Designing with Nature: An Ecological Approach to Landscaping in Villanova, PA
Introduction
“We need the tonic of wilderness… We can never have enough of nature.”
— Henry David Thoreau
Choosing a natural landscaping design is ideal for people who enjoy the outdoors and live in a serene backdrop. After all, whether you are hiking, walking, or kayaking — nature is probably the main ingredient of your nomadic lifestyle.
So, without it, your life would be drastically different.
But the question is — how do you design your backyard with nature? Or, what do we mean when we say, “Go for an ecological approach?” Let’s find out.
Natural Landscaping — Taking a Closer Look
Like almost any other town in Pennsylvania, Villanova is a historically and culturally enriched city. So, considering the backdrop you might be getting at your place, we’re sure that natural landscaping will be perfect for you.
But how do you do it?
At its core, the approach to natural landscaping revolves entirely around the principle of biomimicry. This modern concept draws inspiration from nature’s delicacy to inform human design. We at ASMD Landscaping usually do it by —
- Observing the patterns, systems, or processes found in the surrounding natural ecosystem of your house
- Emulating the same when we are designing your patio and garden
This way, it becomes easier for us to create a landscape that improves the overall appearance of your house and contributes positively to the environment.
How to Create a Perfect Natural Landscape in Your Patio?
When creating an eye-catching natural patio, we usually follow a 5-way rule. Here’s what you need to know about it —
1: Creating an Ecological Resilience
Unlike conventional landscaping practices, often involving high water consumption, chemical treatments, and monoculture designs, an ecological approach prioritizes resilience through diversity and adaptability. Here’s what we do in this aspect —
- Opt for diverse planting
- Choose native species
- Curate water-wise strategies
It, in turn, helps us decrease resource consumption and foster habitats for local wildlife while increasing biodiversity throughout your garden or patio.
2: Implementing Regenerative Techniques
Furthermore, the ecological approach advocates for regenerative techniques that aim to sustain and improve the health of ecosystems.
To do that, we use practices like composting or integrated pest management in almost every project. Upon your request, we will also employ a technique that can help you harvest rainwater in the best possible manner.
How does all of these help you out, though?
To begin with, it can help us create a landscape that can regenerate soil health at an excellent level. Moreover, the same design can mitigate erosion massively and support the pollinator population. Each of these is important for sustaining our environment as well.
So, it’s a win-win for you.
3: Integrating Innovation and Technology
Embracing technology and innovation, this approach leverages advancements in sustainable materials, green infrastructure, and data-driven design tools.
From permeable pavements that facilitate water infiltration to smart irrigation systems that optimize water usage based on weather patterns, technology creates landscapes that function synergistically with nature.
The best thing is — if you opt for us, there’s no need to worry about anything related to the project. We’ll bring all of our creative and technical acumen to offer the best possible result for your cause.
Why Should You Opt for Nature Landscaping?
The town of Villanova is quite already naturally beautiful. So, why do you have to opt for the natural landscaping we’re discussing? Let’s find out.
1: Can Offer a Natural Blend
Natural landscaping effortlessly integrates with the surrounding natural environment, creating a seamless connection and an expansive feel.
Moreover, an increasing number of homebuyers seek the allure of natural landscaping, as it significantly boosts a home’s curb appeal when thoughtfully designed.
Ultimately, it makes your home’s appearance much “greener,” which is brilliant to look at.
So, by opting for a natural landscape, you aren’t only improving the outlook of your house but also immensely contributing to the environment.
2: Easier to Maintain
Maintaining natural landscapes tends to be simpler compared to traditional ones. After the initial phases of clearing and planting, they demand less ongoing attention.
This effortless upkeep significantly enhances a property’s value, making it a compelling selling point for homeowners who prefer natural landscapes.
3: Can Help You Conserve Water
While working on a natural landscape project, we usually use native plants that get adapted to the local climate pretty quickly. Thus, they require much less irrigation than the traditional options. As a result, the overall sustainability of this type of landscape tends to be higher.
Note: However, keep in mind — that it might take your plant almost two years before it can well-establish itself. So, it’s important to spend the first two years nurturing them closely.
