Developing Healthy Landscapes

An unhealthy environment should not be the price of a beautiful landscape. Inappropriate plant choices and inadequate soil preparation can lead to a reliance on excessive use of water and on toxic chemicals to resolve problems. Ecological landscaping encourages practices that promote a healthy environment through conservation of resources, respect for biodiversity, and ecologically-sound techniques.

Tools to Help Landscape Professionals Tackle Climate Change: An Ongoing Challenge

December 15, 2019 in Climate Change, Developing Healthy Landscapes

by Amanda Sloan

Many landscape professionals realize they are in a unique position both to notice changes to the local environment resulting from greenhouse gas emissions and to propose and enact creative solutions to counteract those changes. In 2018, ELA began discussion at the board level about what kinds of practical tools could be developed and promulgated to help landscape professionals transition to methods that do not cause greenhouse gas emissions. Subsequently, the ELA’s Carbon Working Group was formed and is looking for input.

Behold the Magic of Warm-Season Grasses

November 15, 2019 in Developing Healthy Landscapes, Plant Science

by Shannon Currey

It finally clicked. Working with grasses, I knew about the distinction between warm season and cool season. I had written about it and included it in presentations. But it took a webinar on native, warm-season grasses to understand how magical and fascinating that distinction is.

Nursery Stock Lists Seed Provenance Essex County 2

Local Ecotypes – What’s Your Interest?

November 15, 2019 in Biodiversity, Developing Healthy Landscapes, Plant Science

Landscape clients and home gardeners are increasingly interested in native plants, but are all native plants equally beneficial in the landscape? “Local ecotype” native plants, those cultivated in environmental conditions similar to their local source, offer certain advantages. What is your interest in local ecotype plants?

Eco-Answers from the Pros: How Clean Should Fall Cleanup Be?

November 15, 2019 in Developing Healthy Landscapes, Gardening Basics, Installing and Maintaining Landscapes, Landscape Maintenance

As I begin fall cleanup in my gardens, what are your recommendations? Should I clean beds off, cutting foliage and remaining seed heads off? Are there some plants best cut off and others that are good to leave until spring? Also, should I remove leaves entirely from the ground around plants? I didn’t get all the leaves removed from beds last year and had a lot of damage to plant roots from either voles or moles.

Goats as an Ecological Management Option for Invasive Plants

September 16, 2019 in Developing Healthy Landscapes, Invasive Plants, Landscape Challenges, Restoration

by Sandy Vorce

“Gotta get a goat” was the author’s mantra a decade ago as she struggled against bittersweet, buckthorn, and multiflora rose to regain a portion of meadow at Mass Audubon’s property in Belmont, MA. Her wish was granted, and the property now successfully utilizes a four-hoofed crew for control of invasive plants. Read the article.

Robert W. PRO waterfall 2019 summerDSC05715

Native Plants Shine in Streambank Restoration

September 16, 2019 in Designing Ecological Landscapes, Developing Healthy Landscapes, Native Plants, Restoration

by Krissy Boys

Four years after replacement of a streambank water control structure, native grasses, sedges, and forbs planted at the site have become well established. Most species are thriving and have propagated themselves by self-sowing in the streambank gardens. Only two species out of 58 genera completely failed.

Snyder ForestSavers at OysterRiverForest

Controlling Invasive Species During Restoration

September 16, 2019 in Developing Healthy Landscapes, Invasive Plants, Landscape Challenges, Restoration

Contributions by Julie Snell and Ellen Snyder

Invasive plants can cause significant challenges at restoration sites. We asked ELA two members to share their experiences managing invasive plants and to offer tips for success.

From Wasteland to Wildflower Meadow at Greenfield Community College

September 16, 2019 in Designing Ecological Landscapes, Developing Healthy Landscapes, Native Plants, Restoration

by Maureen Sundberg

A campus wildflower meadow tucked onto a slope at Greenfield Community College was designed as part of a larger outdoor learning lab that includes a botanical garden, wetland garden, permaculture garden, and raingarden. Two years after planting, the meadow has become an oasis of learning for students across the academic spectrum.

Climate News Round-Up: The Power of Trees!

September 16, 2019 in Climate Change, Designing Ecological Landscapes, Developing Healthy Landscapes, Trees

by Angela Laws

Why is photosynthesis relevant to climate change? Because it is the process by which plants remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it – a process known as carbon sequestration – and they’re very good at it, especially trees.

Proactive Weeding of Our Gardens of the Future

May 15, 2019 in Climate Change, Invasive Plants

by Bethany Bradley

Humans are very good at introducing new invasive plants and spreading them far beyond their native ranges. Given the expected pressures of climate change on native species, what role might humans play in assisting native species that will need to migrate further and faster than natural dispersal will allow?

Documenting the Spontaneous Flora of New York City with EcoFlora

May 15, 2019 in Plant Science

by David Atha and Brian Boom

The New York Botanical Garden is documenting the flora of New York City using all available tools from traditional botanical techniques to modern technology and broad community participation. The goals of the project: document the spontaneous flora of NYC, enhance botanical and ecological understanding, and conserve the native biodiversity.

Leaf Mulch – New Options on The Greenway

April 15, 2019 in Composting & Compost Tea

by Darrah Cole and Anthony Ruggiero

In 2016, The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy began an exploration of leaf much, or leaf mold, as an alternative to the bark/compost mulch blend previously used. They found both positive results and a few concerns over the course of two years.

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