Ecological Landscaping/Gardening and Restoration Resources
What is Ecological Landscaping?
Credit Valley Conservation encourages ecological (or, environmental) landscaping and gardening on all lands. Ecological landscaping is a way of thinking about and caring for land, water, air, plants and animals. Among other practices, it includes:
- planting native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses
- reducing lawn and planting low-maintenance lawn or ground covers
- conserving water by planting drought tolerant species, planting adjacent to water features and using rain barrels or cisterns
- working with environmentally friendly materials, such as permeable paving and sustainably harvested wood
- adopting environmentally friendly landscape maintenance practices and products
- managing invasive plants that enter your land, and
- reducing or eliminating pollutants, such as litter, oil spills and overuse of de-icing salt.
Benefits of Ecological Landscaping
Ecological landscaping can help protect and restore the natural environment, while making our communities even better places in which to live and work. A mong other benefits, ecological landscaping helps to:
- create a more diverse, naturally-beautiful, green landscape
- improve air, water and soil quality
- mitigate impacts of global climate change and increasing urban temperatures
- provide shelter from the sun and wind
- improve tree cover
- protect and restore natural areas, such as forests, streams and meadows
- protect and restore native biodiversity (i.e., diverse native plants, birds, fish, butterflies and other wildlife)
- protect and restore environmentally important connections between natural areas
- reduce flooding and conserve water
- reduce long-term maintenance costs and energy used for maintenance
- create new economic , environmental education and recreation opportunities, and
- contribute to the quality of life and human health.
Your Green Yard!
Do you want your yard to be beautiful, green and healthy? Check out CVC’s series of FREE Your Green Yard workshops.
Learn about vibrant native species that are right for your yard! Discover local native plants, how to work with your specific site conditions, green maintenance practices and how to green your outdoor building projects. Start big or start small – ideas, fact sheets, and resources for everyone! Neighbourhood residents can sign up at the event to receive a free tree or shrub.
Keep an eye on CVC’s events calendar for an upcoming Your Green Yard workshop in your neighbourhood.
For more information, please contact mkramer@creditvalleyca.ca
Resources CVC and, in some cases, our partner agencies have produced a variety of fact sheets and information resources for landowners, renters and the landscape industry.
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