Sustainable landscaping protects the environment and preserves limited water resources, while keeping landscapes beautiful and healthy. Eco-friendly techniques used to maintain green spaces, lawns and gardens in sustainable landscaping include planting drought-tolerant native species that are adapted to local climate and soil, using organic materials instead of fertilizers to nourish soil, and water-efficient irrigation, which significantly reduces water consumption, and eliminates wasteful runoff—both of which massively save HOA water costs.
Sustainable landscaping is cost-effective in the long run for HOA communities, as water efficient practices not only deliver significant savings on water bills, but reduced need for maintenance because of drought-tolerant native plantings.
Besides reducing maintenance and water costs, native plantings used in sustainable landscaping also promotes biodiversity to support local ecosystems. Native plants create healthy environments for wildlife habitats that attract birds, butterflies and bees.
Thoughtfully designed, colorful groupings of native plants along meandering, pebbled pathways also create a lovely, serene environment for residents, as well as pretty curb appeal to attract the eye of potential buyers.
Eco-Friendly Methods & Techniques
The following eco-friendly practices will not only reduce impact on the environment, they will cost-effectively benefit the health of HOA landscapes long-term, and enhance the appearance of green spaces.
- Design Landscaping with Native Plants. Because native plants have adapted to local climate and soil, they require minimal water to thrive, making for a cost-effective landscape, and significant water conservation. Plants native to the region will also reduce use of fertilizers and pesticides—which also reduces maintenance costs—because they can withstand varied weather conditions and pests in the region already, without the use of chemicals.
- Use Organic Mulching. Organic mulching prevents weeds, nourishes the soil, and retains moisture in the soil for plant roots. Organic mulching is comprised of natural materials that break down over time, such as leaves, pine needles and tree bark.
- Rainwater Harvesting. Water-saving practices are key to sustainable landscaping. Rainwater that collects in rooftop gutters and channels into downspouts into a storage vessel such as a rain barrel can be collected to water plants and gardens, or refill fountains or fish ponds. This eco-friendly practice also reduces stormwater runoff from rooftops to prevent flooding of the property.
- Note: Some states restrict rainwater collection, because too much rainwater harvesting can disrupt the cycle of rainfall seeping back into the earth, so best to check your state’s laws regarding rainwater harvesting.
- Create Areas to Better Manage Stormwater. A pretty rain garden, planted with deep-rooted native plants will collect and allow stormwater to seep slowly into the ground, rather than flood the grounds and pour down a storm drain on the street.
- Design With Gravel Pathways Instead of Concrete. Instead of allowing rainwater to run down concrete pathways into the storm drain, design residential grounds with gravel pathways or permeable pavers, both of which allow for more natural filtration of rainwater beneath the ground surface to reach plant root systems.
- Smart Irrigation System. Weather-based, Smart Irrigation systems will irrigate only when necessary to reduce water usage and waste– saving time, resources and money. Overwatering will be prevented and wasteful runoff eliminated. Cloud-based, Smart Irrigation can create specific schedules, based on specific plant needs, and on real-time, site-specific data and the ET Everywhere weather service, the most precise, high-resolution weather data available.
- Soil Moisture Sensors. Soil Moisture Sensors use patented technology to reduce water usage—up to 62% or more over traditional irrigation methods. They automatically adjust with the season, saving time and maintenance costs. Buried deep in the root zone of plants, soil moisture sensors can take soil readings of + 3% of the actual volumetric soil moisture content, and electronically send readings to the Smart controller for the best possible irrigation decisions. These ultra-sensitive sensors are capable of measuring soil moisture changes less than 0.1%.
Sustainable Landscape practices in HOA communities will keep residential grounds green and healthy, massively reduce water consumption, and significantly reduce maintenance and water costs—all without putting more stress on the environment.
In addition to protecting the environment, beautifying the appearance of residential grounds with sustainable landscaping practices can also boost an HOA community’s property value—because beautifully-maintained, healthy landscapes are always appealing to homeowners, and potential buyers alike.