LANDSCAPING

Landscaping can provide adaptation to climate change by managing water, cooling urban areas and sequestering carbon. It can protect birds and insects, focus on providing native plants, provide food sources and shelter for birds and insects, protect our drinking and bathing water, and keep our children and our animals safe from pesticides and other chemicals. 

LANDSCAPING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION

When considering a landscape design, be sure to choose an area for pollinator habitats away from pesticides. In addition to taking into consideration shady and sunny locations, consider the audience. For instance, butterflies like to bask on their favorite wildflowers in full or partial sun with some protection from the wind. Instead of a large turf lawn, create a mini ecosystem with a hedgerow and perennials to provide habitat with visual interest. Place tall plants and shrubs at the back and sides of the garden for wind and sun protection, and to create an appealing visual border. Think about native plants for pollinators.

Sustainable landscaping provides crucial strategies for adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change: 

• Carbon Sequestration: Plants, especially trees, absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their biomass and the soil. Healthy soil, enhanced by practices like composting and mulching, is also a significant carbon sink.
• Mitigating Urban Heat Islands: Trees and green spaces provide shade and release moisture through evapotranspiration, which can significantly lower local ambient temperatures in urban areas that would otherwise trap heat.
• Improved Water Management: Landscapes can be designed to manage water more effectively by using:
  • Rain gardens and bioswales: These features capture and filter rainwater runoff, allowing it to soak into the ground and reducing the risk of flooding.
  • Permeable paving: Using materials like gravel or permeable concrete for driveways and paths allows water to seep into the ground, recharging groundwater and reducing runoff.
  • Water-efficient irrigation: Systems such as drip irrigation and rain barrels conserve water by delivering it directly to the plant roots or collecting it for later use.
• Drought Resilience: Using native and drought-tolerant plants ensures the landscape can survive with less water, which is critical during heat waves and prolonged dry periods.
• Ecosystem Resilience: Diverse landscapes that use a variety of plants are more resilient to pests, diseases and extreme weather events. 

PROTECTING BIRDS AND INSECTS

You can turn your yard into a haven for wildlife by focusing on habitat creation and sustainable practices: 

• Plant Native Species: Native plants have evolved alongside local wildlifeand provide the specific nectar, pollen, seeds and host plants (e.g., milkweed for Monarch caterpillars) that native animals need to survive.
• Provide Diverse Habitats and Shelter:
  • Leave the leaves and dead stems: Fallen leaves and standing dead plant stems provide vital overwintering shelter for many insects and nesting material for birds.
  • Incorporate structural layers: A mix of groundcovers, shrubs and trees offers a variety of protective covers from predators and harsh weather.
  • Add features: Include rock piles, brush piles and logs for hiding spots. Birdhouses, butterfly boxes and bee hotels offer additional nesting sites.
• Ensure a Continuous Food Source: Plant a variety of flowers, shrubs and trees that bloom from early spring through late fall to provide a continuous supply of food.
• Provide Water: A shallow water source, like a birdbath or a small muddy puddle, offers a place for wildlife to drink and clean themselves. When it ices in the winter, melt it with hot water.
• Avoid Chemical Pesticides and Fertilizers: Choose natural or organic pest control methods and make your own compost to enrich the soil naturally. Pesticides can harm beneficial insects and the birds that feed on them.