- Right plant, right place
- That means planting full sun plants in full sun and shade plants in shade. Also, planting plants that need more water in areas that are wetter and visa versa.
- Liked plants with liked plants
- Having plants with similar needs in the same location. Example is having water-loving plants together instead of mixing non-water and water-loving plants in the same location.
- Trees around buildings
- Planting deciduous trees on the south and west sides of buildings to shade building from the summer sun while allowing the sun to pass through the trees in the winter.
- Planting evergreen trees on the north side of buildings to protect from the cold winter winds.
- More plants, less turfs
- Turf require more maintenance, fertilizers and watering than planting beds filled with plants.
- Mulch
- Mulching planting beds help keep moisture in the soil while preventing weeds from growing.
- As mulch breaks down, it releases nutrients make into the soil.
- Composting
- Composting lawn trimmings, plant trimmings, leftover food and cardboard creates compost that is filled with beneficial nutrients and helps reduce the trash heading to landfills.
- Composting also saves homeowner money by not having him/her go to stores to buy compost.
- Plant native plants
- Using native plants will require less maintenance on the homeowner, provide habitats for desirable wildlife, require less watering once established and are much hardier than non-native plants while providing color and interest.
- Water infrequently
- Watering on a set schedule doesn’t allow plants to let their roots grow deeper and wider than plants that are not on a schedule. Bigger root systems don’t need to be water as much.
- Also watering on a set schedule may keep water at the surface if done to frequently.
- Keep grass taller
- Taller grass blades mean that the grass roots go much deeper into the soil. This allows the homeowner not to water the grass as often compared to short grass blades.
- Best Management Practices (BMPs)
- Installing BMPs like rain gardens and bioswales allow water to be absorbed into the soil and filter out pollutants and sediment from runoff. These BMPs reduce the impact of storms on the sewer system and the rivers
