Top 7 eco-friendly backyard ideas

One person cannot make a difference, but every person can make a contribution. This is why every household of reasonable means has no excuse to be wasteful about energy. Going green can be a drastic change because it does not only entail a lifestyle adjustment but also a change of perspective.

Smart insulation or light bulb replacements are not where green renovations end. In fact, you can invest in both interior and exterior modifications. If you want to turn your backyard into an energy-saving oasis of comfort, here are top 7 eco-friendly backyard ideas.

1. The flora needs to be native

First of all, you should think in terms of local plant life. After all, native flora is accustomed to thriving in immediate climate conditions, not to mention the soil composition. This means that you will have to invest fewer resources than with more exotic and demanding plant life. You definitely won’t have to spend as much water and you won’t have to spend excessive sums on imported soil and specific compost. Finally, local plants are more resistant to local pests and diseases.

2. Homemade composting

Now that we have mentioned compost, a great eco-friendly option is to start mish-mashing your own nutritious mush. You do not have to throw away your precious organic food scraps into the trash bin – instead, you can easily install a compost cistern where you can dispose the remains of veggies and fruits along with paper, cloths and egg shells. This way, you will have healthy earth-enriching compost for your backyard garden and you won’t contribute to superfluous methane emissions from landfills.

3. Make sure your pool is properly maintained

Backyard pools are hardly a commodity anymore. They have become as ubiquitous as front door porches over the first few decades of the 21^st century. This is completely reasonable considering that the price range of pools has become quite reasonable, but it also means that the expenditure of water and energy loss due to bad maintenance have turned into a problem.

Cracks in the walls and floor of the pool can lead to water discharge, ground erosion and other problems with disastrous consequences. Make sure to cover your pool walls with essential protective pool paint before you fill it up to the top with water and purchase a dedicated cover that will make sure the water doesn’t evaporate and wildlife doesn’t fall in.

4. Add the avian factor

If you live in an area that is known for certain types of pests, you can add a few bird feeders and birdhouses to the equation. These small, charming bits of ornamentation will add to the enchanting appearance of the backyard and you can bet your bottom dollar that the birds will be very happy to grab a few snacks from the tall grass.

5. Rainwater harvesting

The cistern for composting is not the only harvesting element you can install in your eco-friendly backyard. In fact, rainwater harvesting is one of the most sensible ways to turn your garden green when it comes to energy consumption. The rainwater runoff “network” from rooftops and gutters can pour directly into the cistern and you can save this water for hot summer days when your plant life will be “dying of thirst.”

6. Grow tall trees

Do proper online research to discover the best and least demanding tall trees that can protect your backyard oasis from too much sunray exposure. Tall trees with lush treetops are not only a good natural “awning,” they are also an additional layer of insulation for your house, sound isolation and a protection from the prying neighborhood eyes.

7. Add backyard lights and make sure the bulbs are LED

However, none of us likes when the lush greenery renders the backyard environment too dark once the sun goes down. The best way to keep your household safe from intruders is to keep it lit during the night, especially around the back door and front door.

Sensor lights are probably the most reasonable addition to the outdoor lighting, especially because you can purchase a type that employs LED lighting. As a matter of fact, as long as you make sure all your exterior lights are LED, you can make it as bright as you ever wished because these types of light bulbs spend 10% of the energy your regular incandescent bulbs burn through.

Earth can be a cruel mistress if we do not treat the land to her satisfaction. The proper balance of domestic comfort which is properly integrated with natural surroundings is the key matter that every household needs to address so we can all enjoy a more stable future. If you go out of your way to integrate at least a few out of these 7 eco-friendly backyard ideas, you’ll surely contribute to the likelihood of our children having greener pastures.