You don’t need to have the world’s best green thumb to go ‘green’ in your landscaping. Simply picking the right plants, shrubs and trees for your climate and investing in a smart watering system can help you create a sustainable and attractive landscape while saving you water, money and work. Here are four ways to plant and maintain a sustainable landscape at home or at your business:
- Invest in native plants. Rather than opting for water-gobbling plants that aren’t a good fit for your local environment, choose plants that are native to the area and will support the local ecosystem. These plants are already acclimated to the region and typically require less water and maintenance year-round. There are a wide variety of native plants — some with colorful flowers. Many are drought-resistant and require less fertilizer.
- Consider perennials. Perennials are flowers, herbs and other plants that generally live for more than one growing season. Many varieties of perennials come back reliably each spring, year after year. Each fall, the top part of perennial plants die off, but the roots remain, regrowing the plant in the spring. In contrast, annual plants complete their entire life cycle in one growing season and must be replaced each spring. Ask about perennials the next time you shop for plants.
- Select drought-resistant grasses. Opting for native grass varieties and reducing the size of your lawn can cut down on the time you spend mowing. With less of a lawn, you’ll apply fewer chemicals and use less water. Drought-tolerant and native grass varieties can help you have a beautiful outdoor area with a lot less work!
- Invest in a smart watering system. At Smart Rain, we’re all about minimizing water consumption, keeping your property healthy, and cutting irrigation costs. Smart irrigation systems are the most efficient way to prevent overwatering, as they monitor water usage and shut off lines when no more water is needed. Our Smart Controller is one of the most sophisticated and proprietary irrigation controllers on the market and can help you water with precision.
