Sustainable Landscaping Ideas for Your Backyard

It’s all over the news and social media – the climate change crisis this world is currently facing. Permafrost is melting, glaciers are melting, and sea levels are rising. Migratory patterns are changing for animals as they search for food during the colder months and more breeds are going extinct. Forests are burning and emissions are through the roof. It’s a scary time in the world but there are ways you can join the fight against climate change, and they are quite simple.

Turn your backyard into a sustainable landscape and grow your own fruits and vegetables instead of driving to the grocery store to get them. It might not seem like a lot but if more people participated in this practice; the emissions caused by transport wouldn’t be as much for fresh produce. Every little bit counts in the fight against global warming and another bonus of having a sustainable backyard means that your monthly bills might not be as high.

So, interested yet? Want to turn your backyard into a sustainable oasis? Then you will want to continue reading as we break some of the more popular ideas for a sustainable landscape for a person’s backyard.

Construct a Tree Line

We’ve all learned it in junior and high school science – how trees inhale carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen in its place. A single tree will create enough oxygen for a single person for about 45 years or so, which is why the more trees in the world? The better.

You don’t need to overpower your backyard with trees, but you can line the edges with a variety of them. Limit yourself to smaller trees that won’t grow tall enough to tangle in electrical wires or impede your backyard in any way. Consider fruit bearing trees such as cherry trees or plum trees that will serve a dual purpose.

If you are going to have trees in your backyard, you’ll want a chainsaw on hand for trimming branches and removing dead or broken ones. While a normal chainsaw is fine and dandy; you can also get what is called a pole chainsaw. These models are attached to a pole, so you are able to use them at greater heights without having to carry it up a ladder. They have tons of safety features and can be easier on the backs of those carrying them. Check out the link to find out more about a pole chainsaw.

Install a Vegetable Garden

Within the confines of your backyard, why not install a vegetable garden? It doesn’t have to be a big one or even a lot of beds but one that is big enough to grow a substantial amount of fresh produce for your family. Plant vegetables such as carrots, turnip and potatoes (ones that grow well in any climate and ones that are used in a wide variety of meals). You can also place window boxes on your back windows to grow your own herbs and spices.

If you are going to construct a vegetable garden; you’ll want the proper tools and supplies to maintain it. Consider making your own compost and mulch from household items such as newsprint, coffee grounds and eggshells. Use wood chips and lawn trimmings for the base of the mulch and watch as your vegetable plants thrive and grow. Compost will provide your garden with valuable nutrients while mulch acts as a barrier against the plants and the elements.

Save rainwater in barrels for watering your garden and measure the cost of installing an irrigation system to ensure that your garden has an adequate water supply.

Solar Panels and Solar Lights

Another popular way people are landscaping their backyard with sustainable means is to install solar panels at the points that receive the highest amount of sunlight. These solar panels harness the energy of the sun to create electricity. While it would take a lot of solar panels to power your home; a few placed in the backyard might be enough to light it up during the darker nights or power your backyard shed.

Install solar lights along the edge of the patio or the tree line to add a gorgeous twinkling glow while providing enough light for those walking around. You can buy solar lights at most department stores or hardware stores.

Conclusion

As you’ve just read; it doesn’t take much to turn your backyard into a sustainable one. With a bit of elbow grease, willpower and effort combined with some of your free time, this is a project that you can complete on your own without having to hire expensive contractors. Once your backyard is complete and redone; you’ll enjoy those long summer evenings sitting in your relaxing oasis.

Turn your backyard into a place where memories are made, you’re doing your part in the fight against climate change and you are truly at home in your backyard.

If you have any questions or concerns while landscaping your backyard into a sustainable land, then simply contact your local gardening center or nursery. Learn which fruits and vegetables will be the best to plant in your climate while checking out tree varieties that will withstand the weather conditions and shade your home.