Native Plant Landscaping/Planning Design
This is an essay about native plant landscape planning and design. Indeed, this is really a book topic that is summarized into a blog post. Though the post may be expanded upon at some point, these are the key steps I experienced in revamping a landscape into a native plant landscape in Loudoun County.
Step One: Soil. I felt my highest priority was and is to repair the soil. This project began a little less than one year ago when I revitalized my composting program after relocating to Loudoun County. Composting is the bedrock of an organic garden. While I have composted for years, which of course reduces household waste and allows for great soil-building, it was urgent when I occupied my current space: the soil was compacted and lacking in nutrients-it was in desperate need of a layer of organic compost. Some thoughts on compost here; bottom line: just start composting your organic food scraps. Now. You can compost most plant-based food byproducts, non-edible plants, leaves, and a lot of paper products. You can start a pile of stuff and let nature take its course, or you can house your compost in a receptacle. Compost is about balance: it is a blend of organic materials except (!) for oxygen. Air is the only element compost cannot absorb enough.
Step Two Invasive Plant Identification and Extraction. Next, I identified and extracted any invasive plant species on my property. What is invasive? Consult your state directory, for Loudoun County and Virginia the reference source is the Virginia DCR. Using that guide and images from popular search engines, I identified the invasive species and removed them promptly. In my case, I removed 15 "burning bush" plants (Euonymus alatus) and a number of spirea (green spiraea japonica). Why are invasive plants so 'reprehensible'? They disturb the habitat around you as it was meant to function over thousands, perhaps millions of years. Wildlife will likely spread the invasive species into surrounding areas and the invasive species will combat the benefits of native plants. Invasive species alter the habitat around you and should be extracted.
Step Three: Intentions. Discuss with your significant other what you want to do with your space...do you want to cater to pollinators? Build an edible landscape? Shoot for appearances first? Emplace a large patio/outdoor kitchen? Outdoor living has a lot of possibilities that can cater to your taste. These overall goals shape what plants you choose. We went the route of helping pollinators, as I was trying to build the green infrastructure of my property and even before I started planting vegetables, I knew I wanted to attract bees/bumblebees, butterflies, wasps, and moths to my property. These are the main reference docs I consulted:
Index of Northern Virginia Native Plants
Virginia Native Plants to Attract Butterflies
Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide (Holm, Heather, 2017, Pollination Press)
Edible Landscaping (Creasy, Rosalind, 2010, Sierra Club Books)
Step Four: Planning. This step is the process of matching the plants from your goals in step three with your space: what is aesthetically pleasing, what will feed pollinators through as many months as possible, what will grow what and where in the years to come, i.e. what will the landscape look like as the plants grow...I decided to replace most of my first wave of plants in the fall. This is mostly due to the erratic weather in the spring and the (I suppose) preference for trees and shrubs to develop their root structures over the autumn and winter.
For the most part, you should plan to emplace plants in groups of three-four. Space accordingly to the width and height of mature plants, but for the most part you can prevent islands and have visually pleasing landscapes by planting native varieties in a "canopy fashion". In the name of disclosure, here is a plan that I emplaced for my first wave of landscaping on my property, which has attracted a good amount of wildlife species in a short amount of time.
Step Five: Execute. Given native/edible plants, top soil, organic compost, and organic mulch (likely/hopefully leaf mulch), launch your project. It might be a great idea to dig most of the holes yourself, this allows you to build synergy with your trees and plants. You may also need some help...I suggest you hire a small crew that will allow you to manage the project in detail and ensure it remains organic and within the intentions/goals you have set from the get-go.
You may need to dig out some compacted soil and replace with better-quality top soil. A critical component will be the compost you have been brewing for six-nine months...add one inch to your top soil, avoid herbicides and pesticides and let nature take its course. Good luck!
Step One: Soil. I felt my highest priority was and is to repair the soil. This project began a little less than one year ago when I revitalized my composting program after relocating to Loudoun County. Composting is the bedrock of an organic garden. While I have composted for years, which of course reduces household waste and allows for great soil-building, it was urgent when I occupied my current space: the soil was compacted and lacking in nutrients-it was in desperate need of a layer of organic compost. Some thoughts on compost here; bottom line: just start composting your organic food scraps. Now. You can compost most plant-based food byproducts, non-edible plants, leaves, and a lot of paper products. You can start a pile of stuff and let nature take its course, or you can house your compost in a receptacle. Compost is about balance: it is a blend of organic materials except (!) for oxygen. Air is the only element compost cannot absorb enough.
Step Two Invasive Plant Identification and Extraction. Next, I identified and extracted any invasive plant species on my property. What is invasive? Consult your state directory, for Loudoun County and Virginia the reference source is the Virginia DCR. Using that guide and images from popular search engines, I identified the invasive species and removed them promptly. In my case, I removed 15 "burning bush" plants (Euonymus alatus) and a number of spirea (green spiraea japonica). Why are invasive plants so 'reprehensible'? They disturb the habitat around you as it was meant to function over thousands, perhaps millions of years. Wildlife will likely spread the invasive species into surrounding areas and the invasive species will combat the benefits of native plants. Invasive species alter the habitat around you and should be extracted.
Step Three: Intentions. Discuss with your significant other what you want to do with your space...do you want to cater to pollinators? Build an edible landscape? Shoot for appearances first? Emplace a large patio/outdoor kitchen? Outdoor living has a lot of possibilities that can cater to your taste. These overall goals shape what plants you choose. We went the route of helping pollinators, as I was trying to build the green infrastructure of my property and even before I started planting vegetables, I knew I wanted to attract bees/bumblebees, butterflies, wasps, and moths to my property. These are the main reference docs I consulted:
Index of Northern Virginia Native Plants
Virginia Native Plants to Attract Butterflies
Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide (Holm, Heather, 2017, Pollination Press)
Edible Landscaping (Creasy, Rosalind, 2010, Sierra Club Books)
Step Four: Planning. This step is the process of matching the plants from your goals in step three with your space: what is aesthetically pleasing, what will feed pollinators through as many months as possible, what will grow what and where in the years to come, i.e. what will the landscape look like as the plants grow...I decided to replace most of my first wave of plants in the fall. This is mostly due to the erratic weather in the spring and the (I suppose) preference for trees and shrubs to develop their root structures over the autumn and winter.
For the most part, you should plan to emplace plants in groups of three-four. Space accordingly to the width and height of mature plants, but for the most part you can prevent islands and have visually pleasing landscapes by planting native varieties in a "canopy fashion". In the name of disclosure, here is a plan that I emplaced for my first wave of landscaping on my property, which has attracted a good amount of wildlife species in a short amount of time.
Step Five: Execute. Given native/edible plants, top soil, organic compost, and organic mulch (likely/hopefully leaf mulch), launch your project. It might be a great idea to dig most of the holes yourself, this allows you to build synergy with your trees and plants. You may also need some help...I suggest you hire a small crew that will allow you to manage the project in detail and ensure it remains organic and within the intentions/goals you have set from the get-go.
You may need to dig out some compacted soil and replace with better-quality top soil. A critical component will be the compost you have been brewing for six-nine months...add one inch to your top soil, avoid herbicides and pesticides and let nature take its course. Good luck!
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