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Yard
Patios, walkways and paths
- Use permeable materials for patios, walkways and paths such as clay brick, rock or concrete pavers, broken concrete, recycled glass pavers, crushed rock, wood chips, nutshells, and tumbled recycled glass to help minimize runoff and flooding. Impermeable (non-porous) surfaces such as concrete patios and paths do not allow rainwater to naturally percolate into the soil.
- Think about using salvaged materials for patios and walkways.
- In order for walkways and patios to last, ensure the structure beneath them is prepared correctly, such as with crushed rock.
- Use a professional installer for some materials, such as pervious pavers.
- Avoid increased energy and installation costs related to outdoor lighting by using solar-powered landscape lights. These lights use photovoltaic panels to store energy from the daytime for use after dark.
Decks
- Decks tend to require a lot of work and maintenance. Consider a more durable patio of recycled masonry or broken concrete or pavers, especially if you’re building close to the ground.
- If you decide to have a deck, select natural or recycled-content materials, such as recycled plastic lumber, composite lumber or FSC-certified lumber.
- Stay away from pressure-treated or chromate copper arsenate (CCA-treated) wood which contains chromium, copper and arsenic. EPA has restricted CCA wood for use only by certified pesticide applicators and is not to be used in most residential settings, including decks and playsets.
- Good alternatives for deck joists and beams are structural recycled plastic and copper azole-treated (CA-B) lumber. According to the EPA the least toxic alternative available is lumber treated with borate preservatives.
Landscape
Designing your landscape to match its conditions, such as climate, shade and moisture levels will save you money and time, and will look natural and beautiful. Design your landscape so it requires minimal water and maintenance:
- Select native plant species. They are adapted to this area, many are drought-tolerant, and most do not need additional fertilizer.
- Certify your backyard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation. Create a backyard habitat that will attract beautiful songbirds, butterflies, frogs, and other interesting wildlife for viewing from your very own window.
- Install water-wise or drought-resistant plants.
- Use pest- and disease-resistant plant varieties.
- Put the right plant in the right place (e.g. installing shade plants in the shade, not the sun)
- Use mulch to protect plants and conserve water.
- Minimize the amount of lawn in your yard
Irrigation systems
- Automatic sprinkler systems waste about 30 percent of the water they deliver. It is possible to design a landscape that minimizes the need for regular supplemental watering once the landscape is established.
- Soaker hoses and drip irrigation are good alternatives to permanent in-ground irrigation systems. Soaker hoses are made from recycled plastic and are inexpensive. Drip irrigation systems apply water directly to the soil through tiny emitters so they allow for more precise watering to match the needs of specific plant types.
- If you choose to install a permanent in-ground irrigation system, look for piping made from polyethylene, as opposed to PVC.
- Plumb to use the non-toilet wastewater or graywater from your home for irrigation. Permits are required for graywater use for irrigation in Seattle and King County. The permits require submittal of a plumbing/irrigation system design with the application. The only approved system to date is the Brac Greywater Recycling System. Contact Mark Fallgatter with Public Health of Seattle-King County at 206-205-3994 or your local health department for more information.
Rainwater harvest
You can minimize potable water use by storing roof rainwater for later use in the yard. Whichever system(s) you choose, you will be helping to reuse water that would normally go to waste in a storm drain.
- Water can be stored in rain barrels, cisterns or rain gardens.
- Rain barrels are popular, but their small size is not the most efficient system in the Puget Sound area because weeks without rain in July through September mean your rain barrel doesn’t refill. Some jurisdictions offer rainwater barrels at a reduced rate or they can be purchased at a home improvement store.
- Cisterns are large tanks that can store hundreds to thousands of gallons of water, enough to significantly reduce or eliminate the need to use municipal water for landscape purposes.
- You can also put roof water directly to use in your yard with a rain garden. Rain gardens feature plants that thrive in wet conditions coupled with soils that allow safe ground percolations. Rain gardens must be carefully designed and located to avoid flooding.
Additional resources
Decks
- Durable Plastic Design
A local company that offers Orcaboard™ lumber for decks, deck boxes, and more, all made from recycled plastic milk containers
Landscape and gardening
Rainwater harvest
Other related Links
Note: links to external sites include educational resources and businesses that are partners of existing or former King County Solid Waste Division environmental programs. If your business offers environmentally friendly home remodeling products or services, and you would like to be listed as a resource in the Eco-Cool Remodel Tool, please contact the EcoConsumer program online.
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