Putting Nature First on Your Southern Land, 4th Edition February 23, 2021 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including photocopying, electronic or mechanical storage, or any other means, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a fair use context. This edition offers a print book available at Amazon, as well as a free pdf on the website, maypophill.com The pdf will continue to be updated as information is added and corrections are made. Maypop Hill Publications PO Box 123 Norwood, LA 70761 To contact the author, email at [email protected] Disclaimer Putting Nature First on Your Southern Yard is a collection of summaries and sources about various land use topics. The author and the publisher shall have neither responsibility nor liability in response to anyone who claims damage or loss from the contents of this book. The Author After she retired from teaching English in high schools, Betty Miley found time to pursue her lifelong interest in native plants and their possibilities in home landscapes. She wrote her first book, My Yard, a Louisiana Gardener’s Notebook, after researching and summarizing information about restoring indigenous plants to replace the lawn-centered styles in Louisiana and adjacent states. After publishing her next book, Geaux Native! in Your Louisiana Yard, Betty expanded its contents to include other states in the South. She also decided to include newest land use ideas -- as opposed to “landscaping” -- in a ready reference form to present methods that protect and restore the land’s capacity to sustain native plants and wildlife. Since Betty’s first book was published, a budding interest in preserving nature has flowered, one that favors a more earth-friendly attitude. Environmentally conscious gardeners and landowners are choosing to revamp traditional styles that favor large grass lawns and exotic species such as crepe myrtles. Putting Nature First directs these readers to ideas about sources which explore sustainable land use topics. This book encourages everyone to learn how to work with nature to create interesting home habitats that are manageable, lovely, and protective of our natural resources. Putting Nature First is dedicated to the gentle and humble Native Bumblebee Table of Contents Introduction ….............……………………………………………………………...………….…….….2 Gardening by Guessing …….......…………………………………………………………......3 Natural Landscaping with Native Plants ……………………………………………….4 Chapter 1: Planning for Natural Land Use Wish List, Ideas, Inspiration, Sources of Native Plants …………………………….…... 5, 6 Site Planning, Sample Site Map, Alternatives to Foundation Plantings …………. 7-9 Landscaping Ideas, Pointers, Low Maintenance ……………………………..10, 11 Lawn and Alternatives …………………………………………………………12 Chapter 2: Land Use Design Ideas Ecosystem Gardening, Edible Forest Gardens ……………………………………...…13, 14 Native Plants for Medicinal Gardens ……………………………………………….…15 Native Plants That Repel Pests, Small Trees for Safe Shade, Homesteading…..16-18 Chapter 3: Practical Matters Sustainable Practices, Choosing Plants, Planting Basics, Fertilizers, Composting…...19-25 Soil pH, Crop Rotation, Fruits and Nuts ………………………………….………26-30 Companion Plants/Insectary …………………………………………….….….……31 Herbs and Native Plants in Companion Plantings ……………………..…….32-36 Organic Solutions: Weeds, Plant Diseases, Insect Pests, Big Pests ….…..37-40 Chapter 4: Attracting Wildlife Birds, Creating a Bird-Friendly Habitat, Hummingbirds …………………….…..41-43 Butterflies, Bees, Nectar Plants for Pollinators …………………………………44-46 Roadside Maintenance that puts nature first ……………………………...…47-48 Chapter 5: Native Plants for the South Trees, Shrubs, Ground Covers, Vines, Grasses & Grasslike Plants, Water Plants….… 49-67 Chapter 6: Flowers and Seasonal Interest Late Winter/Early Spring, Spring/Early Summer, Summer/Fall ……………….…..68-84 Chapter 7: Monthly Calendar January – April …………………………………………………………………..…………..84 May – December ………………………………………………………………..…………85 Chapter 8: Glossary of Important Terms, Facts, & Other Useful Information.…………..……........86-94 Additional Resources……………………………....……………………………………...…................94 A leaf well spent………………………………………………………………….……….................…95 Index …………………………………………………………………….…...........................