Landscaping is when trees and other plants are brought in to create an area of beauty, whether it’s in a quiet neighborhood or a bustling city. Today, you can find impressive landscaping projects in the form of rooftop gardens, urban pocket parks, and backyard oases. Landscaping isn’t cheap, so why is it worth investing in? Here are ten reasons why landscaping is important:
#1. Landscaping preserves the environment
Sprawling cities hurt the environment. We know the negative consequences of deforestation and shrinking green spaces. Landscaping provides an opportunity to preserve and protect the environment. Planting native flora, avoiding chemicals, and addressing environmental problems keep green spaces healthy and thriving.
#2. Landscaping helps manage soil pollution
Factory pollution is one of the most serious types of pollution. The areas around factories are poisoned by toxic waste, chemical spills, and emissions. Simply getting rid of all the factories isn’t feasible at this point. Landscaping can help mitigate some of the issues. How? Plants purify the soil contaminated by factories. Certain plants like alfalfa and sunflower are so good at this, they’re nicknamed “superplants.” The official term is “phytormediation.”
#3. Landscaping helps clean the air
Plants clean the air as well as the soil. Trees are especially effective at this purification. The world’s forests absorb around ⅓ of global emissions each year. Tree leaves (and the leaves of all plants) absorb pollutants like smoke, ozone, and nitrogen oxides, filtering them from the air. Cities can purify polluted air by adding more landscaping. Landscapers need good plans in place. Not any plant will work. The best trees will have large leaves. Planners also need to consider factors like water availability, spacing, and wind patterns.
#4. Landscaping helps with water management
Water may be a sustainable resource, but it’s not limitless. It needs to be managed carefully. Landscaping can help. By prioritizing water drainage solutions, landscapers protect natural waterways, create rain gardens, and rejuvenate wetlands. Wetland-friendly landscaping is important because wetlands are endangered. These areas encourage biodiversity, purify stormwater, and control floods.
#5. Landscaping creates a cooling effect
Cities can get very hot, creating what’s known as “heat islands.” This is when the temperature in the city is much warmer than in nearby rural areas. The presence of concrete, cars, and other human activities are responsible. To stay cool, people run their air conditioners more. Trees are nature’s air conditioners. They reduce the temperature in a heat island. On a summer day, a backyard with trees will be 6-degrees cooler than a yard without trees. Even when you aren’t directly in the shade, the surrounding temps go down. This means people will use their air conditioners less, significantly reducing emissions.
#6. Landscaping stops erosion
Erosion is a serious issue. It leads to increased pollution and sedimentation in rivers and streams. Waterways get clogged, which kills fish and other species. Erosion also destroys fertile land and leads to more flooding. Landscaping, especially grass and shrubs, hold the soil together with their roots. Landscaping that prioritizes erosion issues and water management keeps the problem at bay.
#7. Landscaping plays a big role in sustainability
Sustainability is so crucial that the United Nations has a blueprint of 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These address things like climate change and environmental degradation. Good landscapers prioritize the health of the environment. They are at the forefront of techniques and innovations dealing with energy efficiency, clean water, clean air, and more. In the journey to a healthier, more sustainable world, landscapers are important.
#8. Landscaping improves peoples’ mental health
Studies consistently show that being in nature is good for a person’s mental health. It can improve their memory, reduce stress, and boost feelings of happiness. Nature is so powerful that something as small as one tree or a single houseplant can improve mental health. In our world today, there’s a mental health crisis. Landscaping can play an important role in healing.
#9. Landscaping adds value to an area
Landscaping is not only good for the environment and peoples’ mental health. It also adds value to an area. It’s no secret that when someone is selling their house, their landscaping affects the asking price. In cities, beautiful parks and green spaces attract tourists and visitors. Good landscaping also encourages surrounding houses and areas to step up their game.
#10. Well-maintained landscaping protects homes and buildings
The presence of plants and trees is worthwhile, but there’s a balance required. If left to her own devices, Mother Nature will take over. For homeowners, this can be a serious problem. The roots of trees and plants can damage the foundation of a house and get into the plumbing. Overgrowth from branches can also cause issues, though these are usually easier to spot quickly. For nature and humans to live in harmony, healthy maintenance is necessary. Landscapers that value environmental health and sustainability will work without hurting the greenery.
