Eco-friendly Approaches Revolutionize Landscaping
The trend toward sustainability in backyard vegetable gardens is becoming a major force in ornamental landscaping as well. Water restrictions, tight schedules that leave no time for spraying for pests and diseases, and environmental concerns have contributed to a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to the old-fashioned lawn and flower garden.
The new sustainable yard relies heavily on tough-yet-beautiful plants that need less care and are naturally able to resist disease. Drought-resistant and low-maintenance plants not only make gardening easier and less time consuming, but also result in a more natural-looking landscape.
Eco-friendly gardens are not limited to water-thrifty cacti or other desert plants. In most North American climates and growing conditions, there are many newer varieties of traditional landscape plants that are perfect for modern ecoscapes. Tesselaar’s easy-care, drought-tolerant Flower Carpet groundcover roses can be a great choice for low-maintenance, season-long color in flowerbeds or containers. Flower Carpet ‘Amber’ and Flower Carpet ‘Pink Supreme’ (shown) are among the six Flower Carpet rose varieties that have won the All Deutschland Rose Award, which honors outstanding roses that do not require spraying or any chemical support to thrive.
Moving beyond traditional sedums and echeveria, other easy-care plants that can add color and interest include many varieties of daylilies, lantana, many juniper varieties, New Zealand flax, beargrass, Caryopteris (Bluebeard), Tesselaar’s ‘Festival’ cordyline, Cytisus scoparius, (Scotch broom) and Baptisia (False Indigo).
Landscape professionals say the key is matching the water and sun needs of the plant with the growing conditions in the microclimate of the garden. Properly prepared soil that contains natural nutrients and provides water drainage also is important.
The best sustainable and eco-friendly gardens are the ones that use low-maintenance plants that feel right at home where they are growing.
Anthony Tesselaar, President
Anthony Tesselaar Plants
tesselaar.com
