Sustainable Landscape Design
Sustainable design is somewhat of a buzzword these days and generally it instills thoughtful design, however there is a risk that the popularity of such a phrase could be lost in ambiguous interpretations, leaving it open to skepticism as opposed to quality of life and health of our natural environment.
It is important to remember with any design that sustainability should be a subject of practicality and simplicity; an unassuming and down to earth approach that quietly goes about it business, ensuring real solutions are encapsulated within your outdoor space and the surrounding landscape.
There are a number of ways you can design and maintain your outdoor space and it really isn’t that difficult to accomplish. With an ecologically sustainable design, including sound construction practices, you can be well on your way to delivering a space that can be enjoyed and admired while also assisting in the reduction of energy consumption, water management and recycling, maintenance costs and most importantly, minimizing damage to our natural environment.
So where do you start?
Embrace your space!
Use plants that are climate savvy to your region and where possible, embrace your surroundings by using native plantings, as this encourages conservation of our ecological resources as well as providing your garden with a ‘SENSE OF PLACE’. There is always opportunities in a well designed garden plan for native and hardy exotic plantings to aesthetically work in harmony together. Native plant varieties are now extraordinary diverse which allows garden styles to be interpreted in any form from cottage gardens to contemporary and modern outcomes.
What’s your lifestyle?
Planning and design of your outdoor space plays a significant role in reducing that number one factor most of us haven’t got time for in our busy lifestyles; MAINTENANCE. With patience and time when planning your outdoor space, water and resources can be significantly saved simply by understanding your lifestyle needs and wants and then designing accordingly.
Xeriscapes
Pronounced ‘zerry scape’, this term refers to water conserving gardens and isn’t as difficult as the name may suggest. A well designed, water wise garden will always provide an efficient way of saving water, resources and precious time and can provide an easy care garden with numerous benefits for you and the environment. Such options include smaller, drought tolerant lawn areas, mulching and a well positioned drip irrigation system. You’d be surprised how much less maintenance work is involved in a water wise garden as opposed to your conventional garden design.
Using your Vernacular
By using locally sourced materials such as timber and stone, you are not only minimizing transport costs which assists with our carbon footprint, you are also creating a uniqueness about your garden that represents your true self. Sound ridiculous? Absolutely not! Vernacular garden styles have become a popular option over the years generally due to unique quality opportunities that are attainable by local businesses and individual suppliers. There is also the important social aspect of preserving life and resources for future generations.
There are numerous incentives and reasons for why a sustainable garden is essential to all good garden designs, however what it really boils down to is the simple fact that we are dealing with a living space that warrants nurturing and sustainable practices. By following sustainable principles and encapsulating the diversity that now surrounds us in stunning plant varieties and unique material choices, you’ll always be successful in creating an outdoor living space that can be enjoyed and appreciated for years to come.
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