5 Reasons Why Landscaping is Important

There are many benefits of landscaping. A well-designed and maintained landscape can add character to your home, turning it into the jewel of your neighborhood. Landscaping increases home value and, depending on its design, a landscape can serve as a designated space for relaxation or entertaining guests.

Here are some other compelling reasons why Sonoma County homeowners should invest in landscape design/build services to create the perfect getaway space in their own backyard.

Help Clean the Air

Pollution affects ecosystems around the world. Landscaping can help the environment. The leaves of plants and trees in landscapes absorb harmful gases such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide. Use trees with large leaves in your landscape as they trap more pollutants than trees with small leaves.

Help Make Your Home More Energy-efficient

A well-designed landscape can help reduce the need for artificial lighting allowing more natural light into a home. A well-developed plan can bring down both heating and cooling costs by 10-30%. In summer, the plants and trees in your landscape can help reduce solar heat, keeping your property cool so your cooling system need not work harder and longer. Tall trees on the south and west sides of your building can provide shade during the hottest times of the day, helping reduce attic temperatures by up to 40 degrees. In winter, trees that lose their leaves can allow more heat from the lower sun angle into rooms.

Improve Water Quality

The plants in your backyard help filter rainwater before it runs into storm drains. They prevent contaminants from getting into nearby water bodies. Landscaping with specific native plants is a great way to reduce stormwater runoff by up to 65%.

Prevents Soil Erosion

Soil erosion is a serious problem. Water and air can remove soil and deposit it somewhere else. Soil erosion can lead to sedimentation in rivers, streams, and other water bodies, polluting them. Layers of sediment can prevent rivers from flowing smoothly, eventually leading to flooding. Soil erosion also decreases soil fertility. Grass and shrubs in landscaping help hold the soil together with their roots which assists in preventing soil erosion. A well-mulched landscape can break up large raindrops before impacting bare earth reducing runoff.

Help Improve Your Overall Health

There are several health benefits of landscaping. It can help manage high blood pressure and reduce stress. Studies show that spending time in nature is a great way to reduce inflammation. Reduced inflammation in the body reduces the risk of developing an autoimmune disorder. Some studies conclude that spending more time in nature may stimulate the production of anti-cancer proteins.

Landscaping can also help improve mental health. Research suggests that spending time in a landscape is an effective way to improve short-term memory and reduce the symptoms of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Many mental health experts recommend spending more time in the garden to improve concentration and focus.

Gardenworks is a trusted provider of landscape design services in Sonoma County. Our landscaping experts have years of experience transforming dull landscapes into oases. To make an appointment, call (707) 857-2050.