Earth Day: 12 Sustainable Ideas From Landscapers Around the World
Create a more earth-friendly garden by planting for pollinators, ditching pesticides and more
Lauren Dunec Hoang
22 April 2021
Houzz Editor; landscape designer and former garden editor for Sunset Magazine and in-house designer for Sunset's Editorial Test Garden. Her garden designs have been featured in the Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping, Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings (cover), Inhabitat, and POPSUGAR.
Houzz Editor; landscape designer and former garden editor for Sunset Magazine and... More
In addition to creating inspiring outdoor spaces and dream-worthy gardens, landscape designers and architects also make our yards more sustainable and earth-friendly. We spoke with 12 landscape designers around the world – and looked at gardens they’ve designed – who describe how installing rain gardens, converting lawns to native landscapes, planting low-water gardens and utilising other practices can result in beautiful gardens with environmental benefits.
Take a look at the following 12 sustainable landscaping ideas on Earth Day 2021. Which ones could you adopt for a greener gardening approach at home?
Take a look at the following 12 sustainable landscaping ideas on Earth Day 2021. Which ones could you adopt for a greener gardening approach at home?
1. Use permeable hardscape surfaces
Choosing hardscape materials that allow for water to run through them is another way to keep rainwater on-site. In this Melbourne garden in Victoria, the designers at Bayon Gardens used permeable paving for pathways and patios. Here, gravel covers a walkway leading to a fire pit, acting as a filter for rainwater to percolate back into the soil. Timber lengths guide the path and provide a place to put your feet.
Choosing hardscape materials that allow for water to run through them is another way to keep rainwater on-site. In this Melbourne garden in Victoria, the designers at Bayon Gardens used permeable paving for pathways and patios. Here, gravel covers a walkway leading to a fire pit, acting as a filter for rainwater to percolate back into the soil. Timber lengths guide the path and provide a place to put your feet.
2. Turn a lawn into a naturalistic landscape
If you’re considering eliminating a traditional lawn or reducing its size, look to this naturalistic meadow-inspired garden in San Diego, USA, designed by Ari Tenenbaum of Revolution Landscape. The design incorporates native plants, including pollinator-friendly plants, and keeps rainwater on-site, reducing the need for supplemental water and maintenance – for a beautiful backyard.
Tenenbaum regraded the yard, which had been a neglected traditional lawn, and installed boulders and rocky basins to catch rainwater from the client’s roof. Next he planted sand dune sedge (Carex pansa) with a mix of flowering lavender, verbena and sweet alyssum, which benefit birds, bees and butterflies.
“I would estimate this meadow will use about 30 to 50 percent less water annually, as compared to a traditional lawn,” he says, not to mention the design also cuts down on maintenance.
If you’re considering eliminating a traditional lawn or reducing its size, look to this naturalistic meadow-inspired garden in San Diego, USA, designed by Ari Tenenbaum of Revolution Landscape. The design incorporates native plants, including pollinator-friendly plants, and keeps rainwater on-site, reducing the need for supplemental water and maintenance – for a beautiful backyard.
Tenenbaum regraded the yard, which had been a neglected traditional lawn, and installed boulders and rocky basins to catch rainwater from the client’s roof. Next he planted sand dune sedge (Carex pansa) with a mix of flowering lavender, verbena and sweet alyssum, which benefit birds, bees and butterflies.
“I would estimate this meadow will use about 30 to 50 percent less water annually, as compared to a traditional lawn,” he says, not to mention the design also cuts down on maintenance.
3. Use local native plants
Using plants native to your geographical region connects your landscape to larger ecosystems, invites wildlife to your garden and decreases the need for supplemental water and fertiliser, as regionally native plants are adapted to native soils and climates. Plus, they also make for beautiful, dynamic gardens.
Pictured here, an all-native garden in Southern California, USA, creates an urban oasis for migratory birds and pollinators. Plants include many regional natives, including big berry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) and a mixture of penstemons, globe mallows and sages.
Find a landscape designer near you on Houzz to create a sustainable and beautiful garden
Using plants native to your geographical region connects your landscape to larger ecosystems, invites wildlife to your garden and decreases the need for supplemental water and fertiliser, as regionally native plants are adapted to native soils and climates. Plus, they also make for beautiful, dynamic gardens.
