Sustainable--this is a buzz word in our new economy and everyone is seeking a sustainable solution to nearly everything from shipping packages, to corporate food solutions and beyond. The landscaping trade is no different--as landscapers we perhaps are on the front-line of sustainability and projects that we design can have a huge impact on energy consumption, storm water run-off and remediation, wind protection, carbon dioxide transfer, and food production.
What makes a project sustainable? Will working vegetables and small fruits in the landscape make it sustainable? How about adding chickens? What about a compost pile? We see many projects completed advertised as sustainable that really only posses small elements of sustainability. True sustainability starts at the drafting table and researches far beyond how we can work in some attractive edible fruit shrubs--sustainable design looks at the future and the use of the landscape. I will borrow liberally from the sustainable design criteria gathered by the University of Minnesota environmental horticulture program located here.
Sustainable landscapes possess 5 main characteristics in this order of importance:
Functional--does the landscape fulfill the requirements for the space? The entry garden--does the walkway "walk naturally" and allow for side by side approach to the entrance? Is there room at the front door for the guests to stand at the same level without being swept out of the way by the door? Does the backyard patio provide enough room for entertaining? Is the traffic flow of your deck natural and efficient? Is the lawn a healthy recreating space that can recover from frequent traffic?
Maintainable--is the landscape easily taken care of? Are plants selected and placed based on mature size? Is there adequate access for properly size maintenance equipment? We live in a northern climate--how will the snow be removed and where will it go?
Environmentally sound--does the landscape minimize harmful inputs? Are the plants chosen resistant to diseases and pests (native plants work well)? Is the turfgrass selected to reduce fertilizer and herbicide usage? Were plants chosen to fit the site soil conditions? How does the landscape deal with runoff--does the softscaping absorb the runoff from the hardscapes?
Cost effective--good landscaping should save money and increase value over time. Does the landscape reduce energy costs? Were elements of the design costly to maintain over time? Were plants short lived, oversized, or overplanted adding reworks and extensive maintenance?
Visually pleasing--good sustainable design should be visually pleasing, but function should precede form. We have all seen some amazing visually beautiful landscapes that have required significant inputs of labor, chemicals, and cash to keep them beautiful.
Landscaping is never maintenance free but with a good plan you can own a landscape that will be an asset to you and the environment and not a liability to your wallet.
If you are interested in your landscape's sustainable future we would love to meet you. Please email us to schedule your consultation today.
No comments:
Post a Comment