Living Landscapes in South Dakota - Plant Materials Program - US ...

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Why is Native Landscaping Important? TABLE OF CONTENTS Why is Native Landscaping Important? ................................................................ 1 Planning ................................................................................................................ 3 Design ................................................................................................................... 5 Site Preparation .................................................................................................... 7 Choosing the Right Grasses and Wildfl owers ...................................................... 9 Grasses ............................................................................................................... 11 Wildfl owers .......................................................................................................... 15 Choosing the Right Trees and Shrubs ................................................................ 17 Trees and Shrubs ................................................................................................ 19 Water Conservation ............................................................................................ 23 Native landscaping provides an attractive, environmentally friendly landscape while reducing water and maintenance requirements. Do you want a beautiful yard, garden, school, park, or parking area? Try a Xeriscape with native plants! The information in this publication will help you select and grow native plants that are naturally adapted and will thrive for years under the extreme environmental conditions of South Dakota. This booklet provides an overview of native landscaping principles and practices. It integrates the principles of reduced water, energy, and chemical usage; wildlife habitat enhancement; and invasive weed management. Native plant, in the context of this booklet, means native to South Dakota, with a few exceptions. Maintenance........................................................................................................ 25 Plant Protection ................................................................................................... 27 Planning and Planting for Wildlife ....................................................................... 29 Rain Gardens ...................................................................................................... 31 Energy Conservation .......................................................................................... 33 Weeds and Invasive Plants................................................................................. 35 Culturally Significant Native Plants......................................................................... 37 Firewise Landscaping...............................................................................................39 “To Do” List ......................................................................................................... 41 About this Publication ........................................................................ Back Cover “Fargo Xeriscape Gardens” , one of five national Xeriscapes, is a popular urban demonstration of Xeriscape principles and landscapes incorporating native plants. Planting areas display “Moderate Water Use,” “Low Water Use,” and “Very Low Water Use” plants. Living Landscapes in South Dakota: A GUIDE TO NATIVE PLANTSCAPING 1
Photo courtesy of SDSU Cooperative Extension Service Narrow grass strips (left) can result in poor water management. A water-efficient, low maintenance alternative landscape features hardier plants in “low water use” landscape zones. What is Xeriscape? Xeriscape (pronounced zeer-i-scape) is derived from the Greek word, xeros, meaning “dry.” Denver Water holds the trademark on the term. It is the wise use of water through water-efficient landscaping and the utilization of plants better adapted to local climatic and soil conditions. The word Xeriscape conjures up visions of a dry, desert-like landscape when, in fact, its focus is how to landscape appropriately in areas with seasonal water supply shortages. A Xeriscape design uses less water to sustain plant life and provides year-round beauty. Comparisons of traditional landscapes and Xeriscapes have shown that up to 50 percent savings can be achieved in water usage alone. O ther study sites indicating potential savings of nearly 30 percent in maintenance and labor, 61 percent in fertilizers, 44 percent in fuel, and 22 percent in herbicides and pesticides. (At Home with Xerscape, Xeriscape Colorado, Inc.) Xeriscape and Native Plant Benefits Economic • Lower water and maintenance costs • Enhanced real estate values • Increased survival of plantings • Edible and/or decorative products Black chokeberry: berries used for making wine and jelly Environmental • Improved water and soil conservation • Reduced use of petroleum products • Improved air quality/carbon sequestration • Enhanced urban wildlife habitat • Reduced storm water runoff Butterfl y garden Quality of Life • Attractive year-round landscape • Increased wildlife viewing • Connect with nature • Decreased mowing Blue Fescue and Little Bluestem used in an urban setting. Native prairie grasses and wildflower s are excellent alternatives to traditional landscaping. They are less expensive to maintain than turf, require minimal rainfall, and are attractive all year long. Generally, only 50 percent of an existing lawn is actively used. Turf is the highest water-user and requires the most labor in a traditional landscape. Reducing the amount of turf will save time and money. Consider using a warm-season alternative turf grass, such as blue grama or buffalograss. These grasses are different from normal lawns. They are slower to green in the spring, quicker to go dormant in the fall, and require less mowing. Big bluestem: fall color 2 Why is Native Landscaping Important?
Page 1: Living Landscapes in South Dakota:
Page 5 and 6: Site Inventory and Assessment Plann
Page 7 and 8: Rules of Thumb To the casual observ
Page 9 and 10: 2 Maintaining or Improving Soil Qua
Page 11 and 12: Plant Types Grasses Wildflowers Wil
Page 13 and 14: Grasses for Ground Cover and Lawns
Page 15 and 16: Grasses for Landscape Accents Soil
Page 17 and 18: Wildflowers for Native Landscapes C
Page 19 and 20: Tree and Shrub Health The outward a
Page 21 and 22: Trees and Shurbs for Native Landsca
Page 23 and 24: Steps to Tree Planting Step 2: If p
Page 25 and 26: Water Conservation Strategies Zonin
Page 27 and 28: Mowing When mowing, leave at least
Page 29 and 30: Strategies for Protection from Peop
Page 31 and 32: Food Learn the food needs of the sp
Page 33 and 34: Construction • Remove existing ve
Page 35 and 36: Landscape for Cooling Efficiency Tr
Page 37 and 38: Why Do Species Invade? • Opportun
Page 39 and 40: - The uses for plants and herbs wer
Page 41 and 42: CREATING AN EFFECTIVE DEFENSIBLE SP
Page 43 and 44: Summer… 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Watering:

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