Some things that ecological landscaping does differently

There are a few ways that ecological landscaping is different from traditional landscaping and these are just a few.

We wait.

In the spring, at the first warmish weather, people everywhere grab rakes and blowers and sterilize their landscapes. This is a problem because all the beneficial insects and amphibians are still resting until the weather is consistently over 50 degrees. This usually means waiting a little longer than we would like, before we head out to get our bodies back in to the fresh air and sunshine. While we wait, take some time to wander instead. Enjoy the extra time to evaluate the condition of your emerging plants while you watch and listen to those first signs of spring.

We leave things alone.

In the fall, traditional landscaping says to chop it down, mow it low and strip it bare. What a nightmare for overwintering insects and amphibians. Where do those butterflies, moths, snakes, salamanders, wood frogs, toads, and american bumblebees go? Simple answer is that they die. They get sucked in to the mulching bag, sent off to the landfill or if they manage to avoid immediate death, their protection is gone and they die anyway. Without the proper cover and protection your yard cannot become it’s best self at providing beneficial habitat. This is a tough pill to swallow for people used to the sterile look of traditional landscaping. Luckily there are some ways to compromise and total chaos is not the only solution. Compromise is key and I can help you find that balance.

Leave the leaves

This is a subject that gets everyone worked up, even among those in the ecological and restoration landscape circles. The truth is that the leaves were meant to fall to the ground and decompose wherever they end up. Unfortunately this clashes with peoples desire for pretty lawns and safe walkways. Like the case of the limited fall cleanup, we compromise. We evaluate where the leaves fall, and what kind of leaves are involved. Different leaves require different solutions. A simple solution is if they can be moved gently to flower beds for winter cover. In the case of windy areas we use short temporary fencing to retain leaves in the areas so they can decompose in place. We evaluate what we plant in zones where those heavy leaf drops occur. As one of the most impactful events of our ecological seasons, this is definitely a situation to give a lot of time and effort. Solutions are out there and we are happy to help.

I hope this was a helpful glimpse in to what you can expect when you start your journey to a healthier and more ecological friendly yard. If you would like to delve further in to ways you can transform your yard, reach out, I’d love to help.