‘Tis the season to start planning backyard makeovers! Of course, turning over the yard means that you have an opportunity to reevaluate what materials make up your hardscaping. Every choice matters as we strive to be eco-friendly and care for our great green earth! If you’re looking for ideas to make your hardscape eco-friendly, here are some of our favorite strategies to get you started.
Why Have an Eco-Friendly Hardscape?
Humans have a way of disrupting the natural ecosystems, affecting wildlife, insect populations, water flow, air quality, and more. While it might feel futile to make changes in your hardscaping when sustainability is a significant concern, every effort leads to a collective change. For example, by simply using mulch instead of rocks in a garden bed, you can protect the plants with a gentler cover that will biodegrade and provide nutrients to the soil. Small changes go a long way!
Eco-Friendly Pavers
Pavers make up a substantial part of hardscapes. Whether you use them for walking stones, driveways, or aesthetic interest, the best eco-friendly pavers are those that let water pass through them. You can buy pavers specifically designed for water to drain straight through, or you can add a couple of inches between standard pavers to let water through each piece.
Letting water pass through your hardscape is essential in reducing runoff, which sends all of that beautiful rainwater straight into the gutter! When the water can soak into your landscape, it prevents erosion and fosters a healthy ecosystem in your yard.
Beware the Lights!
One of the most impactful changes you can make in your hardscape is reducing the number of lights you have. Garden lights are lovely, but they attract insects at night, which makes them work overtime and leaves them exhausted! Tired bugs are easy prey for birds and bats, and just one yard with lights can result in six bugs eaten per night. Those numbers add up fast and have a significant impact on our insect population, which of course, is necessary for pollination and the health of the global ecosystem!
The easiest solution is to get rid of your garden lights, but we understand that aesthetic appeal is desirable. If you want to keep lights in your yard and reduce the impact of your hardscape on the ecosystem, consider installing motion-sensor lights or replacing your bulbs with yellow LEDs.
Walls Aren’t Just for Privacy
Retaining walls are a pretty cool addition to your hardscape for a few reasons. Adding an element of structure and architecture can be dynamic and make a bold statement in your yard. They also allow you to raise a sloped part of your yard to make it flat, preventing runoff and letting the water soak into your yard and nourish the plants you have there!
When choosing materials for your wall (and hardscape in general!), consider the longevity of the materials and determine whether they will seep any harmful chemicals into your soil. Recycled concrete is an excellent option as it uses up wasted material but is also very long-lasting and won’t leech anything into the ground. You can also use hardwood timber, though we recommend looking for sustainable woods in your area. Be sure to avoid wood that will rot and disintegrate in the weather. For something a bit more natural-looking, you can use layered stone slabs!
Eco-Friendly Patio Materials and Furniture
Patios are a great place to invest in sustainable hardscaping. When building the patio itself, consider using organic materials such as bamboo and untreated, sustainable woods. If you want a stone patio, consider using the eco-friendly pavers we talked about before!
When decorating your patio, pay attention to the materials in your furniture and decorations materials. New products made of recycled plastic or sustainable wood are great choices and give you a clean, modern feel.
Alternatively, buying patio furniture second-hand will save you money and reduce new-material production. With second-hand purchasing, you can choose whether you buy a modern set from someone in town or if you upcycle some vintage furniture. There are so many eco-friendly options that will leave your hardscaping lookin’ good!
Come visit us at Plant Perfect Garden Center if you want more advice on creating an eco-friendly hardscape in 2022! Our team would be happy to help you with small changes that make a big difference.