Land and Ecosystems

Reducing conventional lawn space to incorporate native and other Edmonton-hardy plants has many benefits:

• Natural yards slow the runoff of rainfall and snowmelt, absorbing it into the ground rather than overwhelming our stormwater system.
• Selecting plants adapted to the conditions your yard provides will reduce additional watering needs.
• Using native plants, appropriately, removes the need for fertilizer and pesticide use, as they are adapted to local environmental conditions and are more resistant to pests than many other garden plants.
• Natural yards also provide food and shelter for wildlife, including birds, bees and butterflies!

Learn more about how to create a beautiful, well-landscaped natural yard using the Natural Private Property Guidelines.

• Eco-landscaping reduces lawn-clipping waste, reduces fertilizer and chemical needs, conserves water and saves money through reduced energy and yard maintenance costs. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.
• If you're about to re-landscape, consider eco-landscaping. 

• Use pesticides responsibly, or eliminate their use entirely.
• Herbicides, insecticides and fungicides may help in the short term, but using alternative methods is a better choice for a long term, healthy environment.
• The City of Edmonton follows an Integrated Pest Management Policy which considers alternatives to pesticides.

• Learn about the many programs you can participate in which allow citizens to plant vegetables, flowers, trees and shrubs on public property.
• Edmontonians take pride in their city. Why not help make it an even more beautiful place to live? Join Partners in Parks and participate in gardening a part of our city's public spaces.
• Learn more about Edmonton’s approach to naturalization, that provides environmental, ecological, economic and social benefits to the city and citizens.

• You can help Edmonton reach its annual target for the Root for Trees initiative—to plant an additional 45,000 trees.
• Edmonton is changing to combat global climate change. Volunteer to plant trees for the next generation.