Sustainable Landscape Design

A properly planned garden will not need input (in the form of fertilizers, pesticides, and even weeding) from humans very often, if ever. In natural settings, different plants and animals live together, providing benefits to each other that aid in the survival of each member of the community. These inter-dependencies between species provide nutrition, aerate the soil, decrease water needs, keep pests at bay, and much more. Additionally, proper placement on the property can often mean the difference between success and failure in Reno’s harsh climate.

Many gardeners spend time and money working against nature. Using techniques borrowed from the Permaculture movement, Heirloom Gardens will work with our clients to thoughtfully design outdoor spaces to perform specific functions. Our garden designs use natural systems to do much of the work that people must do in more traditional designs. We begin first with garden placement, recognizing that the condition of the soil is paramount. Then we will build the garden using layers of materials that create inter-dependencies and redundancies. The idea is that each member of the community performs several functions – perhaps fixing nitrogen and attracting pollinators, or maybe providing food and creating rich mulch.

Following ecology-based gardening tenents, a garden actually maintains itself, much like a wild forest. In areas without the benefits of great soil, Heirloom Gardens will probably recommend raised garden beds as they eliminate the need to “fix” poor soil, allowing every gardener the opportunity to reap rich rewards.