……96-107 Introduction: Hello, Southerners who want to be good stewards of your land. Putting Nature First emphasizes native plants in land use designs that enrich the environment. The term eco-garden, or ecogarden, describes human habitats that emphasize best practices to care for the land’s quality of life. The ecogardener will find ways to benefit the ecology of the land, at the same time achieving practical purposes and beautification. The content has been greatly compressed into a vade mecum, a small handbook or digital file to be carried and used, not left on a shelf or rarely read. The matter-of-fact tone is geared for busy people who want plainly delivered information, lists, charts, and simple illustrations and photographs. None of the information gathered here is new or original or in-depth. Most of the ideas have been around for decades, or even centuries, but they are not observable in widespread practice. Putting Nature First advocates holistic land use, which combines ethics with aesthetics. Like “whole earth” and “wholesome” and other terms which describe the harmonious relationship between people and the ecosystem, holistic land care is all about sensible methods of co-existing with Nature. Modern culture has interfered with this relationship to the point that people often view land as a commodity, or even a nuisance. The solution to modern nuisances is, of course, a product, usually a machine or a chemical. The modern land use style has changed little in the last 50 years. Perhaps now is the time when Southerners, or all Americans, will discover a more satisfying way to care for the land they own or live on. What is the focus, the center of attention of modern land use, by the way? The Lawn, of course. Something most people take for granted, the turf lawn is a fairly recent invention. The English manor lawn of the 19th century became the ideal of suburban Americans in the 1950s as the standard of respectability. A new industry has emerged to supply lawn care products: riding lawnmowers, leaf blowers, weed trimmers, lawn sprinklers, weed killers, and other chemicals to eliminate lawn pests. No matter that the average manicured lawn serves any function other than a green carpet that merely establishes ownership. American yard owners now devote the great majority of their property to alien grasses and other plant species that are neither edible nor ecologically sound. This little book does not give complete instructions for replacing a high-maintenance landscape with nature- friendly land use. It merely encourages people to become thoughtful caretakers of the land. Putting Nature First collects and summarizes ideas which point readers to sources of information that fulfill their goals of being good stewards of their land. With all these ecological considerations in mind, and the desire of readers to put their home grounds to good use, the message of Putting Nature First is this: plant flowers. Lots of flowers. Find a way to put them everywhere. 32 Gardening by Guessing? Most Americans take for granted that they are expected to keep up their nook in the neighborhood in a traditional style. Landowners who put nature first search for ways to protect and preserve nature in their land care projects. Traditional Natural GROUND COVER smooth carpet of turf grass little if any lawn grass anywhere on property, only plants, mulch, and paths OVERALL preferably manicured; emphasizes always looks appropriate, managed, APPEARANCE straight lines alongside sidewalks not manicured; interesting to onlookers; and buildings displays regional character and the homeowner's personal tastes PLANT alien species of lawn grass and great variety of native trees, shrubs, vines, SELECTIONS other plants; few trees flowers, edible plants; abundant biodiversity PLANTING BEDS Foundation plantings, narrow beds mulched planting beds and gardens next to house throughout the property FLOWERS few: mostly annuals, often plentiful: mostly perennials everywhere; purchased in large quantities and annuals added in high-visibility areas and planted in masses in spring and fall in containers YEAR-ROUND a uniform appearance all year, always something to look at: trees, INTEREST changing only with mass plantings leaves, trunk bark and picturesque of flowers, the occasional door branches, tall bunches of native wreath or Christmas decorations grasses, pretty even when dormant, evergreen plants, colorful berries in winter; wildflowers of various colors, sizes, forms MAINTENANCE frequent mowing, edging of lawn; after proper installation: very little; chemical control of pest insects, native plants require little upkeep since diseases, weeds in grass they are adapted to climate; organic measures to control problems EXPENSE high: riding lawn mower for many low: riding lawn mowers only for homeowners; leaf blowers; acreage, hand tools to prune plants chemicals to control pests as needed, possibly some electric or battery powered equipment (rather than gas); no synthetic chemicals that can harm the environment AUTHORITY/ lots of guessing; neighbors, garden sources which have researched best ways SOURCE OF books, businesses, and speakers of using land to enrich nature,