Low Maintenance Landscaping and Erosion Prevention Beth Berlin Robin Trott University of Minnesota Extension 1
The old way of doing things 2
Rip-Rap Limitations Poor habitat Poor filtration of pollutants Poor water infiltration 3
The better options 4
BETTER OPTIONS Photo Credit: Mary Wilson, MSU Extension 5
HARDSCAPING Permeable Pavers Reduces runoff and direct pollutants Increase recharge through direct infiltration Photo Credit: Borgert 6
Lawns Cons of lawn to lakeshore Shallow root systems High inputs: fertilizers water Herbicides Attractive space to waterfowl Loss of shoreline Clemson Coop Extension 7
ALTERNATIVES TO LAWNS Options Native plantings/meadow plantings/wildflowers Take portion out of lawn and create ornamental garden Benefits Reduce mowing & safety Reduce inputs Deep roots Erosion prevention Pollinator/wildlife habitat 8
Slope Existing Expectations CHALLENGES Photo Credits: MN DNR 9
Better options 10
PLANT NATIVES 11
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HILLSIDES 13
GETTING STARTED Many resources via Extension, MN DNR, and others online Products available for shoreline stabilization Funds?? Photo Credit: MN PCA 14
BIO-LOGS Photo Credit: Melanie Foose l MSU Extension 15
Photo Credit: Prairie Restoration, Inc. 16
BIO-LOGS Photo Credit: Sauk River Watershed District 17
Photo Credit: Sauk River Watershed District 18
BENEFITS GO BEYOND Lakescaping - extending both lakeward and landward 19
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USING NATIVES Native landscaping provides an attractive, environmentally friendly landscape while reducing water and maintenance requirements. 21
WHAT IS LOW WATER USE LANDSCAPING? 22
WHAT IS LOW WATER USE LANDSCAPING? 23
STEPS TO SUCCESS 1. Develop a plan and landscape design 2. Soil analysis 3. Select appropriate plants 4. Manageable lawn size 5. Efficient irrigation 6. Mulch plants and seedlings 7. Practice regular maintenance 24
PLANNING 1. Consider site usage 2. Understand site resources 3. Develop and evaluate alternatives 4. Establish a budget 5. Save or remove existing landscaping 6. Solve problems identified in the site analysis 7. Implement plan 8. Monitor and maintain landscape 25
SOILS Soil is the most important component of landscaping. Many well designed landscapes have failed because of inadequate soil preparation before planting. 26
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SELECT APPROPRIATE PLANTS Perennial : lives three or more years Biennial: requires two growing seasons to complete their life cycles Annual: completes its life cycle within one growing season and must reproduce from seed every year. 28
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GRASSES Sporobolus heterolepis (bunch grass) 30
Schizachyrium scoparium Little Bluestem 31
Bouteloua curtipendula Sideoats grama grass 32
Sorghastrum nutans Indian Grass 33
Spartina pectinata: prairie cord grass 34
WILDFLOWERS Allium Stellatum: Prairie Onion 35
Liatris pycnostachya: Prairie Blazing Star 36
Rudbeckia R. laciniata R. hirta 37
Eupatorium maculatum: Joe Pye weed 38
Solidago rigida: stiff goldenrod 39
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SHRUBS Cornus sericea: red osier dogwood 41
Kalmia polifolia: bog laurel 42
Clethra alnifolia: hummingbird bush 43
WWW.DNR.STATE.MN.US/GARDENS/NATIVEPLANTS/SUPPLIERS.HTML 44
WWW.EXTENSION.UMN.EDU/GARDEN/YARD- GARDEN/LANDSCAPING/NATIVE-PLANTS-FOR-SUSTAINABLE-LANDSCAPES/ 45
BEAUTIFUL photo credit: Prairie Restoration Inc. 46
Thank You! Robin Trott: trot0053@umn.edu Beth Berlin: adam0062@umn.edu The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this PowerPoint is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to 612-624-1222. 47