce your dependence on municipal water supplies by collecting rooftop rainwater during storms and reusing your property’s gray water to water your garden. Rainwater capture allows you to collect and save water during the rainy Southern California winter to use in the dry, summer months. The amount of water you can save depends on how much space you are willing to dedicate to the installation of your rainwater barrels. A greywater distribution system allows you to reuse the water from your washing machine, shower, and sink, redirecting it for use in your garden, rather than flushing it down the drain.
A professional landscaping company can also help you with the grading and drainage in your yard or garden. While drainage may not seem sexy and exciting neither is a flooded property from neglecting this part of your landscape design. Although the Los Angeles basin is pretty dry, wildfires in the summer followed by heavy rains in the winter can create dangerous flooding conditions. By creating a professionally designed drainage system you can reduce the risk of disastrous flooding and eliminate unwanted pools and puddles during less extreme rains.
Carefully placed boulders and the use of small rocks, bricks, and pavers will balance your plants and make it easier to walk through your garden, even when the ground is wet.
Don’t neglect your hardscaping and outdoor furniture. Custom carpentry can create beautiful benches, chairs, trellises, and more. You can even reuse old materials, reducing waste and often times creating something even more amazing than anything you could do by purchasing new materials.
You may want to look into online permaculture resources where you can learn everything you need to know to create your own incredible sustainable, native landscape or food garden.
It is our responsibility to care for our environment so we can all continue to enjoy living in this beautiful world for generations to come
That’s why we should choose native plant varieties for our gardens whenever possible to reduce water consumption. It is our dream that every new landscape inspires more people to consider switching to native plant landscapes or growing their own food, thereby reducing their impact on the environment and making their community a better place for everyone.