Lawn and landscape design is changing to meet the challenges of new water requirements and a revived interest in native habitats that encourage native wildlife.

Traditional lawns

Everyone loves a beautiful, freshly cut green lawn, well, almost everyone. More and more people are moving away from the traditional large grass covered areas, opting instead to use more trees, shrubs, and other plants, and they are “going native” with the varieties used in lawn and landscape design.

Water use and phosphorous

I suspect that this trend will continue, as water use restrictions and environmental laws begin to effect the amount of water available for lawn and landscape use, and the allowable nutrient “run off” produced by traditional lawn care. Certain lawn nutrients may eventually be severely restricted, particularly the amount of phosphorous, due to it’s negative effects on lakes, ponds and waterways. Such restrictions are inevitable unless we learn to self regulate. It is only a matter of time.

Traditional lawn grasses

Most of our traditional lawn grasses are not native, and therefore require extra water and nutrients to thrive. While they do produce oxygen and process water fairly efficiently, the extra nutrients, pesticides, and other excesses may make them a less practical practice than in the past.

Traditional landscapes

Traditional landscapes, with their heavy use of exotic plants, are also losing favor. Most of these non native plants require more water, more fertilizer, and more insecticides than their native counterparts.

Lawn and landscape design and biodiversity

There is also a biodiversity issue involved in lawn and landscape design. Who would have ever suspected that so many of the popular landscape plants from the middle of the last century would have taken on the role of environmental terrorists? The Japanese Silk tree, commonly called Mimosa, the Chinaberry, the Chinese Tallow, and a variety of Asian privets are now more prevalent in our woodlands, than in the home lawns where they were once used as landscape plants. Thought to be safe, and non invasive at the time, they have now become a serious threat to native biodiversity throughout the lower half of the country. Which of the currently popular exotics will become problems? It is hard to know, but just because they do not appear to be invasive now, does not mean that they won’t gain a foothold later.

Why non native plants are a problem

When invasive species gain a foothold in our forests and waters, they tend to eliminate the native competition, much of which is needed to support native wildlife. If a native plant preferred by pollinators disappears, the pollinator may move on. This gives the non native an even stronger foothold. It also means that the insects which pollinate food crops may be gone as well.

Non native plants and wildlife

Studies have shown that the nutrient value of most of the non native species is less than that of the native varieties, particularly for native wildlife. As these exotics take over more and more territory, the native wildlife populations sometimes get hungry, and move on. These are just a couple of the hundreds of reasons why biodiversity should be considered when devising a landscape strategy. It is not just an issue in some remote forest or jungle, biodiversity is a problem on the home front as well.

Backyard habitats for lawn and landscape

The fact is, that our traditional ways of dealing with our outdoor habitats are responsible for a number of environmental problems such as water quality, biodiversity, and over use of pesticides. With growing awareness of these effects, many are choosing to take a different approach to lawn and landscape design.

Backyard habitats, or, native habitats, are viable alternatives to traditional lawns and landscape designs. Rather than imposing our will on the environment, we simply allow the native environment to do what it does best, with our assistance. In the long run, there is less fertilizer, water, and pesticide needed. The native varieties are acclimated to the native environments, and native soils, and are resistant to native pests. After the initial installation or modification, there is much less labor involved. It is a cheaper, easier, more environmentally friendly form of landscaping.

Traditional backyards, with their non native lawn grasses, and non native landscape plants have a few problems. There is now a trend which replaces these with native plants, and less grassy lawn area.

Backyard wildlife habitats can soften the environmental impact of the backyard, and can soften the economic impact to your wallet.

Backyard habitat savings

• Save on lawncare cost
• Are environmentally friendly
• Save water
• Save on pest control costs

To establish a wildlife friendly wildlife habitat project, there are 3 main components:

Backyard wildlife habitat water

All life needs water. Without it survival is impossible. To be able to attract wildlife to your backyard wildlife habitat there will need to be an ample supply on hand and available for the animals you are trying to attract. This can be attained in a number of ways, through naturally occurring sources such as streams, and by less natural means such as rainwater containment, and even by supplying, or supplementing with water from a water supply such as your city supply, or rural coop.

Backyard wildlife habitat food

The species you want in your wildlife habitat will want to eat. Otherwise, they will not stick around. The best method of providing food, is to have an ample supply of plants native to your area. Non native plants usually destroy the balance in the food chain, while native plants provide food in sufficient quantities for the animals native to your area. In some cases, alternative feeding may be needed, but the best method is native plants in a native habitat.

Backyard wildlife habitat cover

Animals need cover, to hide from predators, to nest and protect their young, and for periods of rest. The best cover is natural cover provided by plants native to the area. If it is not possible to provide such a thick dense growth in your habitat, other means can be constructed.

Structures for backyard wildlife habitat cover

A native, natural setting is always preferred, but due to size limitations, or other considerations in residential areas, this may not always be completely possible. In such cases, the use of the most natural, least invasive method is always the best means.

Stone and wood structures can help to supplement your cover for your backyard wildlife habitat. Bird houses, bat houses, butterfly houses and even owl houses can be built or bought.

Of all the home maintenance operations, lawn care takes the lions share of resources. The average home owner spends more on lawn care than any other aspect of managing property.

Add up the cost of weekly mowing, fertilization, irrigation, and pest control, and a half acre lawn can cost as much or more to maintain is a mortgage payment.

Traditional lawns have a big carbon footprint

If you pride yourself on being green, and having a green lawn, there may be a few contradictions at work. There can be issues with fertility runoff, chemical usage, water usage, and excessive fuel use for equipment, and the manufacture of the products used to keep a lawn green. Even the “organic” pest control products available from manufacturers have a large carbon footprint, because they have to be gathered, processed, stored, packaged, shipped, and so do the packaging and labeling products used.

Lawn alternatives

There are ways to avoid this conundrum, save money, and have a beautiful landscape without sacrificing the environment, or your time and money. It can even be done without starting a massive landscape project, gradually, over a long period of time, and won’t look awkward and strange while it is being done. What we are talking about is a native habitat, or backyard habitat. Native habitats are an excellent and inexpensive way to modify your lawn, and save money in the long run.

How to start a native habitat

Start by adding a few native trees and shrubs around the parameter of your property. I say “native” because native plants will withstand the rigors of their native environment better than the exotic species more commonly used in landscaping projects. Native plants are already acclimated to your region, are naturally resistant to the pests in your area, and have evolved to adjust to your soil type. As a side benefit, native plants will attract native wildlife, particularly birds, which will then lower your pest population.

Find ground covers native to your area, and add them where appropriate to help prevent erosion. You can also add some landscape stone paths if you like.

Continue to add trees, shrubs, and ground covers including native grasses until you have no lawn, or very little lawn left to mow.

Native habitats:

• Are less costly
• Are less time consuming
• Use less pesticides
• Use less fertilizer
• Require less maintenance
• Provide built in pest control
• Have a smaller carbon footprint
• Are wildlife friendly