A resilient yard is designed to withstand the realities of climate uncertainty and tailored to thrive in your specific climatic zone. With good design and the right materials, your yard can be eco-friendly.
1. Choose Eco-Friendly Hardscaping
Hardscaping is typically a part of any landscape design, most often in the form of pathways and patios. Recycled concrete is a good option as it reuses old materials. Terracotta and other natural clay bricks that are fired at lower temperatures are another good option if your goal is to reduce manufacturing emissions. To save water, look at permeable pavers that allow water to soak into the ground.
2. Integrate Rain and Greywater Collection
There's no need to use a limited supply of treated well or municipal water to keep your yard looking great in areas where water may be limited. You can install a rain barrel system to capture the rain that falls on your roof. Hoses and even pumps can be hooked into the barrels to make irrigation with the collected water easier. Greywater capture systems can also help conserve water as these divert safe but used water, such as from the kitchen sink or dishwasher, out to the garden.
3. Plant for the Climate
There are a lot of beautiful plants, but for the most eco-friendly lawn, you need to choose those that thrive in your weather, moisture levels, sun exposure, and soil type. In many cases, this means going with plants that are native to your area, as these will thrive with very little outside help. Look for a landscape designer that specializes in native plant use if you are stumped on where to begin.
4. Customize the Irrigation
An automatic sprinkler system can help prevent a lot of water waste while also keeping every plant in the yard healthy. Opt for drip irrigation around trees, shrubs, and in garden beds. Drip emitters lose less water for evaporation so shorter watering duration and volume is possible. The yard should also be custom zoned so that each area only gets the water it needs and no more. You can even integrate moisture sensors into the system so it only comes on when the soil is actually dry.
5. Minimize Lawn Grass
In many areas lawn grass serves minimal benefit, as it sucks up too much moisture and requires too many chemical inputs to thrive. Removing most of the grass and replacing it with native plants or low maintenance climate-appropriate groundcovers can be the best decision for the environment. Your landscape designer can help you plan the yard to minimize grass spaces and maximize resilient plant use.
Contact a landscape designer for more information.