Landscape Design
How to Design for Clients Who Want Sustainable Landscapes
Landscape professionals suggest ways to make gardens more ecological and things homeowners can do to help
We’d all like our homes and gardens to be more environmentally friendly, and clients are increasingly bringing up sustainability as one of their project priorities. If you’re a landscape professional, how do you deliver on that goal? Sustainability is a big topic, and it can be difficult to address within the parameters of the project while also balancing other goals like space use, aesthetics and budget. Likewise, if you’re a client, what should you ask for and what can you do on your own to make your garden more sustainable?
To help address these questions, we turned to landscape professionals on Houzz for their advice. Four pros offered their best strategies for making any landscape more sustainable, including curbing excess water use, switching to organic methods and planting pollinator-supporting natives.
To help address these questions, we turned to landscape professionals on Houzz for their advice. Four pros offered their best strategies for making any landscape more sustainable, including curbing excess water use, switching to organic methods and planting pollinator-supporting natives.
Gardens act as small parts in a greater ecosystem, where any action we make (planting this plant over another, using chemical sprays versus organic supplements) can have immediate and lasting effects on the larger environment. Sustainable landscapes have a light environmental footprint in terms of the resources that go into them and play a positive role in the ecosystem by increasing plant and animal diversity and soil health.
1. Start From the Ground Up
The health of any garden starts with the soil. Healthy soil promotes plant growth and hosts a rich community of microorganisms. Landscape designer Christine Krause recommends that clients consider conducting a soil test before planting. “You can send a sample to your state’s soil testing laboratory, often associated with the state university’s Cooperative Extension Service,” she says. Home kits are also available for a reasonable price. Soil tests can identify any problems that need to be remedied before planting, such as poor nutrients or compaction.
The health of any garden starts with the soil. Healthy soil promotes plant growth and hosts a rich community of microorganisms. Landscape designer Christine Krause recommends that clients consider conducting a soil test before planting. “You can send a sample to your state’s soil testing laboratory, often associated with the state university’s Cooperative Extension Service,” she says. Home kits are also available for a reasonable price. Soil tests can identify any problems that need to be remedied before planting, such as poor nutrients or compaction.
Compacted soil — often caused by heavy foot traffic or frequent use of blowers that remove top soil — is one of the biggest soil health problems for home gardens, leading to stormwater runoff, erosion and unhappy plants.
It’s best to address compacted soil before new planting. “Start by aerating the soil and adding a 50 percent compost blend to make sure that the soil can absorb water,” Krause says. “Second, solve the source of compaction. If it’s an area with a lot of foot traffic, you may want to consider a walkway.” After planting, cover bare soil with a thick layer of mulch, as Krause did under boxwoods and oakleaf hydrangeas in this New England garden.
Excess fertilizer and any pesticide use can also be harmful to soil and microbe health. These should be used in moderation or swapped for organics.
It’s best to address compacted soil before new planting. “Start by aerating the soil and adding a 50 percent compost blend to make sure that the soil can absorb water,” Krause says. “Second, solve the source of compaction. If it’s an area with a lot of foot traffic, you may want to consider a walkway.” After planting, cover bare soil with a thick layer of mulch, as Krause did under boxwoods and oakleaf hydrangeas in this New England garden.
Excess fertilizer and any pesticide use can also be harmful to soil and microbe health. These should be used in moderation or swapped for organics.
2. Right Plant, Right Place
Choosing a plant that is well adapted to your climate, rainfall patterns, soil type and the sun exposure of the planting site can seriously cut down on water and maintenance needs. The right plant can be one native to your area or an introduced ornamental that is well-suited to the site. Designscapes Colorado created this vibrant garden of mixed ornamental and native plants for a client in Evergreen, Colorado.
The perennial borders are filled with plants that thrive in a central Colorado climate, with harsh winters and hot, dry summers, including Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum × superbum), native columbine (Aquilegia sp.), ‘Moonshine’ yarrow (Achillea ‘Moonshine’), hollyhock (Alcea rosea), dianthus, scabiosa, catmint (Nepeta sp.), silver mound wormwood (Artemisia schmidtiana), native potentilla and several varieties of salvia and penstemon.
Choosing a plant that is well adapted to your climate, rainfall patterns, soil type and the sun exposure of the planting site can seriously cut down on water and maintenance needs. The right plant can be one native to your area or an introduced ornamental that is well-suited to the site. Designscapes Colorado created this vibrant garden of mixed ornamental and native plants for a client in Evergreen, Colorado.
