Bay-Friendly Landscaping provides the professional landscaping industry with an integrated approach to environmentally-friendly landscaping. It is organized around seven principles
for protecting the environment, listed below.
By viewing the landscape through the lens of these seven principles, we can see it in a different light, such as how plant selection can create or decrease waste or how soil preparation can prevent or increase runoff. There are fifty-five practices under these seven principles. The practices themselves each include many examples of applications. The applications are meant to be a starting point but are not meant to be comprehensive. It is likely there are many additional applications for each.
In addition, there is some intentional repetition because one practice can be integral to more than one principle. In other words, there are a number of critical practices that can protect the environment in more than one way. Using mulch for example, reduces waste, nurtures the soil, conserves water and creates wildlife habitat.
The Bay-Friendly principles and practices were selected with guidance from public and private landscape architects and contractors, representatives from other Alameda County public agencies and the staff of StopWaste.Org.
The following 7 principles incorporate practices intended to help you design, create and maintain Bay-Friendly landscapes:
The landscape below illustrates many of the Bay-Friendly landscaping practices.
