Naturalizing Your Landscaping

With Meadows and Rain Gardens

Native Plants

1. What is “native” ? Indigenous to the area

2. What are the benefits of native plants?

Grows well in the climate and soils

Needs less maintenance

Beneficial to wildlife in area

Many plants native to the northeast can provide nest sites and food.

Red Twig Dogwood- Left

Henry Garnet Sweetspire- Below

Inberry Holly Frasier Fir

Meadows vs Turfgrass Lawns

Verbena with Hummingbird Moth

Beauty and Interest

Creating a Meadow

Benefits of having a Meadow

Butterfly larvae need food too!

Asclepias IncarnataIt’s for the monarchs

Caterpillars can be pretty.

Killdeer nesting at Wegmans

Maintenance Costs

Turfgrass Lawn Meadow

• $80/acre for mowing at an average of 26 times annually=$2080

• Fertilizer, weed and insect control is $900/year

• Total per year =$2980

• Possible re-seeding thin areas from drought or plow damage

• Weed whip to cut down tall weeds in mid-summer and mow 1/3 acre on a 3 year cycle each spring

• Total of $750

• Add some annuals to fill every 4th year

Green Roofs

Rain Gardening

What is it?

Technical terms: Where water collects in the landscape.

My terms: Slow draining areas, low spots on property etc. Usually avoided spaces to plant because “It’s too wet. Nothing grows well there”.

History

Bogs, Marshes, Natural Wetlands

First conceived in 1990 in Prince George’s County, Maryland as a way to improve water quality.

Currently one of the fastest growing areas of interest in landscape design.

Important Information

• Acts as a natural filtration system for water runoff

• Promotes plant and wildlife biodiversity

• Adds beauty and value to property

• Easy to Maintain!!!

Examples

How To Design

Any low spot works.

Don’t have one?

Create one!

1. Dig shallow area in yard

2. Add plants

3. Allow gutters to drain to area

4. Enjoy!

Rain Garden Examples

Functioning dry river bed

RIT Ecoswale

RIT continued