Our best tips for sustainable landscaping

As a homeowner, you take pride in caring for your home and the property around it. From decorating the exterior of your house seasonally, to mowing the lawn every week, landscaping is an important part of owning a home.

While the perfectly manicured front yard with bright green grass is the typical go-to, there is another way to have the best landscaping on the block. Let's take a closer look at how you can achieve this look.

What is sustainable landscaping?

Sustainable landscaping limits the flora in your yard to plants that are native to the environment you live in. There are many reasons that someone might gravitate towards this method, but the end result can be a stunningly designed property that simultaneously costs less than it does to water your grass.

In a place like the Gold Coast, your options are wide and varied. For example, swap out the typical boring lawn with another native plant that thrives naturally in the warm climate. By strategically picking other options that do not require as much water, time and energy, you can get the best of both worlds.

Why pick sustainable landscaping?

Some homeowners opt for sustainable landscaping because they're interested in saving money and reducing their impact on the environment. Here are the top reasons to pick landscaping:

Save water

As a plant, grass takes a considerable amount of water to maintain that glorious green colour. Most sources recommend keeping your lawn watered with 5.08 cm of water per week, which evens out to 2832.21 litres of water each week. At a time when water is valued as a precious resource, why not go with a more sustainable way of landscaping?

Save money

Sustainable landscaping takes native plants and arranges them in a way that is not only attractive but promotes energy retention. In this same vein, when you save energy, you also save money. Your water bill may be lower, your electricity bill could improve, and the likelihood of your landscaping lasting longer may be higher. Your maintenance costs could also reduce as well because the plants thrive naturally in the environment you are living in.

Top tips for sustainability

If you're considering moving into the world of sustainable landscaping, Here are our top five tips:

• Talk to a professional: A knowledgeable landscaping professional can help you get started.
• Do some research: Learn more about your favourite native plants that you may want to include.
• Make a goal: Decide whether you want to do the process all at once, or gradually over time.
• Include native consumables: Discover if there are any native plants that could provide you with food as well as decor.
• Work with local designers: This is a great opportunity to support the local economy all while benefiting the greater community as well.

What are you waiting for? There are endless possibilities with sustainable landscaping.  If you are ready to learn more about homeownership, reach out to Ray White Surfers Paradise.