Agenda - Council - 06/14/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Budget The amount of money you have to spend often determines the type and number of plants used in a project. Seed is inexpensive but generally used only on large, not highly visible sites. Seed can be combined with containerized plants to increase the chances of success. Bare-root plants are becoming increasingly popular because they're inexpensive and come in a variety of sizes. However, the bare-root planting season is generally restricted to the spring and fall. Containerized plants are used in most garden plantings. They are readily available and can be planted throughout the growing season as long as they are sufficiently watered. The most common container sizes are plugs, 2-inch containers, 4-inch containers and gallon contain- ers. The larger the container size, the more quickly plants will mature. Plugs are the cheapest option but the small plants require more initial care. Allergies and Pests Most plants that are responsible for common allergies are not native species. Ragweed is an exception but is not included in native planting projects. Regarding pests, most rodents and raccoons are attracted to food sources such as garbage and not native plantings. Mosquitoes do not breed in native plantings but in water left standing for at least ten days. Weed Laws The intent of weed laws is to prevent poorly-maintained property. Well-designed native landscapes do not result in a poorly-maintained look. Many municipalities have modified weed laws to allow natural landscaping and, in some cases, they promote the use of native species versus turf. A strip of lawn is sometimes required to indicate that the native landscape is planned. Designers should check on weed laws with local municipalities before initiating a large natural landscaping project. 0 •''�' T Front Yard Planting photo by Rebecca Chesin 011P 3 . A �_ - � - ' -� - —max•� , w to - P r F p i I! 47