sustainability Archives - The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals

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sustainability

Crafting a Resilient Landscape with Tree Diversity

When selecting tree species for your customer’s landscape design, it’s important to consider biodiversity, as having a variety of trees on a property not only creates a more dynamic space, but it’s also beneficial for the surrounding ecosystem. “The number one thing is with diversity, you will minimize the abiotic stressors such as insect and […]

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The Hidden Costs of Skipping Lawn Irrigation

Written by: Alec Kowalewski, associate professor and turfgrass specialist at Oregon State University Turfgrass is known for requiring frequent irrigation during the summer months to sustain active growth and development, and an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Due to recent concerns associated with the availability of water, turfgrass irrigation is being scrutinized. Turfgrass scientists have been exploring […]

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Landscapes of the Month: A Backyard Haven for Wildlife

Nature is at the heart of this backyard sanctuary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since the original installation in 2017, the owners have sought to create a green space where wildlife is encouraged and given refuge in this heavily populated area. GreenWeaver Landscapes, based in Media, Pennsylvania, handled the installation and has been responsible for maintenance since […]

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Technically Speaking: Selecting Hardy Tree Species for Urban Canopies

Urban tree canopies can lower air temperatures, reduce air pollution, mitigate the heat island effect and prevent stormwater runoff. However, as cities seek to increase their urban tree canopies, they are faced with the dilemma of finding trees that can tolerate these concrete jungles. Manny Nassar, technical advisor for Southeast U.S. residential/commercial service line with […]

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Drought-Tolerant Landscaping: Save Water Without Sacrificing Beauty

Water is a precious resource and in certain areas of the country, the push to preserve it by removing landscapes is becoming more prevalent. The good news is drought-tolerant landscaping can help conserve water without having to remove landscapes completely. In drought-stricken regions, many counties are offering rebates and incentives to get rid of lawns. […]

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No Mow May: Is It Really Beneficial?

“Now Mow May” is a popular movement that encourages homeowners to withhold their first lawn mowing until the first of June. For environmentally conscious homeowners, No Mow May can truly seem like a win-win. Help out some pollinators while delaying their mowing services for a whole month, what’s not to like? However, when you start […]

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Enhancing Cities with Urban Green Spaces

Adding urban green spaces to cities can greatly improve their sustainability and boost the quality of life for residents. As cities continue to grow, green spaces can shrink but it’s critical to fight for these areas and increase their presence in urban areas. Why Urban Green Spaces Matter Urban green spaces have been dubbed the […]

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The Benefits of Trees in Urban Environments

When you think of trees, the first place you’d expect to encounter them is a forest or wilderness area. However, trees belong in urban spaces just as much as rural ones. This Arbor Day, as you talk to your clients about the value of trees, share with them the endless benefits they can provide cities. […]

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Celebrate Earth Day by Protecting Biodiversity in the Landscape

Landscape professionals are stewards of the environment but just like anything else in life, there is always room for improvement. As we celebrate another Earth Day, one facet of sustainability you can examine in your operations is your efforts to increase biodiversity in your clients’ properties. Biodiversity is the number and variety of species in […]

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Unleashing the Power of Data-Driven Water Management

When monitoring your client’s water usage on their property, are you going by gut feelings and guesstimates or do you have hard data to help drive your adjustment to their irrigation system? Justin White, owner of K&D Landscaping, Inc., based in Watsonville, California, compares not utilizing data-driven water management to if you had a credit card […]

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