Sustainable Landscapes are not only attractive but also are in balance with:

• The local climate
• Soil & plant biologies
• The architectural features on the grounds
• The natural resources, therefore, require minimal fertilizer, pesticides and water; and reduce pollution

"Sustainable Landscaping begins with an appropriate design that includes functional, cost-efficient, visually pleasing, environmentally friendly, and easily maintainable landscapes."

The Goal: Integrating & Developing Syngergies Between:

• Soil Biologies - soil generation vs. soil depletion
• Plant Biologies - plantings that readily thrive without special supportive resources or maintenance
• Natural Pest Management - achieving a balance with or resistance to pests with minimum or no pesticides
• Water Conservation - making good use of natural precipitation with minimum or no irrigation
• Hardscapes - especially hard surfaces by making them "permeable" to water flow down into the soil to regenerate groundwater
• Plantings with Energy Conservation benefits
  • Windbreaks against prevailing cold winter winds reduce heat loss in buildings and homes
  • Deciduous trees provide building and home shading in summer substantially reduce air conditioning costs
  • AC compressor landscape shading reduces air-conditioning costs

"Xeriscaping"

Landscaping designed specifically to maximize water conservation,

• Yet be decorative, colorful, and pleasing to the eye
• Minimize watering and overall maintenance
• Emphasis on naturalized plantings that will largely be self-sustaining

Soil Building Conservation

Soil Building Conservation was first developed in agriculture, but now is coming of age in landscapes and gardens

Our owner's father won a national Soil Conservation Award in 1947 for advanced farming methods on what had been poor land. Land that yielded 4-5 ft tall corn and 35 bushels per acre in the earlly 1940's, produced by the 1950's in excess of 100 bushels/acre.

• Contouring of slopes retains rainfalls, reduces erosion, and affords terrace gardening and landscapes
• Rebuilding organic matter and soil microbes through incorporating plant materials back into the soil
• Incorporating composted materials also increases water absorption and greater ease of root development
• Returning grass clippings to the lawn feeds the lawn and slowly builds more topsoil
• Aeration of the soil makes Wisconsin clays more permeable to nutrients, organic matter, and the ability to "drink" water

Utilizing Natural Rainfall

Increasingly popular and practical means are being applied:

Simple "Harvesting"

• Simple projects "harvest" rainfall by gathering downspout waters and directing to garden/landscape beds
• One step further: store the collected waters for later irrigation of garden or lawn or landscape beds; e.g., from simple rain barrels to tanks

Green Roof - Roofscapes - Roof Gardens

• Rainwater and snowfalls absorbed into roof greenscapes, reducing stormwater into sewers
• Achieves significant insulation benefits, resulting in reduced air conditioning in summer; less heating in winter
• Adds O2 to the air not otherwise generated from a bare rooftop!
• Reduces the "heat island" effect in urban areas

Permeable Paving - Water Absorbtion

• Permeable pavers and paving absorb rainfall into the ground, reducing stormwater runoffs and erosions, and recharging our groundwaters
• Patios, driveways and walks can be landcaped with permeable pavers

Regenerative Plantings

Native and naturalized plantings increasingly are used in sustainable landscapes

Natural Plant Management

Achieving pest management via natural complementary means

Interesting story of its use by famous winemaker's vineyards: "Benziger Family Winery" - Benziger.com

Developing Synergies Between Integrated:

• Soil Biologies
• Plant Biologies
• Natural Pest Management
• Water Conservation