What was considered the standard of a nice yard in home landscaping has adjusted a bit just in the last five or so years. Where people used to expect to see a nicely trimmed yard taking the majority of the space and perfectly trimmed hedges, now there is a growing movement of what is called eco-friendly landscaping. You may have heard it referred to as the anit-lawn movement.
Some people believe that keeping a lawn has a harmful impact on the planet. Some homeowners just don’t want to or don’t have the time to spend constantly keeping up their yards. Lawns demand a lot of attention to keep them green and thriving. Whatever the reason, more and more homeowners are looking for lawn alternative landscaping in their Philadelphia properties.
Tips for Creating an Eco-Friendly Landscape that Looks Good
Use Native Plants
The best way to create an eco-friendly landscape at your home that is also low maintenance is to use plants that naturally grow in the geographical location where you live. These plants can survive with the current natural weather patterns in the area, They need little to no help to survive and thrive. Planting things that are not native can require too much time and too many added chemicals to the landscape. Some plants can be invasive where they take over everything else in the landscape and choke it out.
Native plants are not just beneficial to the homeowner, they also help provide for local wildlife species. They provide food to animals like bees, butterflies, birds, etc.
Opt for Less Lawn
Lawns do look nice, but they are the most high-maintenance part of your landscape. Some homeowners have opted to reduce the size of their lawns and plant native flowers. Some homeowners have opted to get rid of their lawns altogether (not recommended for curb appeal without professional design planning) and some have searched for grass alternatives like clover.
Use Wood Chips
To choke out annoying weeds that take valuable nutrients an eco-friendly landscape searches for alternatives to harsh chemicals often used to wipe them out. In flowerbeds using wood chips is an easy natural way to choke out weeds. Make sure to get non-treated wood chips. Make sure to stay away from black walnut chips this can take the nitrogen out of the soil which is desperately needed by plants.
A good place to look for wood chip mulch is by visiting the website ChipDrop.com. You may be able to find free mulch for your landscaping which is a huge bonus.
Try Companion Planting
Companion planting is the practice of using plants that work well together in your garden. Planting different things that thrive off of one another and help each other to grow successfully.
Companion planting not only helps plants to utilize one another and thrive together but it can also help as a natural deterrent of insects that would harm some of your plants. Companion planting is especially beneficial in planting vegetables and produce organically without the use of harmful sprays
Marigolds are a great deterrent they have a musky scent that turns pests away. Chive and onions are two widely used produce items that also emit a strong scent repelling pests. Mint is an expert at keeping ants out of the garden. Legumes and beans help to increase the health of your soil. If you have a raccoon problem squash is a good thing to plant. Tomatoes love to grow next to basil. If you are curious about companion planting and using native plants head to a local nursery. The experts there will be able to help you with what native plants work well together in your area.
Taking care of the landscaping at your Philadelphia home helps it to retain curb appeal. Curb appeal is one of the best ways to help your home retain its best value.
If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Philadelphia, I am here to help. I am happy to take some of the stress out of finding that ideal home or trying to get the best offer possible when trying to sell. Contact me any time with any greater Philadelphia real estate needs.