Towards Sustainable Residential Landscapes

Sustainable development has become a popular term over the past few years, and even politicians have started to use it in every day discussions. How to achieve sustainability is a challenge requiring outside-of-the-box thinking. The design and construction of the individual residential landscape is one example where it can be applied.

At first thought, we may think that the landscape design of a single residential lot does not matter. The cumulative impact of thousands of individual lots, however, is dramatic! Each lot is connected and forms a part of the bigger landscape fabric that creates neighborhoods, communities, and regions. Each individual is important: you can make a difference and choices are available. And a sustainable residential landscape does not cost more; it is simply the result of a different way of thinking.

Here are some practical measures that can be incorporated into the landscape design of an individual lot to create a more sustainable residential landscape.

Design sustainable water management systems. Reducing the amount and improving the quality of water that runs off your property is critical. Grade your site using bio swales (a planted type of French drain) and rain gardens to slow down runoff and let rainwater filter back into the ground rather than draining it away as fast as possible, which is the conventional approach.

Plan your site in zones which should include limited high maintenance areas requiring irrigation, lower maintenance zones requiring only periodic watering and the lowest maintenance zones with no irrigation. Choose plants that can survive in these specific conditions.

Design grass areas restricting the extent of mowed lawn (irrigated) areas which use cool season grasses such as Kentucky Blue grass. Use warm season grasses like the fescues for transition areas (no watering and mowing). Create very deliberate patterns of the two types and connect with any natural areas. The design impact is great!

Use permeable paving as much as possible, especially for large parking areas to accommodate periodic visitors. Collect water runoff from parking, develop infiltration areas and let water get into the ground!

Pay attention to the materials that are used for construction. Avoid the use of treated wood for decks and fences. The processes used in manufacturing are environmentally damaging. Ask for certified wood, which means that it is not from old growth forests (Home Depot apparently is a leader in this product). Avoid toxic and non-renewable materials.

Design, construction, and maintenance procedures should be integrated. There is clearly an important connection between these three steps in developing a residential landscape. Sustainability must be kept in mind from the start of the design process to the yearly maintenance activities. An enlightened approach will include developing both a site design and management plan.

The above suggestions are a move towards a more sustainable landscape for your residence. Alone they will not save the environment and fix global warming, but at least they will be a small contribution in a positive direction. The familiar phrase “think globally and act locally” can start with your home landscape.

Chantal De Menezes AAPQ
Richard Moore FCSLA

514-229-1746