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Healthy Lawns and Gardens |
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There are many ways to create a sustainable yard and help protect your environment. See how you can create an environmentally friendly yard! Two of the many options are naturescaping and xeriscaping!
Naturescaping
Naturescaping (or nature scaping) is a term that refers to a method of landscaping that allows people and nature to coexist. By incorporating certain plants, especially native ones, into ones yard, one can attract beneficial insects, birds, and other creatures, and help keep our rivers and streams healthy.
Extensive urban growth and urban sprawl over the last few decades has had a significant impact on habitat that birds and other wildlife once called home. Homeowners with yards have a unique opportunity to curtail this loss of habitat by creating their own backyard wildlife sanctuary.
Naturescaping strives to reduce water, energy, and chemical usage and is easily adapted to backyards.
Xeriscaping
Xeriscaping and xerogardening refers to landscaping and gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental irrigation. It is promoted in areas that do not have easily accessible supplies of fresh water, and is gaining acceptance in other areas as climate patterns shift.
Plants whose natural requirements are appropriate to the local climate are emphasized, and care is taken to avoid losing water to evaporation and run-off. The specific plants used in xeriscaping depend upon the climate.
Advantages
• Low water consuming plants are often used in xeriscaping
• More water available for other uses
• Less time and work needed for maintenance, making gardening simpler and less stressful
• Little or no lawn mowing (saves energy)
• Xeriscape plants along with proper bed design tends to take full advantage of rainfall
• When water restrictions are implemented, xeriscape plants will tend to survive, while more traditional plants may be unable to adapt.
For more information contact:
Wendy Gilbertson
Director of Parks and Cultural Services
Phone: 604.886.8587
Fax: 604.886.9735
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Location and Mailing Address
474 South Fletcher Road
Box 340
Gibsons, BC V0N 1V0
Business Hours
8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays).
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