The perennial borders are filled with plants that thrive in a central Colorado climate, with harsh winters and hot, dry summers, including Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum × superbum), native columbine (Aquilegia sp.), ‘Moonshine’ yarrow (Achillea ‘Moonshine’), hollyhock (Alcea rosea), dianthus, scabiosa, catmint (Nepeta sp.), silver mound wormwood (Artemisia schmidtiana), native potentilla and several varieties of salvia and penstemon.
“There are many non-native plants in this garden, but those that are non-native are very hearty and fit well into a native landscape,” says landscape architect Phil Steinhauer of Designscapes Colorado. She reports that the beds are low-maintenance, water-wise and attract butterflies, all while providing year-round enjoyment for the homeowners.
3. Plant Natives to Support Local Wildlife
Natives that have evolved in the local area offer the advantage of being perfectly adapted to the climate and natural growing conditions, needing little help, if any, to thrive once mature. Plus, native plants often help support the native insects and animals that have evolved alongside them.
“Whether it is attracting butterflies and bees or providing fruits and berries for many small mammals and birds, many natives are beneficial to the wildlife in the area,” Steinhauer says. “There is a misconception that most natives are unattractive, but many of them can be very beautiful, particularly in fall” she says.
Natives that have evolved in the local area offer the advantage of being perfectly adapted to the climate and natural growing conditions, needing little help, if any, to thrive once mature. Plus, native plants often help support the native insects and animals that have evolved alongside them.
“Whether it is attracting butterflies and bees or providing fruits and berries for many small mammals and birds, many natives are beneficial to the wildlife in the area,” Steinhauer says. “There is a misconception that most natives are unattractive, but many of them can be very beautiful, particularly in fall” she says.
Garden designer Lee Armillei of Athyrium Design advocates using natives in all of her designs, even if it’s just a few small pockets to support native pollinators. For example, for a formal landscape for clients in Pennsylvania, Armillei found a sunny spot by the driveway for a large clump of milkweed (Asclepias sp.), the host plant for monarch butterflies. Other areas of the garden include native plants pink turtlehead (Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’) and aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’).
The designer’s mixing of natives and evergreen boxwoods helps balance the goal of supporting pollinators with the project’s other priorities, such as having year-round structure and a formal design to complement the home. “I’m not opposed to most non-native plants like boxwoods,” Armillei says, “but I do advocate for replacing invasive non-native species with natives.”
A few of her go-to native swaps for her Pennsylvania clients include trading invasive burning bush (Euonymus alatus) for dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii) or smooth witherod (Viburnum nudum), both of which she says offer exceptional fall color and benefit indigenous wildlife. For the popular — and invasive — butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), Armillei suggests using native buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) or fall phlox (Phlox paniculata) instead.
A few of her go-to native swaps for her Pennsylvania clients include trading invasive burning bush (Euonymus alatus) for dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii) or smooth witherod (Viburnum nudum), both of which she says offer exceptional fall color and benefit indigenous wildlife. For the popular — and invasive — butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), Armillei suggests using native buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) or fall phlox (Phlox paniculata) instead.
4. Treat Water as a Precious Resource
Recent droughts and landscape water restrictions in some areas have put water conservation at the top of many people’s minds when it comes to creating a sustainable landscape.
Designers can use a number of strategies to achieve water-wise design, such as eliminating or cutting down the size of a thirsty lawn, replacing water-heavy plants, converting irrigation from spray to more efficient drip lines, reducing runoff with more permeable surfaces, planting rain gardens and collecting rainwater runoff in barrels to be used on garden beds.
Even in areas where water isn’t as scarce, adopting more sustainable practices when it comes to water management can help reduce supplemental landscape water use and stormwater runoff.
Recent droughts and landscape water restrictions in some areas have put water conservation at the top of many people’s minds when it comes to creating a sustainable landscape.
Designers can use a number of strategies to achieve water-wise design, such as eliminating or cutting down the size of a thirsty lawn, replacing water-heavy plants, converting irrigation from spray to more efficient drip lines, reducing runoff with more permeable surfaces, planting rain gardens and collecting rainwater runoff in barrels to be used on garden beds.
Even in areas where water isn’t as scarce, adopting more sustainable practices when it comes to water management can help reduce supplemental landscape water use and stormwater runoff.
Dallas-based landscape designer Evo Sadowsky of Blue Ribbon Lady Landscaping shares a design strategy that she often uses to help clients visualize a more water-wise landscape design. “I encourage most clients to use the rule of thirds — one third lawn, one third garden, one third hardscape,” she says. “Or better yet, get rid of all the grass!”
In this Dallas garden, Sadowsky put the rule of thirds into action, reducing the size of the front lawn and using a combination of a permeable flagstone path, a dry creek bed of salvaged river rocks and low-water plantings to create a dynamic front garden.
In this Dallas garden, Sadowsky put the rule of thirds into action, reducing the size of the front lawn and using a combination of a permeable flagstone path, a dry creek bed of salvaged river rocks and low-water plantings to create a dynamic front garden.
Another helpful reminder: “Check your irrigation system regularly,” Sadowsky says. “Here in Texas, you want your system to go off in the middle of the night, but because of this, so many people don’t see leaks or inefficient spray for months. Make sure the correct heads are installed and there’s proper coverage only on areas that need water.”
5. Choose Permeable Hardscape Materials
The portions of landscapes that are covered in hardscape, such as paths, patios and driveways, can either contribute to keeping rainwater on site or lead to runoff. “Stormwater runoff is a huge issue in Dallas,” Sadowsky says. “Having permeable surfaces is key to keeping rainwater onsite and keeping soil healthy. Decomposed granite, gravel and flagstone are much better choices for hardscape areas than concrete.” For this Dallas front yard, the Blue Ribbon Lady Landscaping team used gravel for the driveway and pavers set in gravel for the front walk. Both of these material and design decisions prevent runoff and work well with the contemporary home.
The portions of landscapes that are covered in hardscape, such as paths, patios and driveways, can either contribute to keeping rainwater on site or lead to runoff. “Stormwater runoff is a huge issue in Dallas,” Sadowsky says. “Having permeable surfaces is key to keeping rainwater onsite and keeping soil healthy. Decomposed granite, gravel and flagstone are much better choices for hardscape areas than concrete.” For this Dallas front yard, the Blue Ribbon Lady Landscaping team used gravel for the driveway and pavers set in gravel for the front walk. Both of these material and design decisions prevent runoff and work well with the contemporary home.
For clients who prefer the smooth surface of concrete (to push a chair back on a patio, for example), consider options such as tightly spaced flags, cut stone or pavers installed without mortar. The tiny gaps between the stones or pavers will still allow more water to sink into the soil below than an impermeable surface.
Conversely, pair an area of impermeable surface, such as concrete, with a permeable area so water that runs off the concrete is quickly absorbed by surrounding planting beds or a strip of gravel. Sadowsky used this strategy in this Dallas backyard, where well-mulched planting beds can catch rainwater runoff from the roof or stone patio.
Conversely, pair an area of impermeable surface, such as concrete, with a permeable area so water that runs off the concrete is quickly absorbed by surrounding planting beds or a strip of gravel. Sadowsky used this strategy in this Dallas backyard, where well-mulched planting beds can catch rainwater runoff from the roof or stone patio.
6. Use Locally Sourced, Sustainable Materials
“Local material uses less energy for transportation,” Krause says, and is often best suited to the existing climate and requires less maintenance. Locally sourced materials will vary for each region, but each one — as long as it is sustainably sourced — is a more climate-conscious choice, and often more affordable, than a trucked-in material.
For her New England-based clients, Krause uses a lot of reclaimed granite. “It is locally sourced and recycled from other buildings and sites,” the designer says. “The granite holds up to the weather extremes, can be driven on and tolerates salt and grit from the snow clearing.”
“Local material uses less energy for transportation,” Krause says, and is often best suited to the existing climate and requires less maintenance. Locally sourced materials will vary for each region, but each one — as long as it is sustainably sourced — is a more climate-conscious choice, and often more affordable, than a trucked-in material.
For her New England-based clients, Krause uses a lot of reclaimed granite. “It is locally sourced and recycled from other buildings and sites,” the designer says. “The granite holds up to the weather extremes, can be driven on and tolerates salt and grit from the snow clearing.”
For this Connecticut garden, Krause used native stone and reclaimed granite to create a handsome stone wall and staircase leading from the upper terrace of the garden to a new fire pit patio.
To check whether a material such as stone or wood is sustainably sourced, consider consulting the U.S. Green Building Council, the Sustainable Facilities Tool and local manufacturers.
To check whether a material such as stone or wood is sustainably sourced, consider consulting the U.S. Green Building Council, the Sustainable Facilities Tool and local manufacturers.
7. Reuse Existing Plant and Hardscape Materials
Often the most sustainable materials — and certainly the ones with the shortest transport distance — are the ones already in your yard. As designs and needs change, a plant or hardscape material used in one setting may no longer work in a new design. Instead of tossing them, look for ways to repurpose long-lasting materials such as stone, brick, undamaged wood and healthy plants. (Go ahead and toss any diseased or invasive plants.)
