Sustainable landscaping is essential in the Arizona desert, where water is a scarce resource and non-native plants can wreak havoc on our natural ecosystems. Sustainable landscaping refers to a garden or plants that are thoughtfully chosen and designed to complement and maintain balance with the local climate and ecosystem. These plants should require minimal resources to stay healthy, so they should be low-water use, not require pesticides or fertilizer or extensive amounts of time to cultivate.
At Complete Landscaping, we specialize in sustainable landscaping options in Tucson, AZ. Our experienced landscape contractors offer commercial, hotel and resort, and public works landscaping, and we emphasize native and low-water use plants to preserve our local ecosystem. Here are some tips from our pros on successful sustainable landscaping.
Tip 1: Focus on Drought-Tolerant and Low-Water Use Plants
Drought-tolerant and low-water-use plants are ones that do not need as much water and are more likely to survive in harsh Arizona temperatures. We don’t get a lot of rain throughout the year, and watering landscaping excessively can be wasteful, increase your water bill, and use resources we don’t have in the desert. Drought-tolerant plants will look great year-round.
Tip 2: Primarily Use Native Plants
Native plants are ones that are native to Arizona or the specific part of Arizona you’re living in. Native plants require less time, care, and water and can withstand extreme heat, little rain, and sun exposure. Native plants are also safer for animals and wildlife and won’t pose a threat to existing ecosystems.
Tip 3: Use Organic Products
Organic products don’t contain synthetic chemicals that could be dangerous to the environment. Our team can recommend organic fertilizer, soil, mulch, and other products that are designed to break down naturally in the soil without polluting it. This will keep the water supply clean and reduce the environmental impact of your landscaping.
Tips 4: Install Custom Irrigation Systems
A custom irrigation system will use a schedule or timer to water your landscaping at the most effective and necessary times of day. This reduces water runoff and evaporation, and thus decreases water waste and keeps your water bill reasonable. Your irrigation system will be set up in zones and the watering schedule can be changed as the temperature outside changes.
Tips 5: Create Hydrozones
Hydrozones are areas in your garden or landscape design that contain plants that all need roughly the same amount of water at the same time of day. We use natural drainage options like hills and valleys to increase or decrease water runoff and minimize soil erosion and water waste. Using hydrozones ensures that plants that need more water will get it without wasting water on plants that don’t need as much.
Schedule a Consultation for Sustainable Landscaping
While you may not be an expert in sustainable landscaping, our team at Complete Landscaping is. Call us today at (520) 675-1754 or contact us online to schedule a consultation for a landscape renovation or landscape installation in Tucson, AZ. Our team will assess your space, go over your goals and budget, and design a low-water use, sustainable garden or landscaping area that focuses on native plants and water conservation.