Pictured here, an all-native garden in Southern California, USA, creates an urban oasis for migratory birds and pollinators. Plants include many regional natives, including big berry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) and a mixture of penstemons, globe mallows and sages.
Find a landscape designer near you on Houzz to create a sustainable and beautiful garden
If you’re new to planting natives and looking for inspiration, landscape designer and sustainable gardening expert Benjamin Vogt recommends checking out local nurseries, reserves and arboretums. “This will give you an idea of what plants work well with each other aesthetically and ecologically,” he says.
You can also read also read up on native plants here or connect with a native plant expert in your area.
12 New Zealand Native Plants You Need to Know About
You can also read also read up on native plants here or connect with a native plant expert in your area.
12 New Zealand Native Plants You Need to Know About
4. Add pollinator-friendly plants
Even if you don’t have an entirely native garden, include some plants that are friendly to birds, butterflies and bees for a planting scheme that supports local wildlife. When planting pollinator-friendly blooms, mass them in clumps or bands so they can be spotted from a distance.
In this Parisian rooftop garden in France, landscape designer Kevin Clare used a row of yellow yarrow (Achillea sp.) and magenta valerian (Centranthus sp.), both favoured by bees and butterflies, to add colour and support pollinators in the city.
Even if you don’t have an entirely native garden, include some plants that are friendly to birds, butterflies and bees for a planting scheme that supports local wildlife. When planting pollinator-friendly blooms, mass them in clumps or bands so they can be spotted from a distance.
In this Parisian rooftop garden in France, landscape designer Kevin Clare used a row of yellow yarrow (Achillea sp.) and magenta valerian (Centranthus sp.), both favoured by bees and butterflies, to add colour and support pollinators in the city.
5. Include a water source
Water features of any kind – fountains, birdbaths or backyard ponds – can be places that attract wild creatures for bathing and drinking. This is particularly important in cities and suburbs, where natural water sources have been all but eliminated.
The designers of this London backyard in the UK went one step further to welcome wildlife by adding a naturalistic pond with water-loving plants along the edges and a safety dock for birds to land or turtles to sun themselves in the centre.
Water features of any kind – fountains, birdbaths or backyard ponds – can be places that attract wild creatures for bathing and drinking. This is particularly important in cities and suburbs, where natural water sources have been all but eliminated.
The designers of this London backyard in the UK went one step further to welcome wildlife by adding a naturalistic pond with water-loving plants along the edges and a safety dock for birds to land or turtles to sun themselves in the centre.
6. Use local and reusable materials
If you’re investing in new building and hardscape materials for a landscape project, try to choose long-lasting ones that have been sustainably obtained and locally sourced. Locally sourced materials will have had to travel shorter distances than exotic ones, reducing the material’s carbon footprint and potentially reducing its cost to the homeowner.
USA-based landscape architect Falon Mihalic advocates using local stone in landscape projects. “Like locally sourced wood, stone is a sustainable building choice for the landscape when it is purchased from a nearby source,” says Mihalic. “Local stone lasts a lifetime. You will not have to send it to a landfill ever, because it can be reused again and again.”
If you’re investing in new building and hardscape materials for a landscape project, try to choose long-lasting ones that have been sustainably obtained and locally sourced. Locally sourced materials will have had to travel shorter distances than exotic ones, reducing the material’s carbon footprint and potentially reducing its cost to the homeowner.
USA-based landscape architect Falon Mihalic advocates using local stone in landscape projects. “Like locally sourced wood, stone is a sustainable building choice for the landscape when it is purchased from a nearby source,” says Mihalic. “Local stone lasts a lifetime. You will not have to send it to a landfill ever, because it can be reused again and again.”
7. Reclaim spaces, rather than tear them down
If you’re starting a garden renovation, it’s tempting to want to tear everything out and start with a clean slate. However, replacing all plants, hardscape and structures can lead to added costs and unnecessary waste. If possible, look for ways to reimagine spaces and reuse existing materials.
Landscape designers David and Jennifer Hoxsie of Greenhaven Landscapes revived this former dairy barn and grain silo on their clients’ property in Illinois, USA. Instead of tearing down the crumbling remains of the barn and the unused silo, the designers integrated them into a new walled garden and bocce court, keeping truckloads of concrete on-site and out of landfill.
“It was a balancing act of wanting to create an inviting, finished space while embracing the aged, imperfect character of the site,” says David.
