The first time I understood these sustainable landscaping practices was when I visited Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State. The landscaping was quite impressive.
I believe every homeowner, especially emerging real estate investors in Nigeria, can adopt these landscaping practices, making our environments more habitable and appealing.
I have written a comprehensive guide on sustainable and eco-friendly house design in Nigeria. Click here to read it.
Let’s get started.
The Sustainable Landscaping Practices Around Nigerian Homes
Using eco-friendly landscaping around houses in Nigeria can save water, use less energy, help wildlife, and make the outdoor areas look nice.
The following are some sustainable landscaping practices suitable for Nigeria:
Native Plant Selection: Opt for plant species native to the area, as they are better suited to the local climate and soil conditions. Native plants typically need less water, fertilizer, and upkeep than exotic species.
Drought-Tolerant Plants: Incorporate drought-tolerant plants that can thrive with minimal irrigation once established. It helps conserve water, especially during dry seasons.
Water-Efficient Irrigation: Use drip or soaker hoses to water plants at their roots. It helps stop water from evaporating or running off.
Mulching: Put mulch around plants to stop weeds, keep soil wet, and control soil temperature. Wood chips or compost help soil as they break down.
Rainwater Harvesting: Collect rainwater from roofs using gutters and downspouts and store it in tanks for outdoor irrigation. It reduces reliance on municipal water sources and conserves potable water.
Porous Surfaces: Use absorbent materials like permeable concrete, gravel, or interlocking pavers for driveways, paths, and patios. These surfaces let rainwater soak into the ground, cutting down on runoff and refilling groundwater.
Composting: Compost yard waste such as grass clippings, leaves, and kitchen scraps to create nutrient-rich compost for soil amendment. Compost improves soil structure, fertility, and moisture retention.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Implement IPM practices to manage pests and diseases using environmentally friendly methods such as beneficial insects, trap crops, and biological controls, minimizing the need for synthetic pesticides.
Wildlife Habitat Creation: Create habitats for local wildlife by incorporating native plants, bird feeders, bird baths, and nesting boxes into the landscape. It promotes biodiversity and attracts beneficial pollinators and pest predators.
Sustainable Lawn Care: Reduce the size of turf grass areas or replace them with low-maintenance alternatives like native ground covers, ornamental grasses, or drought-tolerant lawn species. Mow lawns at a higher height to promote deep root growth and reduce water evaporation.
Energy-Efficient Landscaping: Strategically plant trees and shrubs to provide shade and windbreaks, reducing the need for artificial cooling and heating inside the home. Deciduous trees can provide shade in summer while allowing sunlight to penetrate in winter.
The Benefits of Sustainable Landscaping
As a professional journalist, I am convinced that incorporating sustainable landscaping practices into building projects in Nigeria and for Nigerians in the diaspora offers numerous benefits.
Using eco-friendly landscaping techniques, homeowners can achieve a beautiful and healthy living environment while promoting sustainability.
One big benefit of sustainable landscaping is that it saves natural resources and makes Nigerian homes look nicer.
By using native plants that adapt to the local climate, less watering, fertilizer, and harmful pesticide usage is required.
It is a cost-effective solution that guarantees the longevity of your landscape and ensures that your property looks great for years to come.
Besides saving resources, sustainable landscaping makes a healthier living space for homeowners and their families.
Eco-friendly landscapes help to address issues such as indoor and outdoor air pollution by reducing pollutants.
Using natural materials, such as wood chips and stone instead of synthetic turf or concrete, can also improve the environment's air quality.
Sustainable landscaping helps maintain soil health, encouraging healthy plant root development, and improving drainage to prevent erosion.
Also, eco-friendly landscapes can create a comfortable living environment by reducing glare and reflecting heat away from your home, making them a perfect choice for Nigerians in the diaspora.
In conclusion, adopting sustainable landscaping practices is essential when building projects in Nigeria, as it helps to conserve natural resources, creates a healthier living environment, and adds beauty to Nigerian homes.
Sustainability is key, and it is crucial to make eco-friendly choices to ensure the longevity and beauty of the landscape.
By incorporating sustainable landscaping techniques, homeowners are positively impacting their surroundings and promoting a greener future for Nigeria.
Designing with Native Plants
Designing with native plants is essential to sustainable and eco-friendly landscaping in Nigerian homes.
