Whether required by governmental agencies or desired by homeowners to attract wildlife, environmental landscapes can be beneficial and beautiful.
Property owners developing land on the Eastern shore are often working in the Chesapeake Bay 100-foot and 1,000-foot critical area buffers.
State and county laws require that construction be mitigated by installing native plants in these buffer areas.
Many people don’t realize that numerous native trees, shrubs and grasses are commonly sold in the landscape trade because, not only are they tolerant of the natural environment (extreme heat, drought, clay soils and salt spray) they are also very attractive.
Mitigation plantings don’t have to be soldier rows of trees that screen views and vistas, they can be layered plantings that frame views and enhance the landscape.
When designing an environmental landscape, it is important to identify the goal of the planting area.
Is it a required mitigation area, will it be a wildlife ecosystem or a butterfly garden?
Understanding the site conditions is a key factor to the survival of the plants.
Is the site located in the upland, in a wetland or floodplain, along a non-tidal stream or tidal tributary?
Having the soil tested to identify deficiencies and get recommendations on improving the soil is highly recommended.
Once the goals and existing conditions are established, plants can be selected that meet the criteria.
Let’s say you have a sunny, waterfront buffer planting that is a mitigation requirement and you want it to look like landscaping.
You will need to follow the established tree, shrub and herbaceous plant ratios set forth by the governing agency, but you can do this like you would landscaping, with an overstory canopy, a shrub layer and a ground cover layer.
The plants chosen must be native and indigenous (original) to the area, and in this case they must be tolerant of salt spray, tidal flooding, full sun and wind.
The best way to choose your plants is to: 1) Observe what is naturally growing in the area that you like, and 2) Double-check that the plants are on the approved list.
Many of these plants are available in the nursery trade, and there are often cultivars or varieties of these plants that have improved characteristics such as: more profuse flowers, denser foliage, etc.
Examples of plants available in a nursery that can work in a shoreline landscape planted above high tide are: 1) Overstory trees (such as Willow Oak, Red Maple and Loblolly Pine), 2) Shrubs (such as Bayberry), 3) Grass (such as Salt Meadow Hay) and 4) Perennials (such as Hibiscus).
Once you have planted your environment landscape, don’t just walk away.
Tend to it as you would any garden, keep it free of invasive weeds, cut back grasses and perennials in March and trim trees and shrubs for a healthy growth habit.
These simple maintenance techniques will keep your plants healthy and attractive.
(Editor’s Note: Jennifer Connoley is the owner-operator of Jennifer Connoley Landscape Design in Easton, Md.)
