Natural landscaping
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Natural landscaping is the use of native flora -- trees, shrubs, groundcover, grasses and wildflowers as well as rocks and boulders in place of groomed lawns and planned planting beds to blend residential or commercial property into the natural surroundings of the particular area.
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[edit] Application
Natural landscaping is adapted to the climate, geography and hydrology and requires no pesticides, fertilizers and watering to maintain though these applications may be necessary for some preventative care of trees and other vegetation. Many municipalities have quickly recognized the benefits of natural landscaping due to municipal budget constraints and reductions and the general public is now benefiting from the implementation of natural landscaping techniques to save water and create more personal time.
Over thousands of years, native plants have adapted and evolved to local conditions. Native plants are vigorous and hardy and can survive winter cold and summer heat. Once natives are established, they require no irrigation or fertilization. They are resistant to most pests and diseases. Thus, native plants suit today's interest in "low-maintenance" gardening and landscaping.
[edit] Types
- fully forested with leaf debris forest floor
- desert with arid loving plants and succulents
- grassy meadow with a variety of wildflowers and water features
- lowlands savannah with grasses and native trees
- ocean dunescape with tall, salt tolerant grasses
[edit] Advantages
- no fertilization required
- no additional water
- more water available for other uses and other people
- zero to near zero work needed for maintenance
- no lawn mowing
- erosion reduced to a minimum
- natural landscaped plants take full advantage of rainfall
- when water restrictions are implemented, natural landscaped plants will survive, while more traditional plants may not
- increased habitat for native flora and fauna
- where heavily forested, provides shade on homes and businesses saving energy
- native plants rarely become invasive
[edit] Disadvantages
- not good for people and outdoor games that require a manacured turf
- poisonous plants such as poison ivy and/or poison oak may make the habitat home
- increased wild animal intrusion
- in certain areas, wild fires may be of great concern
[edit] New construction
In new construction, builders can either avoid clear cutting or clearing an entire property and disturbing other large flora or builders can completely clear an area of all flora to save construction time and replace the clearing with juvenile specimens once the job is complete. The downside to this is additional costs involved with purchasing replacements. The builder may also choose to plant additional native trees and other flora after construction to help the property blend with natural surroundings.
In some planned developments, natural landscaping is the requirement. Builders may not remove trees larger than a specific diameter and owners may not arbitrarily cut trees without a permit.
[edit] Reclaiming land
Throughout the world, forested areas were turned into cattle grazing or farmland. Often this land is then turned into residential or commercial use property. By returning the land back to its original state prior to human disturbance, vast amounts of energy usage and increasing pollution can be reduced. Natural landscaping costs less to install than traditional landscaping and, after the initial few years, reduces maintenance costs, combats erosion, and accommodates storm and flood waters better.
[edit] Additional sources
- Wildflowers and Weeds, by Booth Courtenay and James Zimmerman. paperback
- Plants of the Chicago Region, by Floyd Swink and Gerould Wilhelm.
- Field Guide to Wildflowers of Northeastern and North-central North America, by Roger Peterson.
- Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers; Eastern Region, by William A. Niering. Alfred A. Knopf. Soft Cover.
- Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, by Lawrence Newcomb. Little. Paperback.
- Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs, by George A. Petrides. Houghton., paperback.
- Field Guide to the Ferns, by Roger Tory Peterson. Paperback.
- Kane County: Wild Plants and Natural Areas, by Dick Young. 2nd ed. Kane County Forest Preserve District, 1994
- Peterson First Guides: Caterpillars. Trees. Shrubs.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The Environmental Protection Agency's fact sheets on landscaping with native plants and background articles on native plants
- National Wildlife Federation: Gardening
- The Academy of Natural Sciences: "How Urban Sprawl Affects the Landscape"
- Association of State Foresters: Biodiversity
- California Native Plant Society: "Native Plants?"
- Australian Plants Society: New South Wales
