At Green Creations Landscaping we have a deep passion and love for the environment, we don’t just create beautiful spaces in the garden but also follow a zero-waste policy. Sustainability is at the core of our principles and values. We care about the eco-system and have moved away from paper usage and focus heavily on recycling, reducing energy usage and following strict practices that will hopefully eventually add a large footprint to an optimistically growing global movement.

We understand that adopting sustainable practices is a lifestyle commitment that is crucial for both today and for our future generations. Sustainability is not something you can buy, or a cheap sticker to put on your business. It’s a culture. It requires re-evaluating our systems, our businesses, our personal lives and our priorities.

We don’t just create beautiful green creations, but we live up to our name with integrity  – Green Creations.

 

 

But what is Sustainable Landscaping?

There is no single definition, but in a nutshell, sustainable landscaping is a way to beautify your home, estate or office park whilst letting nature do the heavy lifting.

Landscapers that use a sustainable approach create their designs to thrive in local weather and fauna conditions. A good sustainable landscaper works with nature, not against it, leaving behind a garden that does well with little or no human help. Gauteng landscapers will understand for example to make use of indigenous frost hardy plants in certain areas of the garden to work well within the local Winter conditions, especially in areas like the Highveld.

Also, going green in your garden is surprisingly more feasible and cost effective too, as the name suggests, sustainable landscapes are self-sustaining and reduces the number of resources needed to keep your garden maintained. In short, it means creating an outdoor area that is both beautiful and eco-friendly, using various methods and indigenous species to invite local birds, bees and insects into your garden, eliminating the use of pesticides and other harsh chemicals.

Being a conscious landscaper means studying our clients local weather patterns, wildlife and soils and considering many environmental factors that affect what will and will not thrive naturally.

 

 

Pro tips to Sustainable Landscaping:

  • Selecting the correct plant species
    Every landscape has them – those plants that just will not thrive. If you have plants that need a lot of nurturing, it might mean they are not right for your climate. Replace them with plants that will do better with your local weather patterns. This also means keeping an eye out for invasive species as some can disrupt the natural balance of your landscape. These species grow so aggressively that they flatten indigenous plants and pollinators, upsetting an entire ecosystem.
    Indigenous species also have developed strong defenses against local pests and diseases and as a bonus, they tend to attract helpful neighbors like butterflies and bees who keep your flowers alive and well.
  • Making use of hydrozoning and xeriscaping
    An experienced landscaper will know how to make use of hydrozoning techniques for sustainability. Hydrozoning is the practice of clustering together plants with similar water requirements to conserve water. This makes a massive difference to the environment and plays a huge role in protecting water consumption.
    Xeriscaping is landscaping that has extremely low water needs. Xeriscaping is the practice of designing landscapes to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation. This can be done using specific low water species or planting in tactical areas.
  • Keep Your Soil Healthy
    Healthy soil is the foundation of a great, sustainable landscape, as it nourishes your plant-life and prevents erosion. This means aerating your lawn to allow water and nutrients to penetrate the roots of your plants more easily.
    Composting is an eco-friendly way to keep soil moist and healthy year-round. To give your flowerbeds a sustainable edge by adding a compost heap. At Green Creations we often create waste management composting for our clients to make use of natural resources.
  • Tackle Rainwater Runoff
    Making use of a grey water supply is great for your landscape, helping you cut down on water usage, not to mention saving on your water bill. Nothing beats natural rain watered gardens!
  • Hardscape with Eco-Friendly Materials
    Another important aspect of sustainable landscaping is using environmentally responsible hardscaping materials such as solar lighting, reclaimed materials, or making use of natural elements such wood and rock. We also like to choose our suppliers very carefully, making sure that we partner with business that are like minded.
  • Chemicals & Fertilizers are important
    No landscape is maintenance-free, but using eco-friendly fertilizers like bloodmeal, cow manure and compost can assist in an eco-friendlier approach as well as using non-toxic pesticides. Professional landscapers will know how to use plant species to function as natural pest deterrents, however sometimes a pesticide is needed and, in this case, try your best to go natural!

 

At Green Creations, we have strong environmental values and our carbon footprint is Green.

That’s it from us for now, watch this space for more tips, tricks & gardening inspiration.

From the Green Creations Team