Sustainable Landscape Design Tips and Tricks
Published on December 08, 2023
The Sustainable Landscape Design workshop series dropped the last of its leaves in early November. The series was propagated by the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) and the Los Alamos Extension Master Gardeners.
Transitioning your landscape into meeting your needs while accommodating the resources and support from our local environment isn’t easy for everyone. This workshop series was designed to present a basic overview of information around six key steps in getting your outdoor space where you want it, whether you do it yourself or hire a professional.
Seven sessions, each about an hour long, covered everything from sustainable landscaping basics to design considerations and plant selection through to seasonal maintenance. All sessions have been recorded and can be viewed online at www.ladpu.com/sustainable-landscaping.
The Cooperative Extension Service conducted a post-workshop survey to see how well the series was received and determine what programming would be beneficial in the future.
- 82 people attended at least one session, either in-person or over Zoom.
- 94% of surveyed respondents took the class to get ideas for improving their yards.
- 39% wanted to build confidence in their ability to improve their outdoor spaces.
- 83% were satisfied with the content of the series.
- 59% are somewhat likely to view the recorded material some time in the future.
- 81% felt more knowledgeable after the series.
Participants requested future, expanded programming on plant selection (especially in changing growing zones), hands-on irrigation, pruning, and container or raised-bed gardening.
As we bed down for winter, now is the perfect time to plan for a robust spring. Both library branches have dozens of books to grow your ideas and research. The Master Gardeners and the Cooperative Extension Service are always available for any – and all – of your landscaping questions. They can be reached by calling 505-662-2656 or emailing losalamos@nmsu.edu.