5 Best Practices for a Water-Conscious Garden

Sustainability is a rising trend among gardeners and landscaping professionals. One of the major ways they contribute to promoting this concept is by focusing on using the least amount of water possible while maintaining an abundant healthy landscape. There are several ways to ensure this, some of which may require professional assistance.

Our team at Northern Virginia Landscaping has helped develop a variety of gardens and landscapes for our clients. Whether you want a place to entertain guests, grow your own fruits and vegetables, or have a quiet, outdoor space to yourself, we can help you customize your landscape to your needs. With our years of experience as the top backyard landscaping experts in Crystal City and throughout Northern Virginia, there’s no better landscaping company in the area than Northern Virginia Landscaping.

Here are some of our best practices when constructing a water-conscious garden:

Plant Low-Water Native Plants

Coneflower

The first best practice to consider is planting native plants, like the Black-eyed Susan pictured above, within your landscape or garden.

These will more effectively grow within the climate of your home’s region, particularly with far less water than with non-native plants.

Thus, with less dependability on water, you’ll be able to grow a long-lasting, sustainable landscape.

Base Your Landscape on Using Trees

 

Trees & Sunlight

Some trees, as they mature, can soak up and transpire hundreds of gallons of water per day. This transpiration takes place from the atmosphere through the leaves and into the tree. Trees are essential in any landscape or garden, but they are vital in creating a water-conscious garden.

Plant as many of them as you can, as they provide excellent shade that helps maintain cooler temperatures during the day, while also preventing the evaporation of moisture from the soil around your plants.

Use Mulch and Compost in the Soil

Mulch

Another best practice is to place mulch and compost within the soil of your trees and plants.

The compost will provide a generous amount of nutrients, while the mulch will provide additional cover over the soil.

This cover will further ensure moisture remains within the soil and roots by preventing the evaporation caused by the sun.

Install Permeable Pavers and Gravel

Hardscaping

When creating your garden, you’ll need to install pathways for easy access. While you can simply leave these areas as grass, you’ll have to deal with maintaining it often, as it will grow like your other plants.

Instead, to provide clear pathways while also providing excellent drainage to your garden plants, use gravel or pavement made of porous material.

This will ensure that water will be absorbed into the soil and into the roots of your garden’s plants.

Harvest Rainwater Using Barrels or SwalesHardscaping Steps

Finally, the best thing you can do when putting together a water-conscious garden is harvest excess rainwater, which provides a supplementary water source throughout the year.

Harvesting can be done through creating swales or trenches with an inward slope, allowing  rainwater to flow and be absorbed into the soil.

You can also strategically place rain barrels in areas of your property to collect the greatest amount of rain water, like connecting one to the downspout of your gutter system.

Northern Virginia Landscaping: Eco-Friendly Backyard Landscaping in Crystal City, VA

Sustainability is all about utilizing only a certain amount of materials to retain the highest impact. Applying that to your garden involves applying the ideas above. Some of them can be done with only yourself and some basic tools, while others will require a more professional touch. At Northern Virginia Landscaping, we can help you create the perfect sustainable landscape or water-conscious garden.

We’ve helped design and construct numerous softscapes and hardscapes through our quality backyard landscaping services. For many years, we have served numerous residents in Crystal City, VA as well as throughout Northern Virginia, utilizing our extensive experience and knowledge in horticulture and botany to ensure your landscape remains beautiful and healthy throughout the year.

Contact us at (703) 982-0100 to contact one of our backyard landscaping and hardscaping specialists.

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