Neighborly Natural Landscaping: Creating Natural Environments in Residential Areas
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P E N N S Y L V A N I A W I L D L I F E Neighborly Natural Landscaping: Creating Natural Environments in Residential Areas rent love affair with the closely mowed Back to the Future grass lawn dates from the nineteenth cen- omeowners across tury. Using European grazed pastures and America are changing Perceptions of lawn beauty have changed eighteenth-century formal gardens as their Hthe face of the typical American with the times. In sixteenth-century model, the Garden Clubs of America, lawn. Using gardening and land- England, the lawns of wealthy landown- the U.S. Golf Association, and the U.S. scaping practices that harmonize ers were wildflower meadows starred with Department of Agriculture embarked on with nature, they are diversifying blooms. Grasses were perceived as weeds, a campaign to landscape American lawns their plantings, improving wildlife and a garden boy’s job was to creep among with a carpet of green. With the invention habitat, and reducing lawn mower the flowers picking out the grass. Our cur- and spread of the lawn mower, the “com- noise, air and water pollution, and mon man” could have the same cropped yard waste. turf as that of an aristocrat’s mansion. Various “natural” landscapes, planned for beauty and ease of Today, at least one American town has maintenance using mainly native come full circle. In Seaside, Florida, plants, are spreading through- turfgrass is banned. Only locally native out suburbia. These landscapes species of wildflowers, shrubs, and trees include wildflower meadows, are allowed in the landscaping of private butterfly gardens, and woodland yards. The result has been verdant neigh- borhoods of shrub-scrub dune vegetation, habitats that attract birds. with its related birds and wildlife—and Many natural landscape pio- the residents love it. In most of America, neers have discovered, however, however, the mowed lawn is still the that their neighbors sometimes norm, and weed laws are used to ensure view alternatives to the mowed conformity with this ideal. lawn as untidy, a threat to prop- Spring erty values, and even a health peeper hazard. Worse, their township or borough may have a strict “weed law” that challenges their landscaping practices. In this fact Sidelinger John by Illustration sheet, we provide strategies for the natural landscape homeowner who is looking for neighborly ways to garden for nature. 2 vania’s 22 snake species are venomous “Weed Laws”and Why They Natural Landscapes: Myths (northern copperhead, timber rattler, and Exist and Facts the endangered eastern massasauga). Noxious Weed Laws were first written to Myth Myth protect farmers from introduced weeds “Meadows and natural landscapes are fire “Natural landscapes harbor Lyme-disease that could compete with crops or harm hazards.” ticks.” livestock. Pennsylvania’s first noxious weed law was adopted in 1862 to control Facts Facts the spread of Canada thistle, chicory, This argument is based on the unproven Deer ticks (Ixodes dammini), the primary Johnson grass, and marijuana. Today, 11 belief that the tall grass and wildflower vectors for Lyme disease, can be found plant species are on Pennsylvania’s control stems in a meadow are highly flammable. wherever there are suitable hosts. Because list: Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), mul- U.S. Forest Service a benefit of natural landscaping is that it tiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), John- experts state that a attracts and provides habitat for wildlife, son grass (Sorghum halepense), grass fire can only the landscape may also harbor the ticks marijuana (Cannabis sativa), sustain high heat associated with that wildlife. As deer ticks mile-a-minute vine (Polyg- for 20 seconds. For move through their life cycle from larva to onum perfoliatum), kudzu a fire to be poten- nymph to adult, their preferred hosts prog- vine (Pueraria lobata), bull tially damaging ress in size from white-footed mouse, to thistle (Cirsium vulgare), to a home, it must small woodland mammals, to white-tailed musk thistle (Carduus burn within 4 feet deer. Adult ticks tend to climb vegetation nutans), shattercane (Sor- of the home for 7.5 up to 3 feet high to wait for a large, warm- ghum bicolor ssp. drummondii), Violet minutes. blooded animal to brush past. jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Myth To reduce exposure possibilities, the Proposed additions are another variety of “Natural landscapes attract vermin.” natural landscape should have setbacks purple loosestrife (Lythrum virgatum), giant or paths for the human visitor to walk hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzium), and Facts on without brushing against vegetation. goatsrue (Galega officinalis). The most feared “vermin” are rats and The best prevention against Lyme disease snakes. The vegetation in a natural is a careful check of body and clothes But Pennsylvania’s law is less restric- landscape does not provide the type or