The ‘green’ revolution is fast catching on in the world. Everyone is trying their best to support nature and be as environmentally friendly as possible. However, there are still many who, though they want to be eco-friendly, don’t know how to do it. For such people, we have only one advice. Please use the internet. In fact, there’s hardly anything that isn’t possible to do in an eco-friendly way. No matter whether it is a vehicle or a cellphone, there’s an eco-friendly version of everything. Even when it comes to something as simple as house fencing, you don’t have to make any compromise. For example, one way to go green is by utilizing green, foliage plants to act as fences. This is not a new idea but it’s large scale implementation definitely is! However, just growing plants as fences have disadvantages too. Solving all these problems is the concept of The Green Fence or The Mobile Vine Wall!
The Green Fence
When plants are allowed to grow as a fence, they need maintenance. They also need proper protection, tending and support in their initial growing stages. And, if there is any change in the extent of real estate holdings, it becomes real difficult to take down and rebuild these plant fences!
Now, Antoine Desjardins has creatively designed the Vine Wall aka The Green Fence. The construction of this wall is simple and sturdy. There is a concrete base to act as a support. On this is a wooden framework that is designed like a contemporary lattice. The base has space for soil in which vines and climbers could be planted. These climbers will grow and make use of the lattice for support.
Over time, the entire wooden area is covered by vines. These modular units of fencing can then be used. In case the plants need care, the fence can be brought outdoors only after the plants have grown. The best part is that these units are available in modular parts that can also be moved. Thus, it becomes possible to move and re-align the fence even on a daily basis! You could make use of these outdoors or even indoors. If it does not seem proper somewhere, just roll it away to a proper place!
Via: Coroflot
Some more ideas like The Green Fence for eco-friendly landscaping
Eco-friendly landscaping is an essential part of green architecture. Apart from going with the green fence, there are also many green landscaping ideas that you can choose on your own saving you money, making your home beautiful, and sustaining the environment. Dr. Prem Jagyasi shares some tips you can use to do eco-friendly landscaping efficiently:
Climate plays a big role in eco-friendly landscaping
Climate plays an integral role to make a plant survive, so make sure you consider the climate before choosing plants for your backyard. They should be the ones that can easily thrive in the local climatic conditions. Get a collection of native plants, as they are accustomed to the local conditions and drop the idea of bringing non-native plants. If you want, you can bring some non-native ornamental plants and keep them in your home but not for outdoors.
Evergreen trees and shrubs
Climate keeps changing but you cannot keep changing your plants once you have set up an eco-friendly landscape. A viable solution to this problem is to plant evergreen trees and shrubs so that they serve as shields for other plants, protecting them from heavy rains and scorching sunrays. Before planting them, you must find out the usual wind direction in your area and the accordingly plant trees, so that they serve as barriers for chilly winds that might cause your plants some harm.
Xeriscaping
The main concepts of Xeriscaping are applicable to all gardens and landscapes, so use them while designing your eco-friendly landscape. Xeriscaping is a concept that encourages usage of low-water use plants, reduction of turfgrass, use of efficient irrigation systems, and some environmental friendly options. You can use them all and enhance the green quotient of the landscape you are designing.
Use of energy efficient and non-polluting lawn mowers
Gas mowers are definitely time-savers but if you take into consideration their other factors such as pollution, you will start hating them. You should use reel mowers that are easy to use, are efficient and are cleaner. They follow clean and green technology, using them will enhance the eco-friendly quotient of your green landscaping process.
Composting
Composting is something you must add as a feature to your eco-friendly landscape. You can use garden waste (grass clippings, leaves) for composting and the kitchen waste (vegetable and fruit peels) for composting. Doing so prevents your kitchen and garden waste ending up on landfill sites contributing to pollution, and helps providing essential and the required nutrition to plants in your garden. This way you can get rid of the chemical fertilizer usage, and maintain your garden health in an environmental friendly way.
Use natural products for the landscape maintenance
Organic tools, organic nutrients, you get them all in the market, so why opt chemical fertilizers that are not good for the soil, for the environment, and for you. Start with tools that do not release any harmful emissions, and have minimal environmental impact. Coming to the pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, and other nutrients, stop investing in chemical ones and opt for the natural ones that benefit plants, help maintain landscapes, without causing any harm to the environment.
Cut down water use
Try to hand water plants and grass if possible and if not, then invest in small sprinkler system and ensure you pay close attention to its usage, so that you can prevent water wastage. Install a rainwater harvesting system, store rainwater and use it wisely to water your eco-friendly landscape so that it remains fresh and green.
Install solar powered lights
Consider solar-powered lights to light up your eco-friendly landscaping. Using solar powered landscaping lights can bring a considerable fall in your energy use and expenditure.
Install solar lighted walkaway
Folks at Hammacher Schlemmer have come up with a solar-lighted walkway tiles to guide you through those rough patches in your backyard. Embedded with a matchbook-sized solar panel, the power generators produce ample solar energy to “automatically illuminate the four inlaid LEDs at night.” The customizable tiles allow one to interlock them on either side for an artful display of light.
As the 100 percent waterproof tiles are made from planks of PVC, they can withstand normal wear and tear. Furthermore, use of tempered glass ensures better resistance to damage. The 11″ sq. x 1″ H. (1 1/2 lbs.)LEDs are rated for 20,000 hours, which is quite impressive.
Eco-friendly landscaping is not an overly tough task. All it needs is some attention to detail and willingness to adopt new technologies and sustainable methods.