The Worst Mistakes to Avoid When Building an Eco-Friendly Backyard
The best home backyard isn’t about having the biggest pool or the most professional landscaping. It’s about how you treat the environment around you. Toxic fertilizers can poison local water supplies. Invasive landscaping can hurt native plants and animal populations.
The best way to spruce up your backyard is to be more mindful about the choices you make to build your patio or garden. It’s easy to make many eco mistakes in your yard, so doing research beforehand is the best way to prevent or learn from them.
Harmful Pesticides or Fertilizers
Gardens, especially container gardens, often require fertilizers to grow faster and stronger. Pesticides can keep pesky critters from eating your flowers and vegetables. Natural fertilizers and pesticides are your best bet. When you opt for harmful fertilizers or pesticides with toxic ingredients, they can harm other local wildlife and pollute the water around you. They can also be highly toxic to kids and pets.
The best way to handle issues with stunted plant growth or pests is to identify the problem and use natural methods for removal. Slugs, for example, can be removed by introducing their predators to your garden, like ground beetles.
You can also use diatomaceous earth, a natural insecticide that doesn’t harm pets or other wildlife. Composting makes an excellent natural fertilizer that benefits the ecosystem around you; as a bonus, it’s free to use compost from your kitchen.
Wasteful Materials
An eco-friendly yard is built with purpose. You’ll want to make sure the materials you use in structures like sheds, gazebos, decks, or swimming pools are sustainably sourced. Covering your deck in toxic plastic or choosing a supplier who cuts wood down from endangered habitats aren’t the best choices. I found a deck builder near me that sources sustainably. If you’re opting with a builder for your backyard excursions, check where they get their materials from—and what kind they use.
Natural materials from sustainable sources are the best way to live in harmony with the environment. Cut out as much plastic or toxic materials as you can. Outdoor kitchens can use natural stone counters. Playgrounds can be built on natural rubber mulch. Be mindful about the material choices you make in your own backyard, literally.
Unnecessary Irrigation
Lawns and gardens will need water from time to time, especially during hot summer days. You can overwater plants, leading to root rot or leaf fungi, including your grass. Using too much water can waste this precious natural resource and spike your water bill. Keep your irrigation to an as-needed schedule. If you really want to go above and beyond, you can collect rainwater to use during periods of drought. You don’t waste water, and you’ll always have some on hand.
Invasive Plants
Many flowers are beautiful in a garden, but don’t belong in every backyard. Exotic flowers imported from other countries may be able to live in your home’s climate, but they can take over other natural plants. Invasive species of plants will use up resources, killing native plants. Wildlife that feeds on local plants can starve. One invasive plant can disrupt an entire ecosystem! Make sure you choose plants that aren’t invasive and are native to your area to benefit the world around you.
Preventing Pollinators
If you’re scared of bees or wasps, you’re not alone! An insect sting can be startling and painful. Harming these pollinators can do real harm, however. These creatures are responsible for helping pollinate flowers to ensure seeds are spread and more plants thrive. Without pollinators, flowers won’t bloom, and fruits and vegetables can’t grow. You can’t enjoy your yard, and wildlife won’t have food to eat.
It’s best to leave pollinators in your garden be if they’re tending to your flowers. Most will leave you alone if you don’t bother them. If wasps or bees start building a nest near your home in an unsafe place, contact a local beekeeper for advice or assistance.
Too Much Concrete
Concrete can be a useful tool for building pools, patios, or pathways through your garden. You’ll want to be careful how many impervious surfaces you include in your yard, however. These substances contribute to the heat island effect, raising the temperature of your backyard to uncomfortable levels, especially during summer. This can make your backyard difficult to relax in, harm local wildlife, and dehydrate your plants. Too much concrete can also lead to drainage issues when it rains.
Poor Drainage
Insufficient drainage isn’t just a good way to drown your plants and cause water damage to your home. When water can’t drain, it can carry common pollutants like oil, pet waste, and pesticides that harm the environment and the water supply. Animals, especially aquatic life, suffer from water pollution, too. Ensure your gutters are working efficiently and that rainwater can drain quickly from your yard.
Gas-Powered Yard Equipment
Cutting your lawn regularly can help keep it from looking overgrown and can keep pests like ticks at bay. It’s often a requirement for many cities or HOA neighborhoods. While there’s nothing wrong with cutting a lawn, gas-powered motors and trimmers contribute to fossil fuel pollution unnecessarily.
Opt for a battery-powered electric mower instead. If you have a small yard, you may be able to get away with a manual trimmer instead. Every little contribution helps the environment. As a bonus, battery-operated tools don’t have a pesky cord to deal with or a frustrating start-up process.
Conclusion
Your backyard isn’t automatically eco-friendly. Spending time outside isn’t inherently environmentally friendly unless you know how to live in peace with the world around you. Try to be tolerant of living creatures that you share the space with; natural pesticides are a better solution if you want to get rid of bad actors.
Be mindful of the materials you use to build your outdoor structures and the power sources for the equipment that maintains the yard. Be cautious about your water usage, too. The best type of outdoor space is one that truly appreciates and benefits from its natural backdrop.