What is a potential environmental impact of landscaping practices?

Soil erosion is a significant environmental impact of landscaping practices. When vegetation is removed or modified, the soil can become vulnerable to erosion from wind and water. Plants play a crucial role in stabilizing soil through their root systems, which bind the soil and reduce the risk of it being washed or blown away. Landscaping that disturbs natural vegetation without implementing proper erosion control techniques can lead to loss of topsoil, sedimentation in waterways, and degradation of the land’s fertility. This not only affects the immediate site but can also have downstream impacts, contributing to water quality issues in local rivers and lakes as sediment and associated pollutants enter these bodies of water. By recognizing soil erosion as an environmental impact, landscape architects can design more sustainable landscapes that minimize these risks through careful planning and implementation of erosion control measures.