Landscape sustainability: Environmental, human, and financial factors

Abstract

When determining whether landscaping is sustainable, we should consider environmental, financial, and human factors. Environmental factors include the capacity of the landscape to placed, the environmental effects of the cultural techniques and products used to install and maintain the landscape, and the ability of that landscape to endure without environmentally damaging inputs. Financial factors include the cost of the landscape compared to the economic return in terms of increased property values, the ability to attack and hold industry in the neighborhood, and user fees paid by people attracted to an area by the landscaping. Human factors include the effects on the landscape on mood, employee retention, and health and activity of the individuals who interact with the environment. The ideal landscape would, be sustainable in all three of these areas, meaning there is more benefit than cost environmentally, financially, and humanly.