Energy Efficiency with Your Landscaping
The green movement is in full swing, and we’re all about incorporating energy-efficient tricks into our landscaping projects. Where do you start? Luckily, going green doesn’t mean spending a lot, and you can easily create, design, and maintain your landscaping to save you energy, money, and time. Your landscape will nurture wildlife and reduce general pollution while you get a fantastic yard or garden. The following tips will help you get started.
Collect Rainwater
If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, you can easily recycle it by harvesting your rainwater in a barrel. When it comes time to water your plants, you can pull water from your barrel and use it on your pots, smaller flower beds, and other areas around your yard or garden. This will reduce your overall water bill, and this is one way you can keep your plants thriving if you live in an area with periodic water restrictions.
Use Trees for Shade
The scorching summer sun can make everything seem hot and uncomfortable. Shade trees can cool your yard by several degrees and reduce your indoor temperatures. Having a cooler house means that you will run your air conditioner less, and your air conditioner will run much more efficiently when you have it on. This can prolong your air conditioner’s life and reduce the amount of energy you have to use during those hotter summer days.
Encourage Vines to Thrive
Vines are very fast-growing, especially when you compare them to trees. To get nicely shaded and cool areas in your yard, encourage vines to climb up walls, trellises, pergolas, or any other taller structure in your yard. Flowering vines will attract bees and hummingbirds, and you can plant climbing vegetable vines to get more overall out of your landscaping.
Plant Windbreaks
Wind can wreak havoc on your yard, but it can also cause your heating system and energy usage to go through the roof. You can plant a windbreak of thick vegetation in different heights and sizes to prevent seasonal winds from buffeting right up to your home. Evergreens are a nice pick because they give you a lot of protection in both the summer and winter months.
Add Mulch
We touched on how water is essential in landscaping, and you can use a lot trying to keep up with your plants. However, you can lower your overall water usage by adding a thick layer of mulch around your plants and foliage. This mulch will help keep the plants’ roots cool while locking in moisture. The ground will stay damp for longer periods, and this reduces the amount of time you have to water.
Install Artificial Turf
Synthetic or artificial turf is a great way to have a gorgeous green yard all summer long that requires very little maintenance and no water. This turf is safe for both humans and animals to walk on, and it mimics the look and feel of real grass with a quarter of the effort. You’ll save energy and water with it.
Contact Evergreen Landscaping
If you’d like to turn your yard into an environmentally-friendly oasis, contact our team. We’re happy to give you ideas and find the service that works best for your space.