If you’re starting a garden renovation, it’s tempting to want to tear everything out and start with a clean slate. However, replacing all plants, hardscape and structures can lead to added costs and unnecessary waste. If possible, look for ways to reimagine spaces and reuse existing materials.
Landscape designers David and Jennifer Hoxsie of Greenhaven Landscapes revived this former dairy barn and grain silo on their clients’ property in Illinois, USA. Instead of tearing down the crumbling remains of the barn and the unused silo, the designers integrated them into a new walled garden and bocce court, keeping truckloads of concrete on-site and out of landfill.
“It was a balancing act of wanting to create an inviting, finished space while embracing the aged, imperfect character of the site,” says David.
Now, the new design retains the history and materials of the site while providing a fresh, usable outdoor space for the homeowners. The Hoxsies planted the side of the bocce court that borders open space with a mix of native plants, seen here in the foreground, to help support native insects and wildlife.
8. Harvest rainwater
Capturing rainwater can help save water on a small scale. A rainwater tank or vessel connected to a home’s downpipes or guttering system allows one to capture the run-off from the roof for use in drier months. In this garden in California, USA, designed by Gabriel Frank, a terracotta-coloured rainwater vessel with a handy hose attachment lets the owners water their garden beds in the dry season with ease.
Tip: Before you harvest rainwater, check with your local council.
Capturing rainwater can help save water on a small scale. A rainwater tank or vessel connected to a home’s downpipes or guttering system allows one to capture the run-off from the roof for use in drier months. In this garden in California, USA, designed by Gabriel Frank, a terracotta-coloured rainwater vessel with a handy hose attachment lets the owners water their garden beds in the dry season with ease.
Tip: Before you harvest rainwater, check with your local council.
9. Plant a rain garden
Rain gardens channel stormwater into a sunken, planted garden area, where it can slowly soak into the ground, as opposed to stormwater drains that send the water off-site. Adding a rain garden leads to a cascade of environmental benefits.
“Rain gardens help purify surface water and recharge groundwater,” says landscape designer Amy Whitworth. The gravel and soil of a rain garden act as a filter, helping purify run-off of harmful pollutants, such as hydrocarbons, heavy metals, fertiliser, pesticides and more.
“Cleaner water leads to healthier rivers,” adds the designer, “which is better for all wildlife and people.” Whitworth, of Plan-it Earth Design, created this rain garden in Oregon, USA, between two houses, directing rainwater run-off from the roof into a dry creek bed. She used plants such as heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica), a mix of grass-like carex varieties and gooseneck loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides) – all plants that don’t mind moist soil – to soften the edges.
Rain gardens channel stormwater into a sunken, planted garden area, where it can slowly soak into the ground, as opposed to stormwater drains that send the water off-site. Adding a rain garden leads to a cascade of environmental benefits.
“Rain gardens help purify surface water and recharge groundwater,” says landscape designer Amy Whitworth. The gravel and soil of a rain garden act as a filter, helping purify run-off of harmful pollutants, such as hydrocarbons, heavy metals, fertiliser, pesticides and more.
“Cleaner water leads to healthier rivers,” adds the designer, “which is better for all wildlife and people.” Whitworth, of Plan-it Earth Design, created this rain garden in Oregon, USA, between two houses, directing rainwater run-off from the roof into a dry creek bed. She used plants such as heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica), a mix of grass-like carex varieties and gooseneck loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides) – all plants that don’t mind moist soil – to soften the edges.
Rain gardens do more than reduce stormwater run-off. “Amended soils of a rain garden help to create a living sponge that absorbs and holds water longer for plants,” says Whitworth, which leads to healthier soils and gardens that need less supplemental water. Plus, rain gardens planted with native and pollinator-friendly plants can become habitat areas for birds, insects, frogs, turtles and other wildlife.
10. Eliminate pesticide use
Boost the health of your garden – and surrounding environment – by vowing to ditch pesticides. “The use of pesticides in the landscape affects not only damaging insects but beneficial insects as well, such as bees and butterflies that we rely on for pollination,” says landscape consultant Noelle Johnson.
Instead of spraying plants with chemicals, Johnson recommends a more hands-off approach to pest control. “The majority of plants can easily handle some damage from insects without seriously affecting the health of the plant,” she says. “When you first spot damaging insects in your garden, usually within a couple of weeks beneficial insects will show that will eat those bad bugs.” For example, when aphids appear, lacewings and ladybugs will soon follow and feast upon them.
