What is the Maine green movement and what does it mean to go “green” when it comes to landscaping?
More people have become aware of the green movement but there is confusion about what it means, what it involves, and what it costs. Let’s look at all three elements and analyze how the green movement applies to landscaping.
What is the Green Movement?
At its core, the green movement is all about protecting our environment. While the green movement seemed to come into its own in the 1960s and 70s, there were efforts long before that including 19th century conservation groups that sought to protect endangered species and maintain the environment at a time of great expansion.
Our love for the beauty of the outdoors can lead to some fantastic undertakings in landscaping. On the surface, it would seem that any efforts to create a beautiful landscape would fall into the green movement. Unfortunately, that isn’t always so.
What Does “Going Green” Mean?
Does going green mean planting a tree or some shrubbery to improve the landscape? While both tasks are admirable, going green often refers to using environmentally friendly means to accomplish something. This can refer to building a new home or working on your existing landscape.
How Does the Green Movement Apply to Landscaping?
Resources such as water are precious and limited, which is why the green movement seeks to protect them and make sure they are not wasted. In some cases, going green might seem obvious.
For example, you don’t want to run your water sprinkler indiscriminately. Not only can it be bad for your lawn but it can raise your water bill. Naturally, you don’t want to hurt the green or cost yourself some green.
As we’ll see, some green approaches aren’t well-known. In some cases, they may be counterintuitive. Let’s look at some ways we can “go green” when it comes to landscaping.
Irrigation
Whether you’re looking to water your lawn or create a system for a large landscape, irrigation is essential. As mentioned, too much or too little watering can lead to problems. A poorly-managed irrigation system can also increase your water bill.
One of the best advances in the green movement and landscaping is the smart management of water usage. Thanks to computerized technology, you can apply just the right amount of water necessary for your landscape and/or crops.
Some of these systems allow you to control them even when you are away. Furthermore, some have sensors to detect moisture levels and in some cases, weather forecasts.
The Right Plants
Nature is all about balance and you can employ green landscaping techniques to achieve this balance. For example, use plants that have a symbiotic relationship with your landscape.
Likewise, use plants that can naturally deal with certain pests. This can reduce or eliminate the need for pesticides. In some instances, you can use native pests to counteract other pests.
Another useful way to grow is to make sure your plants are conducive to your environment. Otherwise, you may have to use artificial additives to help them grow or use more natural resources than you should.
The Right Practices
Sometimes the smallest things can help you go “green.” When it comes to maintenance, it’s important to perform it at the right time. Don’t prune until the time is right. Otherwise, you’ll likely find yourself having to do it twice.
This is particularly important due to the number of people who use power tools to make their work easier. Why waste your time or resources to prune more than you have to?
In some cases, there are ways to use the Maine green movement that might not make sense. A prime example is lawn mowing. One might think that waiting until a lawn has grown substantially is better than cutting it several times at a shorter length.
Not so as multiple mows typically use less fuel because the engines have less work to do. Cutting more often is healthier for the grass plants too.
The Right Tools
Landscaping has become easier thanks to advances in power tools. As you might suspect, there are some tools that are more favorable to the Maine green movement than others. For example, compare a 4-cycle engine to a 2-cycle “mixed” fuel – the 4-cycle uses less oil.
Battery-powered equipment is now more powerful and capable than ever before thanks to significant advances in modern battery technology. Moreover, the battery chargers themselves have improved, offering ample power to complete tasks efficiently on a single charge.
While battery-powered equipment doesn’t use fossil fuels, it requires lithium batteries. These batteries are mined and there are environmental concerns about the mining as well as the disposal of batteries. Additionally, mining lithium batteries can require equipment that in turn relies on large amounts of fossil fuels.
Going Green, The Price
The benefits of going green are known but it comes with a price tag, especially when you replace less environmentally friendly equipment with green-friendly tools. Initial investments are significantly higher than buying traditional fossil fuel-based equipment.
It’s important to remember that going green has many benefits for our environment but like any new technology, costs have not come down yet.
The Maine Green Movement and Your Landscape. Davis Landscape Can Help
Davis Landscape understands the importance of the Maine green movement and we employ green techniques including the use of a notable amount of battery-operated equipment.
Currently, this is mostly hand-held equipment. However, we plan to employ larger battery-operated equipment once it has become more refined, reliable, and economical.
Whether you want to take a more environmentally friendly approach yourself or you need assistance, Davis Landscape has your answers. We can help you find the right solution whether it’s a DIY project or something you’re entrusting us with.
While you’re putting your land to good use, consider Davis Landscape for improvements to your home’s outdoor appearance. We can help you find the right look and do it in a green-friendly way that meets your wishes. Contact us for more information.
