Stroll through many sprawling community associations and you're likely to see close-cropped lawns, beefy hedges, parkway tree canopies and shimmering ponds. The landscape may be beautiful, but it's expensive to keep up, and probably not very Earth-friendly. Some associations are turning to sustainable landscaping, an emerging trend in landscape management.
Sustainable landscaping is a set of practices that save money, reduce energy usage, preserve natural resources and create a healthier environment for residents and wildlife. Sustainability is a natural partner to associations because it takes a long view, which is what associations do when they conduct reserve studies. Associa tions often face challenges to sustainability that park districts, municipalities and other entities don't. Among them: landscape installed decades ago by developers who built for aesthetics rather than easy upkeep, and volunteer boards that may or may not have expertise or interest in environmental issues. Also, many reserve studies don't include landscape replacement.
Here are some ideas:
Install site-appropriate plants. If you plant bushes that grow to 15 feet under windows that are 4 feet from the ground, you'll trim them several times a year. Plant shorter bushes.
"If you're replacing an Austrian pine year after year, it's not the right tree for that spot,"
Use permeable pavers instead of asphalt or cement. Pavers are more expensive, but they last years longer. They filter stormwater and direct it into the ground rather than sending it into a sewer system.
Border ponds with tall grasses rather than rocks. The plant life thwarts erosion just as the rocks do, but it also buffers fertilizer runoff. Even better, geese won't linger, because they fear predators could be hiding.
Reduce turf. "We are not trying to make people feel guilty for enjoying their lawns with a manicured look." "But think about that 6-inch strip of turf between the sidewalk and planting bed. Just enlarge the planting bed and the landscaper doesn't have to make a special trip with a hand mower."
Diversify. Plant a variety of trees and shrubs. "If a pest comes along that loves maple trees, like the emerald ash borer loves ash trees, we are very vulnerable,"
Remove invasive plants. Remove invasive species such as buckthorn and honeysuckle, which crowd and strangle every other plant nearby.
Provide wildlife habitat. Provide berries and crab apples for migratory birds and coneflowers for butterflies.
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