Buying a new home can be exciting! It’s the perfect opportunity to create a space that’s completely your own, with your personal style and comforts. Of course, it’s not only the inside of the home that needs your attention, but also the yard and garden. You want to create a space that is beautiful, inviting, but also environmentally friendly. You don’t need to have the world’s best green thumb to go ‘green’ in your landscaping. Simply picking the right foliage for your climate helps you create a sustainable and attractive landscape while saving you some money and work as well. Here are three ways to do that:
- Stay local. Rather than opting for invasive species or plants that aren’t a good fit for your local environment, choose plants that are native to the area and will support the local ecosystem. These plants are already acclimated to the region and typically require less water and maintenance. Local gardening organizations can make recommendations for your area.
- Go perennial. Perennials are flowers, herbs and other plants that generally live for more than one growing season. Many varieties of perennials come back reliably each spring, year after year. Each fall, the top part of perennial plants die off, but the roots remain, regrowing the plant in the spring. In contrast, annual plants complete their entire life cycle in one growing season and must be replaced each spring. Be sure to select perennials that are recommended for plant hardiness zone.
- Save yourself some trouble. Selecting drought-tolerant grasses and reducing the size of your lawn can cut down on the time you spend mowing. With less of a lawn, you’ll apply fewer chemicals and use less water. Many cities and states offer incentives for converting lawn area to xeriscaped gardens, which can reduce, or even eliminate, the need for irrigation.
A beautiful, well-planned, sustainable yard is an important part of a beautiful home. Take time to research and plan before you dive into landscaping your new home.