Printing note: This design was created to be 8.5″ x 14″ and the design pdf will print best on legal size paper.

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Native Garden Designs Video Series:
Grand Rapids Discussion with DesignerS Amy Heilman & Rebecca Marquardt

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Overview

The Great Lakes of the United States hold 20% of the fresh water found on planet earth. The entire state of Michigan includes watersheds for four of the five Great Lakes (Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior). See graphic from the Nature Conservancy below.

The thousands of inland lakes that exist within Michigan’s borders are valued for fishing, recreation, and habitat for wildlife. Housing development surrounding many lakes continues to grow at a steady pace, creating issues with flooding, erosion, sedimentation, the spread of invasive species and fragmentation of habitat.

Climate change is projected to lead to a 5-fold increase in heat wave days by 2050 and widespread drought is expected to triple during the summers and fall months. Inland lake temperatures may warm by 3-7 degrees. Increased temperatures allow warm air to capture more moisture, which means winters and springs will bring heavier snows and rains leading to widespread flooding. These are dire predictions but there are steps that can be taken by property owners to mitigate some of these issues.

Designer Statement

The designers envisioned this home site to be situated on land that slopes down to the south side of an inland lake. Soil types around the property range from clay to sandy loam to peaty, wet soil along the shoreline. Some areas are dry and quickly draining while other areas retain water at times. The home is part of a development along a paved street. The potential for erosion along the lake’s shore is high due to runoff. Heat pockets from hard surfaces along the street side create very dry growing conditions. Anticipated watering restrictions warrant wise plant selection. This landscape plan depicts some solutions to these common problems which will intensify with climate change.

Key elements of this design aiding in the adaption to climate change problems include:

• Minimizing of high water-use turf, which is limited to use as a pathway to access other areas and using drought tolerant lawn alternatives.
• Increasing the amount of shade by planting broadleaf trees to help cool south and west sides of the home in warm months and allow sunlight to access the home for radiant heat during cold months. Trees also capture carbon dioxide and release oxygen, thus cleaning the air. Their leaves are collected on site, composted, and used as mulch (leaf mold) around plants to retain moisture and cool soil.
• Improving the ecological function of the soil not only will increase the overall health of the landscape and its ability to offer habitat to wildlife but will also enable more carbon to be sequestered.
• https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/soil-based-carbon-sequestration#:~:text=Soils%20are%20made%20in%20part%20of%20broken%2Ddown%20plant%20matter.&text=This%20means%20they%20contain%20a,for%20a%20very%20long%20time.
• Transitioning the hot, dry parkway between sidewalk and street to low-scale, drought tolerant plantings that provide nectar, pollen, and visual interest.
• Retaining and filtering rainwater on the property (rather than having it flow to local drains or into the lake) by directing downspouts to a garden bed along the driveway or a raingarden and bioswale that leads to the lake, allowing runoff to be captured and absorbed into surrounding plantings. Rain barrels also hold water that can be used in the garden.
• Preventing shoreline erosion during times of flooding or ice damage with a planted buffer which offers habitat, rather than an impermeable concrete seawall. Plantings along shore also filter pollutants entering the lake and help cool water temperatures, decreasing the chance of algae blooms.
• Using permeable materials for the patio, fire pit area or driveway which will allow water to filter through and remain on the property.

Plant Community Layout

This plan considered the existing soil types, hydrology, degrees of sun/shade occurring around the property and utilized plant species that are often found together in natural plant communities that exist under similar conditions around the Great Lakes region.

Dry Prairie – The front of the property has southern and western exposure and is adjacent to pavement and the walls of the home. These elements reflect heat and increase soil temperature and dryness. A variety of sedges and grasses create a dense groundcover to help cool the soil and decrease weed competition. A combination of perennials, shrubs and trees that have low moisture requirements and tolerance to heat were used.

Wet/Mesic – Soil conditions along the north side of the home are a combinations of sandy loam and clay loam. More trees were added here to offer structure, habitat, and winter interest. The viburnums help screen the composting area from view. Clay pockets within the bioswale hold water as it travels from the downspout. Sedges were used in the lowest portions of the bioswale to slow the flow of water and aid in absorption. A diversity of colorful forbs will provide nectar, pollen, seeds and cover for insects and birds.

Wet Meadow – The lake’s shoreline is comprised of sand, silty loams, and peaty muck. Dominant plant species are sedges and tall, moisture loving forbs that can withstand the fluctuating water levels. This network of plants requires little maintenance beyond removal of occasional woody species that may arrive. Vegetation is left in place from year to year, allowing for buildup of organic material which works as an absorbent sponge and protective barrier to erosion.

Phasing

1. Prioritize phases based on the most problematic areas first. In this example, the shoreline was eroding which meant loss of property to the elements. Stabilize the shore edge by laying a biodegradable erosion control blanket into which plugs of appropriate species are inserted. This blanket allows the plants to root and not get washed away by water action. The plants chosen, mostly a variety of sedges with mat-like root systems which soak up water, combined with colorful wildflowers with staggered bloom times, are species that can tolerate various levels of water inundation.
2. Planting trees (8’- 10’ or larger) is also a good first step in combatting climate change. This is an investment in the property’s capability to offer needed shade – which saves money on cooling and heating. Trees store carbon and reduce stormwater runoff, increase property values, and provide habitat. Planting a diversity of fast-growing native trees appropriate for your site conditions is an action that reaps big rewards.
3. Decrease lawn areas in stages by implementing small portions of the plan as time and budget allow. Lawn can be covered with cardboard and woodchips, bark mulch or shredded leaves collected from the property in the late fall to eradicate the grass and will be ready for planting in the spring. Focusing on completing one portion of the plan at a time before moving on to the next section provides a greater sense of satisfaction. Installing plants closely allows them to grow together more quickly, eliminating spaces for weeds and invasive species to become established.
4. Retain the water that falls on the property by extending downspouts at least 10’ away from the home and into planted beds with appropriate species that can tolerate occasional high water levels as well as extended dry periods. The addition of rain barrels will help to store water so it can be used to water container plants, or the barrels may have a hose connected to them which runs into planted areas and water can be released as needed.

PLANT LIST