April 10th

By Mutt Mulligan

5 ways living landscapes protect property

TurfMutt has talked a lot about how your living landscape – your grass, trees, plants and flowering shrubs – benefits your family and the environment. But did you know your family yard can also protect your property from natural disaster and crime?

• Fire: Living grass is the best natural fire break. Healthy turfgrass can be a significant deterrent to wildfires and can help protect property. In fact, at the Getty Center in LA, fire protection for the world-class art starts with landscaping that creates a moat-like barrier around the building.
• Wind: Trees or shrubs planted in strategic places can reduce wind speed and protect your home from high winds. At the same time, these living landscapes also lower electric bills by insulating your home in the winter and shading it in the summer.
• Flooding: A well-landscaped yard will capture and absorb rainwater, helping prevent moisture from getting to your home where it can damage the foundation and flood lower levels.
• Crime: Landscaping in vacant lots has been shown to reduce overall crime by more than 13%, drop gun violence by 30%, reduce burglary by 22% and decrease nuisance reports by 30%.
• Property Values: Last but not least, living landscapes help protect your property value. A beautiful landscape improves curb appeal and can increase home values by as much as 17%!

To learn more about the benefits of your living landscapes and how to be backyard ready this spring, go to SaveLivingLandscapes.com.