Native plants are species that have developed and adapted to thrive in a region's specific climate, soil, and environmental conditions. These plants require less maintenance, including less water, fertilizers, and pesticides, than non-native plants. They also provide food and habitat for local wildlife, improving and enhancing the ecosystem.
Incorporating native plants into landscaping designs is a simple yet effective way to achieve a sustainable and eco-friendly landscape.
When selecting native plants, consider their growth rate, size, texture, and color, among other factors.
These plants can be used as ground covers, shrubs, vines, and trees and can also be arranged in attractive combinations to create a unique and beautiful oasis in Nigerian homes.
Another good thing about using native plants is that they help the local animals and keep the environment healthy.
Insect pollinators are critical to native plant reproduction, and, in turn, these plants provide essential food and habitat for these pollinators.
Water Conservation Strategies
As a vital aspect of sustainable landscaping, water conservation is crucial for Nigerian homeowners looking to promote sustainability in their landscapes.
Several methods of water conservation can be adopted to reduce water usage, such as:
Set up a system to gather and store rainwater in tanks for later use in watering plants, cleaning, and other non-drinking purposes.
Efficient irrigation systems: Choose irrigation systems that minimize water wastage, such as drip irrigation, timed irrigation, and sprinkler systems with a rain sensor.
Pick drought-tolerant plants: Go for plants that need less water and are suited to the local weather, like succulents and native plants.
Mulching: Using organic materials such as leaves, branches, and wood chips to cover the soil surface helps retain moisture and reduce water evaporation.
Creating a Wildlife Habitat
Building a house in Nigeria presents a unique opportunity to create a thriving wildlife habitat.
Adopting sustainable and eco-friendly landscaping practices, Nigerian homeowners can design landscapes that attract and support native wildlife.
In doing so, they can promote biodiversity and contribute to the conservation of local species.
To create a wildlife-friendly landscape, Nigerian homeowners should prioritize using plants that are common.
These plants are adapted to the local climate and provide food and habitat for various local wildlife.
Also, including birdhouses, birdbaths, and nesting boxes can attract birds and other small animals to the landscape.
Another effective strategy for promoting a wildlife habitat is to leave some landscape areas as natural as possible.
It can include preserving natural vegetation, such as trees and shrubs, and avoiding excessive use of pesticides and herbicides.
Nigerian homeowners can help create a vibrant and diverse ecosystem within their property by doing so.
Designing Nigerian homes that promote biodiversity and wildlife conservation will help homeowners play an important role in protecting the local environment.
Sustainable and eco-friendly landscaping practices enhance the property's beauty and contribute to the wider goal of creating a greener and more sustainable future for Nigeria.
Sustainable Materials and Construction Techniques
While sustainable landscaping is crucial in promoting sustainability, utilizing sustainable materials and construction techniques for building construction in Nigeria is equally important.
Doing so not only helps reduce environmental impact but also provides financial benefits in the long run.
One eco-friendly building material is rammed earth. It is a mixture of clay, sand, and gravel, which are compressed into walls.
Rammed earth is durable, energy-efficient, and has an excellent thermal mass, meaning it maintains a comfortable temperature indoors.
Bamboo is another eco-friendly material that can be used instead of traditional hardwood. Bamboo is renewable, fast-growing, less expensive, and has similar properties to hardwood.
It can be used for various purposes, such as flooring, furniture, and wall paneling.
When it comes to construction techniques, modular construction is an environmentally friendly method.
It involves assembling pre-fabricated modules off-site and bringing them to the construction site for assembly. It reduces waste and energy usage and speeds up construction time.
Building construction in Nigeria can also incorporate passive solar design, which utilizes natural light and heat to reduce energy usage.
One way to achieve this is by designing homes with south-facing windows and using shading devices to control sunlight.
In addition, architects can use green roofs, which offer insulation, reduce stormwater runoff, and encourage biodiversity.
By embracing sustainable materials and construction techniques, Nigerian homes can become more environmentally friendly and promote sustainability.
Not only does this reduce environmental impact, but it also provides financial benefits in the long run.
Conclusion
Having established how sustainable landscaping practices around Nigerian homes are important for homeowners and the nation, you should know the role to play.
You should factor in your building environment's impact on the overall coexistence of other homeowners and how it can encourage other investors to enter the Nigerian real estate space.
You may also be interested in the legal requirements for building a house in Nigeria. This guide gives you further insight into things to know and avoid before putting your finances.