Since 2001, and updated in 2012, the Dallas Water Conservation Ordinance has helped to limit overuse of water in irrigation of lawns and landscapes, leading to less pressure on the city’s water supply system and less strain on the environment. From April 1 to October 31, lawns may not be watered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and by preventing sprinkler systems from watering sidewalks, driveways, and streets, runoff and waste are limited. These simple steps are a great start, but there is much more we can do. Sustainable landscape design creates environments that respond appropriately to nature and lead to the development of natural, healthy communities by cleaning air and water, increasing energy efficiency, and restoring habitats. Whether your sustainable landscape design project is as small-scale as redesigning your driveway to limit waste water or as massive as a total overhaul of your lawn’s plants, Mother Nature will thank you for caring.
- More About Water
Thanks to unpredictable rain patterns, the state of Texas has experienced drought conditions for years. In 2011, a mere 14.8 inches of rain led to the state’s driest year on record. Residential water use in the U.S. needs to be reexamined. With sustainable landscape design, rain water is treated as a resource instead of waste for gutters and sewers. Consider landscape designs with smaller lawns; with the addition of a patio in the backyard, you can use less water to maintain less grass.
- Putting the Right Plants in the Right Places
Often when homeowners think of landscape design, they imagine ripping out all existing plants from the yard and starting over with an entirely new set of flowers, bushes, and trees. While this sounds glamorous, this can actually be detrimental to the health of your yard by disrupting its natural processes. In sustainable landscape design, the goal is to preserve existing, and add more, native plants. These plants are accustomed to the drought conditions of Texas and require less water and maintenance to thrive.
- Building with the Right Materials
Landscape construction can produce lots of waste, especially when the hardscape materials travel long distances before being used and when leftover material is not disposed of properly. If we use locally-sourced materials and incorporate recycling into your sustainable landscape design, we can limit strain on the environment and reduce waste.
If you’re interested in learning more about sustainable landscape design, do not hesitate to contact Keane Landscaping, your Dallas landscape experts.
