Sustainable Landscaping Materials

Organic Compost and Fertilizer

• The mainstay of sustainable landscaping is a soil system that demands little by way of fertilizer inputs. The more petroleum-based fertilizer and nutrients, the less likely it is to be sustainable over the long run. Sustainable landscaping uses organic materials and natural decomposition to build healthy soil systems that are largely capable of maintaining themselves without excessive chemical inputs.

Pest Management Materials

• Another feature of sustainable landscaping practices is to reduce the use of artificial pesticides. Using materials and plants that integrate pest management into the landscape is essential to minimizing the risk of pests without the use of chemical pesticides. Integrated pest management includes the use of plants that attract beneficial insects and materials that disrupt pest mating cycles.

Native Plants

• Sustainable landscapes are designed to be better adapted to the local environment. One of the ways to accomplish this is with the use of plant materials that are native to the region. This prevents the destruction of local plant communities by invasive species and helps reduce the water needs of the landscape.