Low-Impact Landscaping Design

Low-impact landscaping is an innovative approach to designing outdoor spaces that are both functional and environmentally friendly. ONA Landscaping, a leading provider of landscaping services in Sequim, Washington, is committed to creating landscapes that incorporate low-impact design principles. By utilizing materials and methods that prioritize sustainability and minimize negative impacts on the environment, you can create beautiful outdoor spaces that benefit both people and nature.

The Benefits of Low-Impact Landscaping

Optimum Natural Arrangements (ONA) Landscaping is a design/build company committed to creating sustainable and low-impact landscapes that benefit both people and nature. The company places a strong emphasis on using the highest quality, longest-lasting materials, ensuring superior workmanship, and employing efficient installation methods. The goal is to create functional outdoor spaces that not only provide serenity for users but also contribute positively to the environment.

Drawing inspiration from the stunning beauty of the Pacific Northwest, ONA Landscaping aims to replicate the region’s natural look and feel in its designs. The approach involves following a model or pattern inspired by nature, while allowing for some variation to ensure uniqueness in each project. By prioritizing serenity, ONA Landscaping designs landscapes that exude a sense of calm and tranquility, enhancing the overall quality of life for its clients.

Sustainable landscaping is at the heart of ONA Landscaping’s design approach. The primary objectives of sustainable landscape design are to conserve water and energy, reduce waste, and minimize runoff. To achieve these goals, ONA Landscaping ensures that residential gardens treat water as a valuable resource, appreciate the importance of soil health, preserve existing plants, and minimize the use of non-renewable material resources.

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LOW-IMPACT LANDSCAPING

Earth-Friendly and Sustainable Landscaping

As environmentally sound practices gain prominence in the landscaping industry, traditional approaches like over-fertilizing and overwatering lawns are becoming obsolete. Nowadays, sustainable and low-impact landscapes are increasingly the norm, particularly in the Olympic Peninsula and across the United States. Small businesses, such as landscapers, can play a vital role in driving positive change within their communities and the industry as a whole.

To create a landscape that benefits both people and nature, it’s essential to prioritize the environment during the planning process. This can lead to an attractive, low-maintenance outdoor space that also supports local ecosystems. One way to achieve this is by incorporating features that attract wildlife and birds.

Low-impact landscaping principles serve as the foundation for designing and building environmentally friendly projects. These principles include:

  1. Emphasizing the highest quality and longest-lasting materials: By using the best materials available and doing the project right the first time, the need for future corrections is minimized or eliminated, reducing the overall impact on the environment.
  2. Efficient installation: Reducing the time spent on installation lowers the project’s footprint by decreasing fuel and resource consumption.
  3. Stormwater management: Retaining water on-site helps prevent or reduce pollution in other water sources.
  4. Resource conservation: To conserve resources, it’s crucial to use drought-tolerant plants, eliminate or minimize lawn irrigation, reduce mowable lawn areas, and select long-lasting materials.
  5. Wildlife-friendly features: Incorporating wildlife-friendly plants, providing habitat and cover, and ensuring clean water sources can all contribute to a thriving ecosystem for wildlife and pollinators.

Low-Impact Landscaping Design Principles

In adherence to low-impact landscape principles, it is essential to choose products and methods that minimize harm to the natural world. This requires investigating, researching, and testing new products and ideas, prioritizing materials that minimize long-distance trucking and overseas transport, and reducing reliance on petroleum products, wood products, and other materials that generate excessive waste or have limited lifespans. Recycling, reusing, and upcycling can help minimize waste produced by the company.

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When selecting materials for landscaping projects, it is crucial to prioritize certain aspects to ensure a low-impact, sustainable, and environmentally friendly outcome. Here is an expanded explanation of each priority:

  1. Highest quality/longest-lasting materials: Opt for materials with a proven track record of durability and longevity, as they help reduce waste and resource consumption over time. Long-lasting materials demand fewer replacements and repairs, leading to a lower overall environmental impact.
  2. Reusable materials (recyclable, reusable, or upcyclable): Emphasize the use of materials that can be recycled, reused, or upcycled, to minimize waste generation and promote a circular economy. These materials contribute to resource conservation by extending the life of products and reducing the need for new raw materials.
  3. Equal importance given to:
    • Efficient installation: Focus on materials that can be installed efficiently, minimizing the time, labor, and resources required. Efficient installation not only reduces the overall project timeline but also lowers the environmental footprint associated with the project.
    • Resource and water conservation: Select materials and landscaping methods that minimize the consumption of resources and water. This can include using drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation techniques that optimize water usage and reduce wastage.
    • Lowest carbon footprint: Consider the entire life cycle of materials, from sourcing to manufacturing, transportation, and installation. Choose materials and methods that have the least carbon impact, thus minimizing the project’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
    • Lowest ongoing maintenance: Identify materials that require minimal maintenance, thereby conserving resources, energy, and time in the long run. Low-maintenance materials often result in lower financial and environmental costs associated with upkeep and replacement.
  4. Sustainably sourced materials: Prioritize materials that are sourced from socially and environmentally responsible practices. This includes materials that do not harm or deplete natural resources and are obtained through ethical and sustainable means. By choosing such materials, the project contributes to the preservation of ecosystems and promotes responsible consumption.
CARBON FOOTPRINT REDUCTION

Carbon Footprint Reduction

Acknowledging that every action causes some impact, a project impact fee ranging from 1-5% of the total project cost can be applied to support an environmental cause.

Efforts to reduce or offset the carbon footprint should be prioritized by selecting methods and materials that minimize environmental impact. Efficient equipment and vehicles, as well as battery-powered and electric options, should be utilized whenever possible. Continuously seeking ways to measure and reduce the carbon impact of projects is essential. Furthermore, incorporating natural spaces in landscape designs, such as meadows that act as carbon sinks and planting a large number of trees to sequester carbon, contributes to a reduction in carbon footprint.

Low-impact landscaping is an innovative and environmentally responsible approach to designing outdoor spaces. By incorporating sustainable design principles and using high-quality, long-lasting materials, ONA Landscaping creates functional and serene landscapes that benefit both people and the environment. If you’re considering a new landscaping project in Sequim, Washington, or the surrounding areas, be sure to explore the benefits of low-impact landscaping with ONA Landscaping.