after being in an area likely to have ticks. tive than those of some municipal quantity of food required to sustain a More details on Lyme disease are avail- ordinances. Typically, these ordinances population of black or Norway rats. These able from your county extension office or restrict the height or type of plants that nonnative rats do not eat the seeds of health department. may be grown; the word “weed” is gener- our native grasses and flowers. Rats are ally used to describe undesirable plants. more likely attracted to human-produced Myth Some ordinances state that if the weeds food (corn, grain, pet foods, food scraps) “Natural landscapes are breeding grounds grow to more than a given height (some- provided in and near structures like barns for mosquitoes.“ what arbitrary—examples are 18 inches, or garbage dumps. A neglected lot with Facts 12 inches, or even less), the municipal- human-deposited food litter among the Mosquitoes need standing water to breed. ity is authorized to levy fines or even to untended growth is indeed a rat magnet, Even the fastest-maturing breeds require come mow the property and charge the but the managed natural landscape is not. standing water for at least 10 consecutive landowner for time and labor. These days. A turf lawn, with its shallow root municipal weed laws are not intended to Snakes may find a hospitable habitat in system, is more likely to be unable to soak protect farmers, but, in theory, to protect either a traditional or a naturally land- up all the water from a heavy rain and neighborhood property values by ensur- scaped yard if prey species, water sources, have long-standing puddles than a natural ing a conformity of mowed lawns. Lawn sunny areas for basking, and shelter are landscape with its deeper-rooted native alternatives such as wildflower meadows present. Snakes may find shelter under plants. Natural landscapes tend to be are sometimes perceived by neighbors outbuildings, in rock walls, or in log piles; planned to take full advantage of native and officials as no different from a they are valuable neighbors because they plants whose water requirements match neglected lot: untidy, a health hazard, eat true pests, such as mice, harmful the local rainfall and soils. Natural land- and a breeding ground for “vermin.” insects, and slugs. Only 3 of Pennsyl- 3 scapes also improve habitat for mosquito predators, like birds. Jack-in-the-pulpit First Steps Toward a Lawn Alternative Owners of ornamental ponds in either traditional or natural landscapes can take The first step in establishing an alterna- steps to control mosquitoes. They can tive to lawn is to gain the approval of keep mosquito-eating fish, float Bt “dunks” neighbors and township officials. To find (floating, slow-release Bacillis thuringiensis out if your municipality has a weed law, bacteria, which kill only mosquito larvae contact your borough or township office and not beneficial and harmless aquatic and ask about landscaping ordinances. If a Illustration by Rae Chambers by Illustration life), or use pumps and waterfalls to keep law does exist, ask for a copy. Weed laws, the water moving. Myth if not carefully worded, may equate natu- “Natural landscapes lower property values ral landscaping with unmanaged land- Myth because they are ‘messy’ and unattractive.” scapes. Some communities require that “Natural landscapes produce pollen that homeowners file an application for natural causes suffering for those with allergies.” Facts landscaping and obtain approval from Real estate with distinctive, well-done a majority of neighbors. More recently Facts natural landscaping actually possesses a enacted and enlightened weed laws allow Wind-borne pollens are the primary cause marketing edge and has a positive effect natural landscaping “by right” without of hay fever. Any plant with showy flow- on property values. Developers cite the case-by-case neighbor or municipal per- ers (like the much-maligned goldenrod) is natural landscapes retained in their mission. These more progressive laws take pollinated by insects, not wind. The main developments as an asset and charge more three main approaches to regulating natu- hay fever culprit in our area is ragweed, for naturally landscaped homes than for ral landscapes: which thrives in disturbed or eroded areas homes in areas with traditional landscap- 1. A setback or buffer strip on the periph- like roadsides. Other major allergenic ing. High-quality natural features like ery that is maintained at a maximum plants are pigweed, goosefoot (both non- woodland corridors can preserve and height may be required. Vegetation native “weeds”), and the nonnative grasses strengthen a community’s unique char- behind the setback is unregulated in turf lawns or pastures—Kentucky blue- acteristics. Neighborhood organizations, except for the control of noxious weeds. grass, Bermuda grass, and timothy. Some environmental restoration professionals, 2. Broadly worded exceptions may be tree species with wind-borne pollen, such landscape architects, and nurseries are given for beneficial landscapes.