Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/28/2017

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Look at your yard. Wouldn't it be great to spend more time enjoying it rather than working on it? You'd no doubt have a lower water bill, while minimizing the use of pes- ticides and fertilizers. To learn how you can do all this and more, take a look at the following tactics for turning your yard into an environmentally -friendly and sustain- able landscape. It's your chance to make a positive impact on the environment. GETTING STARTED: CREATE A BASE MAP The first step to creating a new landscape design is to assess what you have and consider how you would like to use your yard. TO DO/What are your current conditions? • How much sun does the area receive each day? Keep track of how many hours of sun different parts of your yard receive during spring and summer days. Is it morning sun or afternoon sun? • What is the soil like? Heavier, sticky clay? Lighter, more porous sand? Or is your soil rich, black loam? (see Improving Soil, pg 4) • What is the moisture level of the area? Does it remain damp after a rainstorm or watering, or does it dry quickly? Are there low areas that may make for great rain garden locations? (see Rain Gardens, pg 19) • Are there plants or other features that you would like to keep? • Where are your utility lines (above and below ground)? What planting restrictions apply to these areas? (see TO DO/Call before you dig, pg 4) • Do you have an underground irrigation system? If so, where are the lines/sprinkler heads? TO DO/How would you like to use your space? (What are your needs?) • Where are your high traffic areas? • How much open space do you need for yard activities? (play areas) • Which views would you like to enhance? • Would you like to create areas for wildlife? A butterfly garden, a bird feeding station? • Would you like more privacy? • Would you like to add features to improve water quality? (see Practices to Improve Water Quality, pg 15) TO DO/Drawing the Base Map: Now that you have answered the basic questions, create a map to build from. First measure the dimensions of any permanent structures (home, shed, fence, etc.) and your lot. Include locations for major doors and windows. This will help as you develop views from inside your home, and determine available plant space. Then measure from a fixed location, the corner of the house, to the street, to the property line, to the driveway etc. Plot these measurements on a large sheet of graph paper. Next draw in the features DESIGN 1