Ecological Landscaping
What is Ecological Landscaping?
Ecological Landscaping is a method of designing, building, and maintaining landscapes that considers the ecology of a site and creates gardens that enhance the surrounding environment for the benefit and function of the entire ecosystem. It is a method used for restoring and conserving natural ecosystems and preventing further degradation from pollution, erosion, climate change, etc.
When the earth is disturbed during the construction of buildings, homes, driveways, and roadways, the land is forever altered. Although the natural landscape can never be restored completely, with thoughtful attention to the site, ecological landscapers can create outdoor spaces that are practical, healthy, and aesthetically pleasing. Ecological landscaping strives to balance the building site with the natural environment.
The principles of ecological landscaping are simple: work with, not against, nature and draw upon the wisdom of natural systems to achieve a beautiful, sustainable landscape. The benefits to ecological landscaping are endless, but here are a few to get an idea:
Less energy intensive - ecological gardens and landscapes are designed to utilize the existing resources of a site. This means that once an area is established, little (if any) added water, mulches, fertilizers or nutrients, or hands-on maintenance is required.
Less expensive to start and maintain - native plants are by nature perennials - they transplant well and readily self-seed, ensuring that you enjoy their presence throughout the seasons and year after year!
Buffer the effects of climate change - native plants and naturalistic landscaping prevent erosion, filter and hold certain elements and minerals in the soil (like nitrogen, phosphorous, and carbon to name a few), and are better adapted to withstand fluctuations in water availability and temperature, damage from wind/fire/hail, and pressure from new and increasing rates of pests and diseases.
How to Get Started
To create an ecological landscape, a few things are needed to get started:
A Lay of the Land - get to know the area you are looking to manage ecologically. Identify first what type of soil, sunlight, and water the area is defined by. Is it wet all the time, or just when there has been a lot of rain? Is it shady in the afternoon, or sunny all day long? Is the soil straight sand or a loamy mix? This information will be helpful when identifying what plants will do best in these areas.
Stop Mowing - Mowing, while a necessary chore to maintain usable lawn areas and walking paths, is successful in hiding native plants growing in plain sight. Save yourself the trouble and reduce the size of your lawn to only what you actually use regularly. You’d be surprised at what amazing plants will show up when you stop mowing!
Identify - Taking time to figure out what plants are already growing in the space will quickly tell you about what other plants will do best in that location. This is because native plants grow in “plant communities”: specific plants that tend to grow together in similar environments. This process will also reveal if there are any invasives that are present and need to be dealt with. Learn more on the Invasive Species page!
A Flexible Plan - one of the tenets of ecological landscaping is letting nature dictate the plan. As any gardener knows, a garden is never finished - plants spread and perish, trees fall, and beetle populations vary from year to year. Creating a plan with realistic expectations, while also embracing change, will best allow you to enjoy this style of gardening/landscaping from year to year.
Local Resources
Need some ideas, or help, or looking for places to purchase native plants? Explore the local resources below!
Whaleback Nursery - Limington, ME - a native plant nursery right here in Limington offering native plants and seeds for sale as well as services including landscape and design consultation, planning, and installation. Both plants and seeds available.
Native Haunts - Alfred, ME - another native plant nursery offering a variety of consulting, education and landscape services. Both bare root and potted plants available.
Edgewood Nursery - Falmouth, ME - a native plant nursery specializing in unusual edible plants, medicinal plants, and local ecotypes. Both plants and seeds available.
Wild Seed Project - Yarmouth, ME - an incredibly comprehensive program geared toward education and stewardship of native plants, ecosystems, and our human culture that has been shaped by plants. A great place to buy seeds!
NH State Forest Nursery - Boscawen, NH - a state forest management program that raises and sells over 50 different species of native tree and shrub seedlings all grown from seed in New Hampshire. Buy online and pickup in-person or have them delivered right to your door.
UMaine Cooperative Extension - Plants for the Maine Landscape - a one-stop shop for all the information about native plants for the Maine landscape. Extensive information on specific plant profiles, planting guides, how-to videos, pruning recommendations, and a massive FAQ section for all your questions.
UMaine Cooperative Extension - Plants to Use and Plants to Avoid - a specific bulletin regarding what plants to use and what plants to avoid, plus how to find native plants at local garden centers.
Recommended Reading
Looking for engaging and interesting reading on the subject? Look no further!
The Humane Gardener by Nancy Lawson - A philosophical and practical guide for the gardener who hopes to, wants to create a backyard garden in harmony with nature.
Garden Revolution: How Our Landscapes Can Be a Source of Environmental Change by Larry Weaner and Thomas Christopher - Garden Revolution shows how an ecological approach to planting can lead to beautiful gardens that buck much of conventional gardening's counter-productive, time-consuming practices. Instead of picking the wrong plant and then weeding, irrigating, and fertilizing, Weaner advocates for choosing plants that are adapted to the soil and climate of a specific site and letting them naturally evolve over time. This lushly-photographed reference is for anyone looking for a better, smarter way to garden.
The American Meadow Garden: Creating a Natural Alternative to the Traditional Lawn by John Greenlee - If there's one lesson every homeowner must learn, it's this: The traditional lawn is a huge, time consuming, synthetic-chemical sucking mistake. The time has come to look for new ways to create friendly, livable spaces around our homes.
Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide by Lawrence Newcomb - An ingenious key system for quick, positive field identification of wildflowers, flowering shrubs and vines in Northeastern and North-central North America.