Yard
Half of the water used in all Queensland homes goes on the garden – enough to fill 31,720 Olympic swimming pools per year.
Common landscape maintenance practices in our backyards often have harmful impacts.
Clearing native trees and plants and other natural habitats to accommodate urban growth, and planting lawns and exotic plants, take a heavy toll on environmental and human health.
Traditional gardens:
- require extensive use of mechanical equipment like lawnmowers and edge trimmers which release greenhouse gases
- have high water needs
- need frequent application of fertilizers and pesticides, and
- generate waste.
The biodiversity of our ecosystems is also suffering from the introduction of invasive exotic plants.
Careful planning and good gardening habits can make a significant difference in reducing water and energy consumption and creating a healthier backyard for you and the environment.
Measures such as reducing water use through tanks, greywater systems, better swimming pool maintenance, mulching, reduced use of fertilisers and pesticides, and choosing drought tolerant native plants, which use less water and can shade your house, can have a huge impact.