Our goal today is provide a high level definition of what sustainable landscaping is, and then supplement this definition with more solid definitions and examples in future blog posts.

“Sustainable landscaping” is an overarching term that refers to an ecologically sound and sensitive approach to enhancing outdoor spaces. While one may tend to view this as possibly a conservationist’s approach, sustainability goes much further. What separates the two is that sustainability likely begins in the design phase, and may be modified during the installation and maintenance phases to either adjust to what we see on site, or as there are advances in the industry with regard to applicable hardscapes, or fertilization applications.

Aside from the ecological benefits of taking this approach, there can be significant cost savings in the long run. At times, the cost savings from having to irrigate less alone can offset the initial overall investment. What better way to maximize the utilization of your outdoor space, and save money over the long term?

There is no turnkey solution to achieve sustainability. At its core, sustainability is using the best practices to maximize your outdoor space with little to no outside, or undue, influences. Whether it is outside irrigation, or fertilizers, we believe a well thought-out design and implementation can create, in essence, its own small ecosystem. Sustainable landscaping integrates some if not all of the following components: soil management techniques, properly managing water runoff, composting, recycling, rain harvesting, using permeable pavers, integrated pest management and bio-filtering.

While this definition may sound wordy, and the implementations of our approach seem daunting, it is important to remember that this is a fluid approach. Being such, it may behoove us all to look at this approach to your outdoor space as one that is interactive. We are looking long term here, and thus may be best served to look at this in phases. By compartmentalizing the parts, you will see greater gains towards true efficiencies. Or simply put: the parts are greater than the whole.

An example may be the recycling of plants, or composting. One could create a temporary barrier around recently planted materials, or at the edge of a newly planted area, or an area in need of greater irrigation to retain water naturally flowing over the soil. Such an approach will have two immediate and clear benefits. It will aid in keeping newer or insufficiently watered materials hydrated and with the breakdown of these composting materials, provide natural nutrients to the same plants. The best part of all, these materials will break down, or be easily raked out, and ultimately leave a cleaner, defined edge on the planted area, or around the newly planted materials themselves. Anyone who has ever tried to edge a bed in rocky soil knows that anytime you can work with softer soils over rocky ones, the task is less daunting and far more enjoyable.

Now that we have begun to define sustainable landscaping, or at least started the conversation of what it is and some potential benefits, check back with us as we drill down a little further on what the parts of this approach are, and how you may integrate them into your current process for greater enjoyment of your outdoor spaces.

You can also learn more about EAQ's (formerly E.A. Quinn’s) approach to sustainability by clicking here.