- What is Native Vegetation?
Native vegetation is defined as the plant species found in a local area prior to European settlement.
- Why is native landscaping encouraged by Federal and State governmental authorities?
Plants native to the soils and climate of the Midwest stabilize soils, tolerate drought, and help control resident Canada Geese. These functions help maintain and improve water quality which is the primary goal of the Clean Water Act.
In contrast, non-native species do not provide these functions. In fact, aggressive non-native species cause billions of dollars in losses annually.
- What will it cost?
The installation cost of native seed is slightly higher than turf. The initial three year maintenance is comparable to traditional landscaping. Long term maintenance costs are usually significantly less than traditional landscaping. For a bid on a specific project please contact us.
- What will it look like?
After two to three years, native plants seeded on a typical slope will range from two to eight feet in height. During the first 2-3 growing seasons, the native seedlings are developing and weed management is generally needed. At the end of the initial maintenance period, the result is a functional “wildscape” that helps promote water quality.
The best looking native landscape installations have a transition area such as shrub and mulch beds, or fencing between the wildscape and the traditional landscape. Please view our project gallery to see for yourself.
- Do you have anything that is green all year long?
The appearance of blooming wildflowers within a native landscape changes every 2-3 weeks during the summer. In the spring, the plant community is primarily green. In the fall, you will see yellows browns and reds. Native landscapes within new residential and commercial developments can provide distinctive scenery that enhances suburban life by providing a backdrop that changes with the seasons. Native plants that are green all year long are few and far between.
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