How to Keep Your Patio Clean?
Just as you vacuum your house regularly or dust your furniture, it’s quite important to keep your patio clean and fresh as well. Let’s see how you can do it.
Cleaning Your Patio — The Supplies You Will Need
Cleaning your patio, especially the entire space, isn’t really easy. Apart from the expertise, a person will also need to get the right supplies and use them correctly. For example —
- A garden hose will be needed to clean off the dirt
- A synthetic or a natural bristle brush for brushing the corners
- A degreaser for taking care of the grease in your patio
- A dishwashing product for floor-cleaning purposes
- Waterproof gloves for protecting your hands from the water and cleaning liquids
- Old clothes to prevent the water or cleaning liquids to get in contact with your body
How to Clean Your Patio?
We will discuss the process of cleaning the patio in some specific steps to help you make the most out of the procedure. So, without any further ado, let’s begin.
Step – 1: Remove Loose Debris and Dirt
Before you begin working, make sure to remove any grill, furniture, or planter that you may have in the patio. Once it’s done, you can begin sweeping away the debris, dirt, or leaves as well. These can be done with the garden hose pretty comfortably. However, if there are a lot of difficult spots to remove, I’d suggest you use the brush you’ve brought too.
Step – 2: Treat the Patio Stains
When it comes to patio stains, there are three types of dirt you can find there. Each of these are different, therefore, they need to be treated accordingly as well.
I: Mold, Water Stains, and Mildew
Use a pressure washer or a garden hose to clean the mildew and mold that are plaguing your patio. But, if this doesn’t go well, you can also mix up a solution of one gallon water and 3/4 cup of bleach. Also, before you begin working, don’t forget to wear protective items, such as rubber gloves or older clothes — as we’ve mentioned before.
II: Oil Stains and Grease
Sprinkle a little bit of cornstarch, sawdust, or baking soda on the oil stain or grease to absorb the spill effectively. If required, you may also try mixing up water and baking soda to create a cleaning paste. It will work even better on your patio and make it easier to clean the stains.
III: Rust
If there’s any kind of rust in your patio, you can comfortably clean the same with vinegar. It can be either sprayed directly into the stain or scrubbed on with a bristle brush. The effect is going to be the same anyways. So, choose whatever procedure you’re comfortable with.
Step – 3: Clean the Patio Floors
There are three ways in which you may clean the floors of your patio. Here’s what you need to know about them —
1: Baking Soda or Vinegar
As a type of natural cleaner, baking soda is more efficient in cleaning cement-made patios over anything else. And, this is especially true if you are dealing with rust spots or charcoal.
However, if the stain isn’t dissolving with baking soda, you can mix vinegar and water with it as well. Just make sure you are wearing protective stuff before doing that though.
2: Water and Dish Soap
Dish soap, by nature, is a degreaser. In addition, it also works well while cleaning grimy and oily stains on a concrete surface. However, if you want to make it work, you have to mix the same with warm water and a little bit of detergent.
3: Degreaser
As the name implies, a degreaser is used to clean grease and oily stuff. But, while they work pretty well on porous concrete, they aren’t that effective while cleaning older stains.
FAQs — Frequently Asked Questions
1: How Can I Make My Landscape Look Natural?
To begin with, you should always focus on choosing compatible native plants rather than an “unusable” traditional option. Remember not to overdo your flowers.
And make sure to keep things shorter and less stringent. If you need help with anything, don’t forget to call us at ASMD Landscaping. We’ll offer our expertise accordingly.
2: How To Make My Backyard Look Expensive?
When it comes to making your garden look expensive, you only need to keep it clean and fresh. Here are a few tips that might be helpful for you –
- Mow the lawn regularly
- Coordinate the furniture properly
- Make an eye-catching entrance
- Create distinct areas for everything
- Pick a simple but catchy decor style
If you feel like you can’t do these by yourself, we at ASMD Landscaping can offer our help with it for a pretty negligible fee.
3: What Type of Landscaping Adds More Value?
A tidy garden is a pretty obvious answer to this question. Apart from this, you may also opt for lighting, a landscape patio, fresh mulch, and an outdoor kitchen to make it even better.
