Unused yard with minimal decorative plants and no furniture can seem dull and unattractive. Building a pool, a fountain and filling the space with perennials can turn that boring place into a lively garden. But should we be concerned only with the garden aesthetic?
Some herbicides have been found dangerous for dogs who like to play on the lawn. The contained substances increase the risk of getting cancer by more than fifty percent. Another fact is, Swedish scientists have suspected some herbicides to correlate with lymphoma cancer.
Now, after you realize how your garden can affect the surrounding environment, you should read the information below to know about how to build the eco-friendly one.
The concept of biodiverse-landscape
An ecosystem landscape should sustain varieties of biota. If there are enough kinds of biota, a food chain can close its loop, which is the ideal condition of an ecosystem landscape.
The first thing you must do is to attract birds. There are several reasons for why birds are necessary. Firstly, in a garden ecosystem, birds are on top of the food chain. You can rely on them for controlling bug population.
Plant columbine, sunflower, serviceberry, and red cedar around the garden. Make sure you spread those plants evenly because you also want the birds to patrol for bugs. Red cedar is the ideal plant for bird nests. Placing red cedar in the thick area increase the chance for you to have generations of birds in your garden.
Water source is also the next important feature that your garden must have. Water is vital for life, after all. But water without irrigation is the breeding place for mosquitos. You should think carefully how the fountain and water flow in your garden can efficiently sustain all biota in the garden. For the best arrangement, consult with a professional landscaper.
Eco-friendly maintenance
Instead of potting soils with artificial fertilizer, opt for organic soils. Organic Mechanics and Dr. Earth are two brands that will keep your garden green without changing the pH or chemical structure of the ground.
The alternative to artificial fertilizer is vermicompost. It is basically fertilizer made of worm poop. TerraCycle and Scoots products can be your best companion to grow your garden plants.
Eco-friendly lighting
Lighting up garden path can be tricky. If it is too bright, it wastes electricity, and if it is too dimp, then it will not provide enough visibility.
When you place the lamp holders, it is always better to choose the tall ones. Natural light comes from above, and your garden lighting should follow that.
Do not go beyond 100 Watt, and for accenting the spotlights, prefer LED lights. You should also be careful with the cable installation. When you choose to embrace biodiversity, your garden will be full of animals and insects that may feed on the cables. Choose the most durable ones, and plant them in the ground.