design elements - San Jacinto Texas Historic District

Water resources can also be used as an artistic element.
Water and natural materials provide a sense of place and serenity.
Native species used in parking lot stormwater management bioswales.
IMAGE: CONSERVATION DESIGN FORUM IMAGE: CONSERVATION DESIGN FORUM IMAGE: CONSERVATION DESIGN FORUM
Maintenance Considerations
Natural landscaping requires less irrigation,
mowing, fertilizers, and pesticides than
conventional landscapes. Annual mowing
or controlled burning are appropriate for
natural landscapes. Initial watering and
herbiciding may be necessary in the fi rst 2-3
years after planting, but once established (3-4
years) these needs are greatly diminished.
Cost Considerations
Costs vary from project to project depending
on area, plant selection, and design
features. In general, native landscapes cost
approximately $3000 to $6000 per acre to
install, compared to $7500 to $15,000 for
conventional turf. These costs consider fi rst
establishment costs, such as mowing and
watering, and refl ect planting seed as opposed
to native plant plugs. Maintenance costs after
establishment are on average between $1600
and $1800 per acre for native landscapes,
compared to $5500 to $6500 for turf grass.
Maintenance costs for native landscapes are
slightly less than turf for the fi rst fi ve years,
and signifi cantly less thereafter, when annual
burning or other control method is the only
maintenance needed.
Design Considerations
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Design should be tailored to site
characteristics including topography,
soils, drainage, and solar exposure.
Some local “weed” ordinances may need
to be amended to allow native and taller
vegetation.
Plant diversity and health is maximized
by annual burning. Plots may be mowed
and then burned to prevent spread of fi re
on small sites.
On compacted or disturbed soils,
amendment may be necessary to increase
organic content, improving success of
plant establishment. Good soil preparation
vastly improves the appearance and vigor
of plantings in the fi rst season.
Filter strips must be sized and designed to
account for drainage area, slope and soils.
The highest eff ectiveness is achieved for
small (1 or 2 year) storm events when the
drainage area is not greater than 4 or 5
times the area of the fi lter strip.
SAN JACINTO TEXAS HISTORIC DISTRICT CORRIDOR STANDARDS │ 135