Love Your Mother: Creating a Sustainable Gardenscape
Photo by Earl Wilcox on Unsplash
Earth Day (April 22) is an occasion to celebrate the terrestrial mother of us all. The best way to show your mother some love is by applying sustainable landscaping practices to the very earth you live on, transforming outdoor spaces into thriving, low-impact areas.
In addition to its environmental advantages, sustainable landscaping is by design low-maintenance and cost-effective, cutting down on water usage, minimizing upkeep, and adding long-term value to your property. By making a few thoughtful choices, you can create a resilient, self-sustaining, and visually stunning outdoor space that’s both beautiful and responsible. Here we offer some starter ideas, plus a few more advanced ones if you want to go the extra green mile.
Choose native & adaptive plants
Using native and drought-tolerant plants is a cornerstone of sustainable landscaping. These species are well-suited to your region's soil, climate, and rainfall levels, requiring fewer resources. Eco-friendly landscaping promotes biodiversity by attracting pollinating insects like bees, butterflies, and moths, which are essential for plant health. It also provides food and shelter for birds and other wildlife. A diverse selection of grasses, deep-rooted perennials, and shrubs—varying in size, shape, and bloom times—helps create a balanced ecosystem that naturally resists pests, diseases, and environmental stressors.
Start here: Easy-to-grow starter plants include California poppy and California sagebrush, ceanothus, golden yarrow, sticky monkey flower, blue-eyed grass, and woodland strawberry. Check with your local nursery for other options. In the Bay Area, visit Sloat and Flora Grubb, and Green Acres in the Sacramento region.
Extra green mile: Plant a tree (or more than one.) Trees enhance sustainability by sequestering carbon, mitigating climate change, and providing wildlife habitats. Their shade regulates temperatures, conserves water, and slows evaporation. Select trees based on their mature size, ensuring you account for their growth when choosing a location. Easy-to-grow fruit trees, like apple, avocado, and citrus, improve air quality and offer a long-term food source. With time, they provide abundant harvests for years to come. In Sacramento, Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD) offers free shade trees.
Value your soil
Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden, and techniques like composting and mulching reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers while enhancing water retention and nutrient cycling. Mulching improves soil structure, retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and protects against temperature extremes. A 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch—such as shredded bark, pine needles, grass clippings, or coir—helps conserve water, making it especially valuable in dry areas.
Start here: For fruit and vegetable gardens, enrich the soil with organic compost and manure to boost fertility naturally.
Extra green mile: If you have a spare 3'x3' corner in your backyard, set up a small compost pile or bin. Composting green waste, like grass clippings, leaves, and kitchen scraps, creates a nutrient-rich, natural fertilizer that improves soil aeration, water retention, and drainage. Composting serves a dual purpose—reducing landfill waste while enriching your soil for a healthier, more sustainable garden.
Conserve water
Unlike in many other parts of the country, California has pronounced dry and wet seasons, and is prone to drought. Prioritize water conservation through thoughtful plant selection, efficient irrigation, and water-harvesting techniques. Native and drought-tolerant plants, combined with xeriscaping, reduce the need for excessive watering while maintaining a vibrant garden.
Start here: Replacing traditional lawns with ground covers, ornamental grasses, or low-growing shrubs minimizes water use, prevents runoff, and supports groundwater recharge.
Extra green mile: Install rain barrels, collection points, or catchment basins to collect stormwater for future use. This could include capturing overflow from roof gutters or simply placing large, wide-mouth vessels around the garden. Repurposing rainwater not only decreases reliance on municipal water for your garden, but also prevents runoff and erosion.
Utilize sustainable materials
Sustainable garden design creates less waste by reusing materials. Select eco-friendly options such as reclaimed wood for vegetable beds, leaf debris for mulch or compost starter, and recycled rubber for pavers. Visit your local building resource or garden center for unwanted materials you can repurpose at home.
Start here: Rock gardens are a low-cost, low-maintenance choice for sustainable landscaping. With drought-tolerant plants, they offer a modern, natural aesthetic, while also helping to suppress weeds and minimize soil erosion.
Extra green mile: If you currently have cement or grout-sealed patio tile in your yard, consider replacing the surface area with permeable hardscapes. Permeable pavers and pathways allow natural water absorption, reducing runoff, preventing erosion, and conserving water. Unlike traditional concrete, they ease the strain on storm drains, lower drainage costs, and offer a durable, budget-friendly alternative for managing rainwater. Examples include crushed stone, gravel, recycled rubber pavers, wood chips, and bark mulch.