The EPA's Advice on creating an Eco-Friendly Landscape

The Environmental Protection Agency has some great advice on how we can make our landscaping eco-friendly.  Standard landscaping and landscape maintenance can often be harmful to our environment.  Normal landscapes require use of mechanical equipment and consumption of vital resources like water and fossil fuels.  In addition, the use of fertilizers and pesticides can pollute our ground water supplies.  Not to mention our landfills are being consumed by yard waste and biodiversity has introduced invasive exotic landscape plants to our ecosystems.

Interesting Facts from the EPA:

• Gasoline-powered landscape equipment (mowers, trimmers, blowers, chainsaws) account for over 5% of our urban air pollution.
• Residential application of pesticides is typically at a rate 20 times that of farmers per acre; it results in many unintended results.
• Yard wastes (mostly grass clippings) comprise 20% of municipal solid waste collected and most still ends up in landfills.
• A lawn has less than 10% of the water absorption capacity of a natural woodland - a reason for suburban flooding.

There is no way we can continue our current landscaping practices long term and still expect a clean attractive community.  The EPA says we must learn to balance our needs with the needs of the environment.  According to the EPA the best way to make our landscapes eco-friendly is by using beneficial landscaping or native landscaping practices.  This method of landscaping can save considerable time and money because of reduced maintenance requirements.  Beneficial landscaping contains a number of principles that revolve around balancing our needs with the needs of our environment.  The principles are as follows:

Protect existing natural areas to the greatest extent possible (woodlands and wetlands, stream corridors and meadows).

Select regionally native plants to form the backbone of the landscape. Select appropriate plants for each particular site (each plant has its unique requirements and most sites have a variety of conditions). While there's not usually a problem with occasional use of exotic plants, native plants have evolved to local conditions over millions of years and form an integral part in the life cycles of the local wildlife; they also give an area its unique sense of place.

Reduce use of turf. Instead, install woodland, meadow or other natural plantings. Where lawns are needed (such as play areas), follow best management practices available from your county's cooperative extension agent to reduce harmful impacts and use composting mowers.

Reduce use of pesticides, practice integrated pest management. Again, cooperative extension agents can help with natural alternatives to pesticides.

Compost and mulch on site to eliminate solid waste. Generate a free mulch - a soil additive that can replace the need for most fertilizers.

Practice soil and water conservation. Stabilize slopes with natural plantings, mulch around plants, and install drought- tolerant species.

Reduce use of power landscape equipment. Shrinking the size of the lawn and planting appropriate native species in less formal arrangements will reduce the need for extensive use of power equipment.

Use plantings to reduce heating/cooling needs. Deciduous trees planted appropriately along the south sides of buildings can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 20%; in winter they allow the sun's rays to warm buildings. Coniferous trees planted to block prevailing NW winter winds can reduce heating costs. Trees planted to shade paved areas reduce the summer heat-island effect that makes parking lots so inhospitable.

Avoid use of invasive exotics which outcompete native plants and result in declines in biodiversity. Examples include: Norway maples, kudzu, purple loosestrife, Japanese honeysuckle and multiflora rose.

Create additional wildlife habitat to partially compensate for land lost to urban/suburban sprawl. This is especially important along streams where the vegetation can filter runoff, aid in flood control, and provide wildlife corridors.

Beneficial landscaping conserves water and resources, creates a cleaner and safer environment, reduces costs and the strain on our waster systems.  For more information about Beneficial Landscaping from the EPA please visitwww.epa.gov/greenkit/landscap.htm