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Natural landscaping. Advantages of natural landscaping:. Natural landscaping involves the use of native plants to approximate a natural community. Reduces time and expense of mowing. Reduces need for watering. Reduces need for fertilizers and pesticides. Provides habitat for wildlife.
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Natural landscaping • Advantages of natural landscaping: • Natural landscaping involves the use of native plants to approximate a natural community • Reduces time and expense of mowing • Reduces need for watering • Reduces need for fertilizers and pesticides • Provides habitat for wildlife • Native plants are those naturally growing in the region; well-adapted to local climate • Natural landscaping allows plants to grow and reproduce with minimal interference
Natural landscaping • Natural landscapes
Natural landscaping • No-mow • Reduces time and expense of mowing • Methods of ‘naturalizing’: • May get many non-native species such as Japanese honeysuckle (escaped from cultivation) • Takes a long time to approach natural community • Planting • Planting species to simulate a natural community • Plants selected based on suitability (to climatic conditions and each other) and then for color, form and texture • Based on model communities
Natural landscaping • Site analysis • Construct plan view; identify structures, utility lines, pavement, contours of land • Stages of planning • ‘Habitat’ data such as soil type, soil moisture, exposure to sun or wind, current vegetation
Natural landscaping • functional use • Divide area in functional units such as recreation, utility, plantings • Stages of planning • Habitat often dictates possible functional uses
Natural landscaping • Aesthetics • Consider color, line and texture of plants throughout seasons • Stages of planning • Planting should look natural; avoid straight lines and plant species in natural distributions (usually clumped) • Incorporate meandering pathways to allow access to planting
Natural landscaping • Obtaining plants • Plants should be from local population sources whenever possible (better adapted to site) • Stages of planning • Propagate from seeds or purchase from local nursery; avoid removing plants from natural communities • Natural landscapes may take several years to establish; start small and add over years