What Is Permaculture and How Does It Work in Landscaping?
Permaculture is more than just a gardening method, it’s a holistic design system rooted in nature. The practice of permaculture dates back to the 1970s when Bill Mollison and David Holmgren combined the words “permanent” and “agriculture” to reflect their goal of creating sustainable, self-sufficient environments. When it comes to landscaping, though, permaculture gives you a sustainable way to grow food, support wildlife, conserve our resources, and nurture healthy soil – all in your own backyard. Today, we’re exploring exactly what permaculture is and how it works in landscaping.
What is permaculture in landscape design?
Permaculture in landscape design means planning and keeping your yard or garden in balance with the natural environment. It includes the thoughtful placement of plants, recycling nutrients through composting, using rainwater, and supporting a diverse ecosystem. The goal of permaculture in landscape design is to create a garden that’s similar to the natural processes of a healthy ecosystem, where every part supports the others. Instead of short-term fixes or high-maintenance features, permaculture in landscaping focuses on long-term resilience, low to no waste, and higher yields with less effort and energy.
What are the 12 principles of permaculture?
There are 12 guiding principles of permaculture that can help you plan a sustainable and low-maintenance landscape design:
Observe and interact: Study your yard before making any changes such as adding new plants or features.
Catch and store energy: If you can, opt for clean energy for your garden care, such as solar-powered features or tools, sustainable irrigation, and organic nutrients.
Focus on food: Plant your permaculture garden so it provides food or other holistic benefits.
Monitor and adjust your design: Make adjustments based on the outcomes you get, like rearranging companion plants or amending soil with more nutrients.
Use and value renewable resources and services: Prioritize what's naturally replenished.
Avoid waste: Repurpose everything you can and create as little waste as possible.
Design from patterns to details: Think about the overall goal of your landscape first, then start focusing on the details of how to get there.
Integrate rather than separate: Use approaches that work well together, like companion and native plants or rain-driven irrigation systems for greater self-sufficiency.
Use small and slow solutions: Don’t rush your permaculture garden. Integrate only what you need over time.
Encourage biodiversity: Consider using a variety of species to create a healthier environment. This helps encourage better nutrient intake, more efficient water usage, and a natural way to combat pests and disease.
Use landscaping space to the fullest: That back patch in the corner of your yard no one goes? Make use of it — overlooked spaces are the perfect spots to get started with permaculture.
Change with the seasons: Wherever you are, your permaculture landscape will see changes over time. Stay aware of these changes, no matter how small, and adapt your garden as it grows.
What are some examples of permaculture gardening?
Permaculture in landscaping doesn’t mean you need acres and acres of land or a full-scale homestead. Even if you have a small backyard, you can still incorporate some of the essential practices like:
Installing raised garden beds for planting companion crops
Making herb spirals to maximize your space vertically and create microclimates
Using rain barrels to collect and redirect water
Selecting native plants that support pollinators and local species
Mulching to limit water evaporation and help replenish nutrients in the soil
Composting kitchen scraps like vegetable skins and coffee grounds
Can you practice permaculture in a Florida garden?
Absolutely! Florida’s warm climate and seasonal rain mean a longer growing season, so it’s an ideal zone for permaculture. When approaching permaculture in your Florida garden, consider using native and subtropical species, drought-tolerant plants, and natural pest deterrents. With the right planning, you can integrate permaculture in your Florida garden to help mitigate the impacts of heavy rain, salty sea air, and nutrient-poor sandy soils that a lot of coastal areas often have.
Related: When To Plant Spring Flowers by FL Zone
What are permaculture practices?
Permaculture is a flexible way to grow a garden and encompasses many practices within the 12 main principles that you can adapt to your own space. Here are a few ways to incorporate permaculture in your landscape design:
Food forests
Food forests mimic the layered structure of a natural forest with edible plants at every level: the canopy, understory, shrub, herb, and ground cover. Plants in a food forest can include fruit trees, berry bushes, medicinal and cooking herbs, and nitrogen-fixing cover crops like legumes, clover, or peas, all working together in harmony.
Composting
Composting is another key practice of permaculture in landscaping design. Instead of sending food scraps and yard waste to the landfill, composting puts organic matter back into the soil. This improves soil fertility, encourages the growth of beneficial microbes, and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers for a natural way of sustaining healthy growth.
And in Florida, we love when we can create landscape designs with sustainability in mind. By using natural practices to promote organic microflora, we can avoid harsh fertilizers that could potentially end up in the delicate ecosystems.
Sustainable water management
Another important practice is sustainable irrigation and water management. With a permaculture landscape, you make the most of every drop. Rain gardens, swales, mulch, and drip irrigation systems are a few methods we use to help conserve water and prevent unnecessary runoff. In Florida, this is especially vital during both dry spells (hello hot summers!) and the rainy season to avoid water waste.
Natural pest control
Instead of relying on chemicals, permaculture encourages natural pest control by attracting beneficial insects, planting pest-repelling herbs (like basil and marigold), and supporting a balanced ecosystem where pests are kept in check by their natural predators. In a state where the climate attracts all sorts of critters, natural pest management is key to keeping the harmful bugs out and the beneficial ones in — without the risk of harmful pesticide runoff.
What are the benefits of a permaculture landscape design?
Permaculture landscaping isn’t just eco-friendly. It’s practical, rewarding, and often more cost-effective in the long run. Here are several more benefits of permaculture in your landscape design:
Sustainability in the garden
Permaculture minimizes waste, pollution, and the use of resources by working with the natural cycles and systems in your yard. With fewer maintenance needs, you can make your garden truly green because your plants will have everything they need to thrive naturally and organically the way they’re meant to.
Plant and crop resilience
Diverse systems are more resistant to pests, diseases, and climate stress. Permaculture helps your garden become healthier and more productive over time because of the focus on native, naturalized, and heirloom plant varieties.
Less need for pesticides and herbicides
Weeds and pests are less of a problem because permaculture relies on compost-rich soil and sustainable planting. Native and naturalized plant varieties can attract beneficial insects that prey on pest species, eliminating the need for harsh pesticides. And with nutrient dense soil and practices like companion planting, pesky weeds get choked out, so there's no need for harmful herbicides, either.
Promotes self-sufficiency
Permaculture landscaping also promotes self-sufficiency and less dependence on what’s being carried in your local grocery store. With a permaculture landscape, you can grow your own fruits, vegetables, herbs, and even medicine, and save on the costs of these items. You're also producing your own resources to care for your garden, further reducing dependency on mass-produced products in big-box stores.
Supports ecological balance
Permaculture gardens also support a balanced ecosystem. What you put into your garden will attract more pollinators, support soil health, and provide shelter for birds and beneficial insects. All of these processes are essential to grow a balanced and thriving ecosystem in your yard.
Read more: Plants That Attract Butterflies to Your Florida Garden
Transform your yard into an eco-friendly oasis with the pros at Soil & Bloom!
Ready to turn your yard into a lush, sustainable paradise? Whether you want to start small with composting or go all-in with a full food forest, Soil & Bloom is here to help you design and implement a permaculture landscape that suits your space and goals. Contact us today or request a free estimate and begin the journey toward a more self-sufficient, earth-friendly garden!