Boost the health of your garden – and surrounding environment – by vowing to ditch pesticides. “The use of pesticides in the landscape affects not only damaging insects but beneficial insects as well, such as bees and butterflies that we rely on for pollination,” says landscape consultant Noelle Johnson.
Instead of spraying plants with chemicals, Johnson recommends a more hands-off approach to pest control. “The majority of plants can easily handle some damage from insects without seriously affecting the health of the plant,” she says. “When you first spot damaging insects in your garden, usually within a couple of weeks beneficial insects will show that will eat those bad bugs.” For example, when aphids appear, lacewings and ladybugs will soon follow and feast upon them.
11. Put green waste to good use
Instead of tossing grass and garden clippings in your greens bin, set up a home compost station. “Compost provides critical organic matter for soil texture and food for soil organisms,” says landscape designer Patricia Larenas of Urban Artichoke Fine Gardening. After all, healthy soil leads to healthy gardens.
If you’re new to composting, starting with an organised system can help you get the hang of it and prevent a pile from getting out of hand. For her USA-based clients in this project, Larenas installed a standard three-compartment bin system (each with a 90 x 90-centimetre interior) to turn over the compost as it breaks down. The fully broken-down compost is used to enrich nearby edible garden beds without the use of synthetic supplements, returning vital nutrients to the soil after a growing season.
Instead of tossing grass and garden clippings in your greens bin, set up a home compost station. “Compost provides critical organic matter for soil texture and food for soil organisms,” says landscape designer Patricia Larenas of Urban Artichoke Fine Gardening. After all, healthy soil leads to healthy gardens.
If you’re new to composting, starting with an organised system can help you get the hang of it and prevent a pile from getting out of hand. For her USA-based clients in this project, Larenas installed a standard three-compartment bin system (each with a 90 x 90-centimetre interior) to turn over the compost as it breaks down. The fully broken-down compost is used to enrich nearby edible garden beds without the use of synthetic supplements, returning vital nutrients to the soil after a growing season.
12. Leave an area wild
Resist the urge to landscape all areas of your yard, particularly if you are lucky enough to live on a larger lot. Leaving margins wild helps provide wildlife corridors for animals to move through urban and suburban spaces with places to rest, feed and find shelter.
This Northern California garden in the USA, designed by Bluewagon Landscape and Design, features pools, lawns and more manicured garden areas, but a large portion of the property that includes native oak trees and a creek was left natural. This not only cuts down on maintenance and provides habitat, it also makes for a gorgeous landscape that feels rooted in its natural site.
Resist the urge to landscape all areas of your yard, particularly if you are lucky enough to live on a larger lot. Leaving margins wild helps provide wildlife corridors for animals to move through urban and suburban spaces with places to rest, feed and find shelter.
This Northern California garden in the USA, designed by Bluewagon Landscape and Design, features pools, lawns and more manicured garden areas, but a large portion of the property that includes native oak trees and a creek was left natural. This not only cuts down on maintenance and provides habitat, it also makes for a gorgeous landscape that feels rooted in its natural site.
Your turn
What sustainable gardening practices have you adopted in your garden or are planning to put into action? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Did you know that designing your outdoor lighting is best done before choosing plants for your garden? Find out more here with Garden Lighting: 13 Must-Know Tips to Get it Right
What sustainable gardening practices have you adopted in your garden or are planning to put into action? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Did you know that designing your outdoor lighting is best done before choosing plants for your garden? Find out more here with Garden Lighting: 13 Must-Know Tips to Get it Right
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And Linda Eastman, I love all your downed wood planters..my kind of decor! Gave me ideas if I want to put some dirt in tree stumps and plant seed and in downed trees..love it! Thanks for sharing!
@edenchild, Logs and downed wood are an important part of a Naturescaped Garden. Dead wood is a crucial part of the nutrient cycle for soil microbes and a source of insects for birds and other invertebrates. Make a "Stumpery" with woodland natives nestled around your logs. Use one as a bench, or watch the mushrooms flourish and change as it slowly decays before your eyes. Great for the kids of all ages and a perfect place to create a fairy garden!!
I love the idea of this …waisting water on lawns is rediculous. but how about adding edible planting?