design elements - San Jacinto Texas Historic District

Roadside native plantings evoke a historic landscape.
Native and adaptive landscapes can be attractive and require less
maintenance than conventional turf grass.
Natural vegetation and edges are more benefi cial to environmental
resources.
IMAGE: CONSERVATION DESIGN FORUM IMAGE: CONSERVATION DESIGN FORUM IMAGE: CONSERVATION DESIGN FORUM
Plants native to the biological region
(‘bioregion’) should be maintained or
restored within the District to promote a
regional identity and sense of place. Many
native plants will only thrive as part of an
ecological system that is managed to replicate
the natural conditions the plants need,
such as annual controlled burning, invasive
species removal, and a stable hydrology.
Native vegetation will also require diff erent,
less intensive and generally less expensive
maintenance practices than conventional
plantings with exotic species.
Plant material should be allowed to grow
and develop in a natural, organic state in
terms of shape, size and character where
natural character will not compromise safety
and security. Once established the general
maintenance that should be performed
should be limited to:
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Promote a sense of place by planting native and adapted, low
input vegetation as part of the overall landscape and site plan.
Minor pruning for visual and physical
safety at drives, crossings, and trail and
pathway clearances.
Regular monthly trash pickup.
Distressed and dead plants should be
allowed to decay naturally in certain
naturalized landscapes, except where
safety and security may be compromised.
Plant replacement should take place
only as a means to mitigate disturbances
or density loss due to pollution or other
natural or man-made causes.
SAN JACINTO TEXAS HISTORIC DISTRICT CORRIDOR STANDARDS │ 83
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