Choosing Sustainable Landscaping Alternatives

Skipping over conventional landscaping practices and moving to sustainable techniques will help the environment, save you money, and still deliver beautiful landscaping results. Try these alternatives for sustainable landscaping methods:





































Alternatives to Power Equipment
Power ToolSustainable Alternatives
Gas lawn mowerPush mower, electric mower, sheep, alternative lawn such as a
meadow
String weed and grass trimmerHand shears, scythe, hoe, goat, mulching, knee-high plants to
suppress weeds
Gas hedge trimmerHand or electric hedge shears, natural unclipped hedges
Chain sawHand pruning saw, lopping shears
RototillerNone (tilling isn’t recommended; use a spading fork only
when starting new beds)
Gas blowerRake, broom, allowing leaves to remain in place as mulch
Lawn tractorHand cart, wheelbarrow




















Alternatives to Harsh Chemicals
Harsh ChemicalSustainable Alternatives
FertilizersInstalling low-demand plants, composting, applying green
manures, planting cover crops, allowing leaf litter to remain in
place, practicing chop and drop pruning, applying organic
fertilizers
PesticidesSelecting pest-resistant plants, improving growing conditions
to make plants less susceptible, washing the pests off with a jet
of water, releasing beneficial insects that feed on harmful
insects, using the least-toxic pesticides such as insecticidal
soaps and oil sprays
HerbicidesBlocking out weeds with tall dense plantings, sheet mulching,
applying organic herbicides such as corn gluten meal or vinegar,
using a drip system to reduce wetting of soil, pulling weeds before
they set seed



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Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/choosing-sustainable-landscaping-alternatives.html

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