Choose Natural Landscaping for Boundless Benefits this Summer

If you’re thinking of giving your outdoor area a makeover this season, you may want to consider putting down the mower and weed eater. Natural landscaping, or native gardening, is rising in popularity and can bring many benefits to your wallet, the environment, and overall look of your property.

Natural landscaping is easy to start and, once it’s up and running, your yard will require less upkeep than a typical grass yard.

What Is Natural Landscaping?

Essentially, natural landscaping is the practice of using native plants in your gardens and lawn spaces. These plans help your yard do the same stuff that happens in wild landscapes.

Most yards you see in neighborhoods have some kind of green grass, usually mowed, with a few planted flowers and some shrubbery. This looks clean and may be necessary if there’s a strict HOA. But, is not great for local wildlife and can produce a lot of waste.

What Are the Benefits?

Because natural landscaping uses native grasses, plants, and trees, these are already able to thrive in local environmental conditions. They will require less watering (which will save you money on your water bill), less protection during freezes and droughts (which will save you time), and are more resistant to pests. As a plus, native plants also promote natural biodiversity and attract insects that could pollinate flowers and vegetables.

If you take a natural landscaping approach, your yard won’t require as much mowing, raking, and trimming. As a result, it won’t produce a large amount of green waste like a traditional grass yard.

And while some communities set certain standards for how your yard needs to look, natural landscaping is more beneficial to the community at large. It can lower local pesticide use, reduce noise and air pollution from mowers and other machines, and can even help filter rain water. And while many appreciate a superbly manicured green lawn, a natural landscape can provide a patchwork of colors with beautiful wildflowers. It can even keep you at the window by attracting local birds and other wildlife.

How to DIY a Natural Landscape for Your Home

If you want to transform your yard, or a section of it, into a natural landscape, here are few steps you can follow.

1. Prepare

First, you need to prepare. Choose your area and check the soil and sun exposure. If you are only doing part of your yard, you may want to create an edge or border around the section. For the ground you are working with, you’ll need to get rid of the grass that’s currently there and loosen up the soil. Then, it’s a good idea to add on compost or topsoil.

Research plants, grasses, and trees that are native and thrive in your local climate. Pick your favorites and plot out where you are going to place them before you start. 

2. Plant

Next, it’s time to plant. Try to create a diverse and layered appearance by planting shrubbery, grasses, trees, and perennials together. To learn what’s native to your area, check out resources like the National Wildlife’s Federation’s Native Plant Finder or the North American Native Plant Society. If you’re buying from a big-box store, double-check that any plants are compatible with your area.

You may want to add in other decorative features like bird baths, stone pathways, fountains, or even a seating area to enhance the look.

3. Maintain

While you don’t need to mow or spray weeds in a traditional sense or as often, you will need to do some upkeep to ensure a thriving space. If you aren’t getting much rain and don’t have an irrigation system, you’ll need to water your natural landscape. You may want to add some mulch to help with too many weeds or invasive plants, but you only need to prune to maintain plant health. And don’t worry about raking or picking up plant debris! This extra green matter is good for the earth and wildlife that will migrate to your yard.

The sustainable practice of natural landscaping is eco-friendly, can save you time and money, and has great curb appeal when done right.

Let us know on our Facebook page if you want to try natural landscaping or have any tips and tricks. And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter.