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10 Steps for a Sustainable Landscape
   
Green Garden Designs, Nature By Design
1. Reduce water use with climate-appropriate, drought-tolerant plants (California natives and Mediterranean plants).
2. Install an efficient drip irrigation system in place of sprinklers. Prevent water runoff that pollutes our oceans.
3. Lower maintenance by planting the right plants in the right place. Allow enough room for the mature size of each plant and pay attention to your garden’s microclimates.
4. Create a balanced garden ecosystem to promote healthy soil and reduce pest & disease problems. Attract wildlife including beneficial insects, butterflies and birds. Avoid the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
5. Compost for healthy soil and healthy plants. Encourage beneficial organisms and earth worms to obtain a loamy, aerated soil.
6. Mulch to retain moisture, suppress weeds, & keep soil cool.
7. Utilize materials that have a low impact on the environment. Avoid using exotic woods such as that from rain forests and stone that is quarried from great distances or damage the land.
8. Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Attract beneficial insects naturally to your garden. Use the least toxic methods for pest and disease control including plain water, soaps, and horticultural oils.  Practice good horticultural gardening methods.
9. Consider reducing the size of the lawn or eliminating it altogether to save water, energy resources, greenhouse emissions, and the use of chemical fertilizers & weed control products. Replace with a climate-appropriate landscape.
10. Save time, money on a low maintenance garden designed and installed by Nature by Design.
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