Integrate Sustainability Into Your Naperville, IL, Landscape Design
When sustainability is a priority, it should be a top consideration in any changes you make to your landscape design. Being resourceful is made possible when plans are put in place before the digging and building begins. Use the following tips to accommodate for sustainability in your Naperville, IL, landscape design.
Stormwater Management
During the rainy months, stormwater can become a nuisance. It may not be something you keep in mind when you think about sustainability, but it should be. A rain garden is a basin that is dug into the ground that is especially designed to take on excess rainwater. The main scenario where this design becomes most efficient is near an roofs, driveways, patios, and other hardscape features that are fairly close together.
Instead of letting the water run off into the street and down the storm drain, rain gardens provide a healthy access point into the soil. This creates a cleaner water table thanks to the filtration of the plants that are placed in this area. Stormwater tends to pick up pollutants on its way to the closest body of water. To prevent this from happening, rain gardens are designed to filter out these pollutants during soil absorption. This is all done while keeping a large array of your favorite plants healthy and happy.
Smart Watering
Wasting water is a risk homeowners take when they invest in a large lawn and want to keep it as pristine as possible. Traditional sprinkler systems can
unfortunately lead to wasting large amounts of water. The main factor that such a sprinkler system does not take into account is how moist the ground is before the need to water it. You can find this moisture level by observing the amount of rain that falls, but who has time to pay attention to that? Landscape contractors who know your area and climate can keep track of it for you and help you think through the possibility of installing an irrigation system that would provide more efficient use of your water resource.
Soil Protection
Your soil is the key to keeping a healthy and sustainable landscape. The main problem people have is unhealthy topsoil that is not receiving enough nutrients. If you have a dry and unhealthy topsoil, you would have to use up more water to maintain it. To solve this issue, consult your landscaping professionals on a fertilizer plan to reintroduce much needed nutrients back into the topsoil. Make sure you ask about environmentally friendly fertilizers. This is because some fertilizers can pollute the water table when absorbed into the soil.
Consider using compost and mulch to build up the health of the soil while also improving your plants’ resistance to pest and diseases. You may want to avoid gravel or rocks for your weed control as they do not return organic matter back into the environment. A retaining wall could help with any erosion issues. You will also want to try to refrain from common walking paths along your lawn. If you find that’s unavoidable and one part of your lawn is getting constantly walked on, consider having a walkway installed to replace dying grass with beautiful stonework.
