Nature is beautiful and needs to be preserved, but it can be difficult to maintain natural elements while using the land for personal or business needs. Anna Fialkoff, ecological horticulturist and designer, is highly educated on the importance of ecological landscaping – creating a sustainable landscape that is a functional part of the ecosystem.
Fialkoff explained that native species are essential in supporting local food webs. When designing an ecological landscape, it’s important to introduce species that are native to the ecoregion. Planting native trees is very important – depending on the type of tree, they can host hundreds of species and assist with biodiversity. Throughout the years working in the industry, Fialkoff has focused “less and less about the pure aesthetics of a place and more and more about all the biodiversity.”
Fialkoff encourages growers to think about how they want to arrange native plants, taking advantage of vertical space by “stacking, packing and layering.” She also prefers planting perennials. “Annuals can be great for a splash of color, and they make kind of a big statement, but perennials are a lot more sustainable because you’re not having to grow them in new potting soil every year with loads of chemicals,” she said. The two perennials Fialkoff recommends starting with are asters and goldenrods.
It’s also important to pay attention to the quality of plants you purchase. Look for plants that are beneficial for pollinators and that are native to your ecoregion, as well as plants grown without long-lasting pesticides or chemicals that travel through the vascular system that can affect pollinators or foraging creatures.
Growing plants from seed means you are more likely to get genetic diversity and resilience. “Their offspring will be able to possess all of these potential traits that will stand up to things like climate change, drought, pests [and] diseases,” Fialkoff explained. Nursery-grown plants are often genetically identical, so they don’t possess the ability to adapt and change over generations.
If possible, landscapers should encourage landowners to consider shrinking the acreage of lawns on their property. Fialkoff described lawns as “resource hogs” that “take fossil fuels to mow and are one of the most irrigated crops in the U.S. but they don’t produce anything!”
Paved surfaces should also be reduced, as they prevent water from being absorbed into the ground.
What are some ways to manage nature while the seasons change? One of Fialkoff’s favorite sayings is “leave the leaves,” as it’s recommended to leave fallen leaves alone and only blow/rake/shred them when necessary. The detritus helps create a protective cover on the soil, and it breaks down naturally over time. Excess leaves that must be removed can be composted.
Cutting back stems is a tricky situation for those who want to foster more wildlife habitat. Although cutting back stems can help with the aesthetic of the landscape, there are some hollow stems in perennial plants that native bees lay their eggs in. A good compromise would be cutting back your stems, but not cutting them all the way to the ground.
by Kelsi Devolve
