A new Web site developed by the United States Botanic Garden and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin brings homeowners comprehensive, accessible advice on creating nature-friendly, sustainable landscapes at home, no matter where they live.
The new site at Landscape for Life provides a layman’s explanation and practical approaches to “greening” gardens and home landscape based on the principles outlined in the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITESTM). This national rating system for sustainable landscapes was developed over four years by technical experts on water, sustainable materials, human health and other topics. The Landscape for Life Web site provides homeowners a scaled-down version of the SITES voluntary guidelines and performance benchmarks that have, until now, been developed for landscape professionals.
Landscape for Life maintains the technical accuracy of the SITES Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks report, but has eliminated the rating system. It offers detailed descriptions of sustainable practices which can be put in place in any home landscape and explains the potential benefits these practices can provide.
“Conventional gardens often work against nature,” said Holly Shimizu, executive director of the U.S. Botanic Garden. “We hope to enlist the power of all those home gardeners who want to give the benefits of nature a helping hand have a regenerative sustainable garden. What a difference that can make.”
Conventional home landscapes very often consume large quantities of water and chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. They often use plants ill-adapted to local conditions or plants that are invasive.
A sustainable landscape harnesses the power of nature to cleanse pollutants from air and water, to capture and hold rainwater and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Such landscapes also provide habitat for wildlife and pollinators and a healthy nurturing space for outdoor activities.
“We started Sustainable SitesTM because there was no system for encouraging and rating ‘green’ landscapes similar to the system that now exists for buildings,” said Susan Rieff, executive director of the Wildflower Center. “And the best thing about well-designed landscapes is that they can actually improve the environment, while green buildings can only minimize their burden on the environment. With Landscape for Life, we have taken the expertise that went into SITES and made it more accessible to the homeowner.”
The Web site compares conventional and sustainable landscape practices. Landscape for Life also contains extensive, step-by-step advice on the sustainable choices related to addressing a site’s soil, water use, plants, landscape materials and the impact of landscapes on human health and well-being. For example, the section on creating a water-thrifty landscape contains explanations of how to select plants appropriate for your area based on local soil and climate conditions, how to mulch your planting beds and how to irrigate with alternatives to potable water. It also provides a guide to water-saving irrigation.
A downloadable workbook that covers the Web site content is available online. A colorful, informative overview brochure about the Web site content, “Landscape for LifeTM, Your Guide to Harnessing Nature’s Power for a Healthy, Beautiful Garden” (PDF) is also available.
The Web site and brochure were written in collaboration with celebrated author and consultant Janet Marinelli, an expert on sustainable landscape, public gardens, plant conservation and regenerative design. Design work was provided by Elizabeth Ennis.
