Landscaping has both negative and positive impacts on the environment. Negative impacts include deforestation, pollution (air, water and land), as well as ecosystem modification. Americans' love story with lawns has consequences. The United States has more than 63,000 square miles of grass, an area more than three times that of any irrigated crop (there's also a map)).
Every week, 54 million homeowners cut their lawns, causing pollution and using fossil fuels. Lawns also require water and fertilizer, and many Americans also use pesticides to kill weeds and insects. One of the biggest consequences of modern gardening is the amount of fertilizer that enters our water systems. This is called nutrient pollution and can devastate lakes, rivers, and even tap water.
Landscape effects can be positive, neutral, or negative. A positive effect would increase the quality and character of the landscape. Neutral effects would have a low or negligible impact and would be considered part of normal landscape processes. A negative effect could involve the loss of landscape elements, which would cause a reduction in landscape quality.
The level of effects can be determined by combining the sensitivity of a receiver and the proposed magnitude of the change. A receiver is an aspect of the landscape that could be affected, such as physical resources or groups of spectators. Magnitude evaluates the size and scale of the effect, the extent of the area in which it occurs, whether it is reversible and whether it is short-term or long-term. Over the past 70 years, industrial agriculture has evolved to produce as much food as possible at the lowest cost, in order to maximize profits.
About 10 percent of land in the United States and 93 percent of row crops are treated with pesticides. Products such as MiracleGro and Round-Up make it possible to create attractive, easy-to-maintain gardens quickly, as they use chemicals to treat weeds and add nutrients to the soil. While these chemicals efficiently introduce nutrients that help plants grow, they can also contaminate soil and leak into groundwater. Instead of using chemicals, look for natural alternatives.
Planting native plants and taking the time to weed are easy ways to keep your garden looking healthy and beautiful. Weeding takes a little longer, but it can be a meditative practice and is much better for the environment. We all know that plants like water, so it's tempting to think that if we give our gardens and lawns lots of water, they'll thrive. Overwatering doesn't just drown plants, it's a waste, especially in times of drought.
Learn about the plants and grass you are going to use. Then, make an irrigation schedule and stick to it. A plan will help you avoid overwatering. In the case of bats, you can build a small bat house or buy one from Amazon or Home Depot.
You'll need to place these houses on a pole at least 15 feet above the ground and in a sunny location near a water source. At Moodscapes, we've been a leader in creating organic landscapes for 20 years. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the process, we can help you create a plan for the beautiful, natural garden you've always wanted. Do you want to know more about how we can help you? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with us today. These trends are great news for anyone concerned about the long-term effects of landscaping on the environment.
In evaluating the effects on the landscape, the effects of the proposed change on the landscape will be taken into account and the way in which they will affect the elements that compose it, their aesthetic and perceptive aspects and their distinctive character. While landscaping can have a negative impact on the environment by replacing natural ecosystems and displacing wildlife, there are responsible ways to alter the land around us. According to the Groundwater Foundation, rain gardens can effectively remove up to 90% of chemicals from water. The term “landscape effects” refers to effects that impact a landscape as a resource in its own right.
This has the effect of reducing the naturalness of landscapes and elements, something that the public values a lot. Development can have a negative impact on landscapes due to the intrusion of man-made structures and patterns in predominantly natural areas. Sustainable landscaping conserves natural resources, reduces air and soil pollution, and reduces the negative impact on the environment. The problem is insidious, as money is spent throughout the government budget in an effort to counteract the negative side effects of landscape choices at the departmental level.
