Gardens by Design
Cultivating a Sense of Place
GARDENS
RIPARIAN PLANTINGS
Riparian plantings are strips of trees, shrubs and grasses planted next to creeks, streams, rivers and lakes. Planting with natives affects waterside habitat in many positive ways.
Native plants stabilize banks, and check both sediment infiltration and fertilizer leach into vulnerable waterways. They slow soil loss via erosion and flood. They help filter nutrients. They provide habitat and food for native pollinators, birds, and fish, and shade for waterways.
They add beauty and native character to your landscape.
WOODLAND GARDENS
There are many beautiful and resilient plants from the woodland understory of eastern North America that can enliven a shady landscape on your property and change your perception about gardening in the shade. Smaller trees and shrubs, like dogwoods, redbuds, serviceberry, witch hazel and winterberry thrive in filtered light. A wide variety of perennials spreads across the woodland floor and blooms throughout the growing season.
Shady landscapes are easy to care for since they require minimal weeding and watering. They are special places; shady on hot summer days, softly lit at sunrise and sunset.
NATIVE PLANT MEADOWS
Sunny meadows, of any size, are attractive and environmentally beneficial plantings.
Native plants force out non-natives and invasive weeds and replace them with a plant-driven habitat for pollinators and birds. They protect soil health above and below ground. Native grasses develop strong root systems and capture carbon from the air. Underground, their root systems provide biomass. Above ground, natives such as purple clover and bee balm spread into dominant ground covers.
Their natural beauty lasts four seasons.
Aside from a vigorous cutback in late winter, they need virtually no maintenance or water once established. And because they don’t need constant maintenance, they eliminate the noise and pollution of gas-powered equipment.
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