An eco-friendly property is possible with green landscaping design techniques, which can help save energy within the home, offer a more diverse environment for wildlife and plants, and even provide seasonal locally grown food with edible landscaping.
When building a green home, it is important to consider the natural landscaping which will be affected by construction. What trees will have to be torn down? How will the soil be altered? Making the effort to control the destruction of the natural flora around the work site will build a foundation for an eco-friendly property.
Take advantage of the trees which already exist for shading, and don't knock them down (although in some cases this is necessary). A temporary fence or border can be used to differentiate the work site and the protected natural environment. This will help keep as much topsoil in tact as possible. Then decide on the green landscaping design plans early on; use the existing area to find efficient ways to conserve energy, increase diversity, and create edible landscaping.
The placement of existing or planned trees and shrubs can have a huge impact on the energy efficiency of a home. Shading for example, especially in warmer climates, is an ideal way to save on air conditioning energy use and costs. Foliage can effectively prevent an excess of solar heat gain through windows. The most important direction to have shaded is the west, followed by the east. Another way to make a property more eco-friendly with green landscaping design is to plant hedgerows so that the flora will funnel summer breezes in from the west.
On the other hand, particularly in colder climates, it is important to pay attention to passive solar heating. Even in the winter months, when most or all of the foliage is gone, tree branches and trunks can still block sunlight. In the green landscaping design plans, avoid shading from the south to allow for passive solar heating. Also, a row of evergreens and dense shrubs planted on the north and west sides of the home can help to block out some of the cold winds.