Staunton Green 2020

Remember: Tomorrow night (4/21/10), Staunton Green 2020 is presenting a free discussion “Dawn of a New Urban Landscape — The Natives Return“. Learn about the benefits of incorporating native grasses in your yard. Join us at City Hall at 7pm, in the City Hall Council Chambers (116 West Beverley)

7 Steps for a More Sustainable Yard

by Chris Schooley

Compost

Collect leaves, grass clippings, kitchen scraps (no meat, fish or dairy), and almost every other bio-degradable yard waste in the corner of the yard. Use a shovel or pitch fork to turn once or twice a year, water it during the hottest months and let the biological processes turn it into the black gold that your plants love.  Add to the side of plants in mid and late summer or simply mound over perennials before winter to give them an extra layer of insulation. Quick Tip: Bring a bucket into about any coffee shop and they will give you coffee grounds to add to your compost, the filters can be composted too.

Be Water Conscious

Every drop counts with our frequent droughts. Rain barrels are great. Also be water considerate by thoughtfully locating plants in the micro-climates in your yard – places that get less water should have drought resistant plants. Quick Tip: If you have a shed without a gutter, place buckets under the roof edge during storms to collect water for an extra drink for plants.

Go Native!

Native plants are well suited for our climate, require less intervention on your part and support biodiversity. From native grasses to native trees and shrubs, we live in an area with extraordinary diversity that is rapidly decreasing. Seek out native plants from local nurseries and support biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.  Quick Tip: Try to transplant native plants, more often than not, they can handle it.

Embrace the Ecosystem

There are many plant lists for butterflies, birds, squirrels, and rabbits, but also consider allowing plant masses to provide cover for animals and provide water sources where available.  Quick Tip: Dead trees are great habitat for animals; think twice before removing a decaying tree.

Adjust Your Perceptions

What’s wrong with those small yellow flowers in your yard?  Every 3 year old loves dandelions; just let them be. Why does your grass need to look like Augusta National Gold Club? Brown grass in August is perfectly acceptable. Celebrate the seasonality of your yard!  Quick Tip: There best way to strengthen the health of your yard is to aerate in the fall then top dress with compost and peat moss.

Eat it!

Integrate edible landscape plant material throughout your yard. Fruit trees can easily be substituted for flowering trees. Strawberries make great groundcovers.  Blueberries, elderberries and currants are great shrub border solutions.  Quick Tip: Use tomato cages to control raspberry and blackberry brambles; a lot less thorns if you can pick from underneath.

The Next Generation

The true measure of sustainability is passing on positive patterns to our children and grandchildren. Pick up some kid size shovels and rakes to encourage participation, set goals for children to achieve, dedicate small areas for kids to plant their own gardens.  Quick Tip: Use bamboo sticks to create teepees for string beans…but leave a door for kids!

Chris Schooley is a Steering Committee Member for StauntonGreen2020 and a partner with the Staunton-based landscape architectural firm, Nowak|Schooley Design (www.nowakschooleydesign.com)