Sustainable Landscaping/Outdoors

Get out and Enjoy it!

Suburban yards are not only places of respite and relaxation — they can also make a contribution to biodiversity and wildlife protection. This section of Living Green discusses how to have an attractive garden that is beautiful in the most profound sense — a natural space that is safe and healthy for people and  for wildlife — a place where pollinators are protected, resources are conserved, and carbon emissions are lowered.  A sustainable yard works in harmony with nature and is free of pesticides.

Another way to make your yard more sustainable is to use electric or battery operated lawn mowers and leaf blowers instead of gas powered. Read more about what Green Needham’s Landscaping Team is doing to promote sustainable landscaping equipment in Needham.

And check out our list of places in and near Needham to get out and enjoy nature!

Explore Living Green in Needham for answers to these questions and more!

Local Sustainable Landscapers

Find a landscaper that offer organic gardening and electric-powered land care options on our list of sustainable landscapers. We want to grow this list! If you know of others, please reach out to us...

Flowering Plants, Trees, Shrubs, and Vines

Learn how your garden and yard can help the planet. Choose native plants and shrubs that better support the insects and soil of Needham...

Protecting Pollinators with a Non-Toxic Yard

They are perhaps Earth’s most unsung heroes: the bees, butterflies, wasps, flies, and other organisms that maintain balanced ecosystems and thus the health of our food supply through pollination...

Lawns and Groundcovers

The possibilities are endless once you stop thinking of lawns as a necessity. You can turn large areas of lawn that are unused for recreation into wonderful garden beds filled with trees, shrubs...

Saving Water and Improving Soil

Read Joanne Neale's "Lazy Gardener's Method For Making a New Garden Bed" and learn how you can easily improve the soil and water in your garden...

Enjoying the Great Outdoors

There are many beautiful trails to explore in Needham and the surrounding towns. Get out and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, walk the dog, or do some bird watching ...

Resources

Documents

• Bay Colony Rail Trail map
• Bay Colony Rail Trail Rules and Guidelines
• Greendale Ave Trail Map & Guide
• Healthy Lawns and Landscapes
• Keep Needham Green with trees Sept. 2018
• Landscaping for Pollinators
• Mitchell School Trail Map & Guide
• Rosemary Lake Trail Map & Guide
• Town Forest Trail Map & Guide

Resources on the Web

	Healthy Lawns & Landscapes Town of Needham's "Healthy Lawns & Landscapes" brochure
	Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet Learn about the dangers of plastic flower pots and sustainable alternatives