Greening_Spring_04 - Great River Greening

Restoration really pays off
GREAT RIVER GREENING HAS RECENTLY
COMPILED information that reveals the
cost effectiveness of native—sometimes
referred to as sustainable—
landscaping. We created a list of landscaping
scenarios including traditional
irrigated turf and native alternatives,
and then calculated their respective
installation and maintenance costs
over five- and ten-year periods.
The results summarized in the
chart were dramatic. Over a five-year
period, a prairie costs 78% less than
sodded irrigated turf. Over a five-year
period, a native woodland costs 25%
less than sod.
Regardless of cost, we know that ecological
restoration of land is a good idea. Restoring native plant
communities in the urban river watersheds improves
water quality, wildlife habitat and ecological balance. It
also improves air quality through the reduction of the
need for mowing.
As the summary table shows, it literally pays off to
landscape using sustainable design rather than turf grass
with irrigation. Sodded irrigated turf costs six times more
to install than a prairie. Maintaining turf is three-and-ahalf
times more expensive than maintaining a prairie.
Woodland costs almost seven times less than sodded
THE HEART OF THE CITY CAN BE A GREAT LOCATION TO
conduct business, but even in the summer it can be a
pretty dull, drab place for employees and customers, not
to mention the birds! Since there’s generally limited
green space available, many business owners add plants
in containers to brighten up an entrance or outdoor
patio. However, seeing the same geraniums and
petunias on balconies and in front of every business
on the block, gets dull, too.
COST ESTIMATE SUMMARY
Landscaping Installation Maintenance Total Project Total Project
Scenario per Year Cost over 5 yrs. Cost over 10 yrs.
Seeded Turf $7,250 $5,380 $34,150 $61,050
Sodded Turf $22,050 $5,380 $48,950 $75,850
Seeded Prairie $3,600 $1,530 $11,250 $18,900
Seeded Prairie
w/ Plugs $10,800 $1,530 $18,450 $26,100
Woodland:
Trees & Shrubs $33,450 $800 $37,450 $41,450
Notes:
1. All estimates are per acre.
2. Turf costs include installation and maintenance of an irrigation system.
Details available. Contact Dan Shaw at 651-665-9500, x12.
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turf to maintain, but one-an-a-half times more than
sodded turf to install. Payoff is long-term for a woodland
planting.
In addition to the cost and environmental benefits of
restoration, working with Great River Greening has its
own benefits. When you use Greening, the fees you pay
go back into the community through our efforts organizing
volunteer events to improve urban natural areas and
open space. By involving volunteers, Greening is building
a community of land stewards for the future. So working
with Greening on native landscaping is good for the
environment, good for the community and good for the
bottom line.
Add native plants to container gardens, too!
How can you infuse some interest and creativity into
window boxes and terra cotta planters at your business?
Native plants can be incorporated into any landscape
design, including container gardens, with several added
benefits. Native plants require less care than most nonnative
plants and they are the natural food source for the
butterflies and birds along our local rivers. Many native
plants will thrive in containers.
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A PUBLICATION To volunteer for OF any GREAT of Great River RIVER Greening’s GREENING events, register online SPRING at 2002
35 West Water Street, www.greatrivergreening.org Suite 201, Saint Paul, under Minnesota “Volunteer” 55107 or • 651-665-9500 call Jane at 651-665-9500 • www.greatrivergreening.org
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