For her home garden, landscape designer Hilarie Holdsworth repurposed a variety of materials — including reclaimed brick from her in-laws’ property, river stones left over from another project and a number of found objects — into a new patio for her backyard in Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Having only small quantities of each material spurred creativity, and the result is this beautifully intricate and entirely unique patio, which Holdsworth created piece by piece.
Often the most sustainable materials — and certainly the ones with the shortest transport distance — are the ones already in your yard. As designs and needs change, a plant or hardscape material used in one setting may no longer work in a new design. Instead of tossing them, look for ways to repurpose long-lasting materials such as stone, brick, undamaged wood and healthy plants. (Go ahead and toss any diseased or invasive plants.)
For her home garden, landscape designer Hilarie Holdsworth repurposed a variety of materials — including reclaimed brick from her in-laws’ property, river stones left over from another project and a number of found objects — into a new patio for her backyard in Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Having only small quantities of each material spurred creativity, and the result is this beautifully intricate and entirely unique patio, which Holdsworth created piece by piece.
8. Go Organic
Organic gardening methods support healthy ecosystems, fostering both plant and soil health and a sustainable habitat for native animals (and humans). But it’s not always as simple to convince a client to use organic methods or make the switch yourself. “The biggest hurdle I have to overcome when convincing customers to switch to organic or more sustainable practices is that it’s not an even trade,” Armillei says. “I’m not simply switching out one product for another. It’s more about looking at the landscape as a whole, identifying why a problem is occurring and finding a way to rectify the current issue. There’s a lot of education involved with selling customers on sustainable practices.”
Organic gardening methods support healthy ecosystems, fostering both plant and soil health and a sustainable habitat for native animals (and humans). But it’s not always as simple to convince a client to use organic methods or make the switch yourself. “The biggest hurdle I have to overcome when convincing customers to switch to organic or more sustainable practices is that it’s not an even trade,” Armillei says. “I’m not simply switching out one product for another. It’s more about looking at the landscape as a whole, identifying why a problem is occurring and finding a way to rectify the current issue. There’s a lot of education involved with selling customers on sustainable practices.”
She cites lawn care as an example. “A lawn that’s performing poorly may have traditionally been treated with irrigation and fertilizer. I may look at it and see that there’s an issue with compaction,” Armillei says. “My solution would be to core aerate the lawn, top dress it with compost and overseed. This will help get air to the turf roots as well as organic matter, while overseeding creates a denser stand of turf which can out-compete weeds.”
It’s worth going the extra step to convince a client or self-educate to adopt sustainable and organic gardening practices. And if you use synthetic fertilizers or sprays for pest control, always make sure to do so in moderation and follow package instructions. Otherwise, greater harm is done to the ecosystem through misuse.
It’s worth going the extra step to convince a client or self-educate to adopt sustainable and organic gardening practices. And if you use synthetic fertilizers or sprays for pest control, always make sure to do so in moderation and follow package instructions. Otherwise, greater harm is done to the ecosystem through misuse.
9. Recycle Garden Waste
Lawn clippings, leaf litter and other garden waste can be put back to use in the garden, rather than being sent to the city compost or a landfill. “Compost bins are great in theory, as long as the homeowner or gardener are going to reuse the materials that accumulate,” Armillei says. “My recommendation is to keep things simple and move garden waste as little as possible.” For example, Armellei advises leaving lawn clippings on the lawn (as long as the grass is regularly mowed) to help act as a natural fertilizer or using mulching blades on a mower to shred fallen leaves to be used as mulch on garden beds. For garden and construction waste that doesn’t easily break down, consider donating useable materials to a local reuse organization.
Lawn clippings, leaf litter and other garden waste can be put back to use in the garden, rather than being sent to the city compost or a landfill. “Compost bins are great in theory, as long as the homeowner or gardener are going to reuse the materials that accumulate,” Armillei says. “My recommendation is to keep things simple and move garden waste as little as possible.” For example, Armellei advises leaving lawn clippings on the lawn (as long as the grass is regularly mowed) to help act as a natural fertilizer or using mulching blades on a mower to shred fallen leaves to be used as mulch on garden beds. For garden and construction waste that doesn’t easily break down, consider donating useable materials to a local reuse organization.
This is not an exhaustive list about sustainability but rather one we hope will be the start of a conversation.
Your turn: Share your own sustainable gardening practices and ones you recommend to clients in the Comments.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Your turn: Share your own sustainable gardening practices and ones you recommend to clients in the Comments.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions