lawn alternatives - Regional District of Nanaimo

…with Amy Robson of Nature’s Choice Design
• Diploma in Horticultural Design and
Installation Technology. 2008
• Kwantlen Polytechnic University
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) & Plant
Identification Accreditations
• Certified Arborist (ISA Certified 2008-2012)
Amy Robson
www.natureschoicedesign.com
250-618-5269 Errington, BC
amy@natureschoicedesign.com
Ryan Hewer
• During our region’s dry
summers, over 40 per cent of
drinking water goes to
quenching the thirst of
decorative turf grass
Source: www.thetyee.ca
• Let your lawn go dormant over the summer months (works better
with drought tolerant grass species).
• Incorporate native plants, install rainwater harvest for outdoor
watering, and eliminate chemical use.
• The more water left in the streams over the summer months, the
better for fish habitat (water temperature and passage).
• In North America, each year, 60-million kilograms of pesticides hit turf grass.
• Label does NOT identify inert or other ingredients that make a product useable
(for adhering and penetrating).
• Don't assume undisclosed ingredients are harmless . . . RoundUp's active
ingredient glyphosate and the "inactive" surfactant polyethoxylated tallow
amine (POEA) are known to be extremely toxic to fish and amphibians.
• Pesticides can continue to harm long after the initial "kill" as ingredients do not
stay where used due to rain and irrigation.
• City of Nanaimo & Town of Qualicum Beach have
implemented Cosmetic Pesticide Bylaws
(Info from Pesticide Free BC)
• Average North American homeowner spends 150 hours per year
on lawn care
• Cutting, weeding, aerating, fertilizing, etc.
“Mowing the lawn, I felt like I
was battling the earth rather
than working it; each week it
sent forth a green army and
each week I beat it back with
my infernal machine.” ~
Michael Pollan, Second Nature: A
Gardener’s Education
• Social acceptance is changing
regarding green lawns.
• More people view “perfect lawns”
as an inconsiderate choice to our
local ecology.
• Dormant lawns are embraced as a
natural occurrence, rather than
unsightly.
• Encouraging grasses to have
natural cycles creates a healthy
landscapes.
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Habitat
Resilience
Beauty
Functionality
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Groundcovers
Patio’s & paths
Integrating meadows
Xeriscaping
Alpine planting
Naturescaping &
native plants
• Permeable pavers
• Integrating Edibles
• Permaculture Practices
• Paths provide access around
your property
• Allows rain to penetrate into the
soil below and into the
groundwater
• No chemicals needed, low
maintenance
• Decrease garden maintenance
Stairs need to be safe and accommodating….
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Wide Platforms
Long ‘runs’ and
short ‘rises’
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• Turn a grassy slope into
a terraced garden with
a staircase
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• Paths around
garden beds
allow for
different
vantage points
for maintenance
and monitoring
• Curves in
garden beds
help create
interest in small
landscapes
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Green- jointed pavers
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• Allows rainwater to percolate into the soil rather than run off
into storm drains
• Mitigates erosion, storm water pollution, and compaction
• Good for patios, outdoor living space
• Doesn’t require irrigation 
• A non-traditional
approach to a lane way
or instead of a side
lawn.
• Excess water is able to
penetrate the ground.
• Pollutants are able to
filtrate, which reduces
the environmental
impact.
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KPU - 2007 - A. Kristensen
• Edibles such as herbs,
veggies, berries and fruits
can be utilized to achieve
an ornamental effect, that
provides food value too!
• Raised planter boxes can
be creatively designed
using rock and wood
• Integration into
ornamental gardens.
• Wildflower Meadows!
• Meadows are the most efficient way
to increase biodiversity.
• Creative mowing practices creates
meadows and preserves the aesthetic
value of your property
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Creeping Thyme
Moss
Sedums & Succulents
White Clover
• Not all ground covers
are equal!
• Research before
planting
• Right plant, right
place!
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Micro Clover
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• Requires shade to thrive
• The deeper the shade the less likely you will have weed
competition (trees and large shrubs can aid in this)
• Very popular in Japanese themed garden
Moss Milkshake: Toss a handful of moss into a blender with 1 cup
buttermilk or stale beer and grind them up. Apply mixture to
surface that you want to grow moss - rocks, pathway or garden
bed.
• make sure you keep area moist to establish healthy moss, misting may
be required for the first year for establishment.
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Create a sustaining system
Drought tolerant plants + lots of soil
Encourage deep root growth
Requires good design and preparation
Right plant + right soil + right place !!
howstufworks.com
Mycorrhizal nodes
KPU Dept. Hort - 2007 Annika Kristensen
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• Choose young plants, seedlings
• Plants require irrigation in the first couple years.
Once they are established they need very little
water
• Mulch well for water retention; healthy soil is
required
Dict: the artificial application of water to land to assist in the production and plant growth
• To establish plantings water is required
for the first two years.
• It is crucial to monitor your system for
optimal performance.
• Deep watering creates deep healthy
roots
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• Permaculture is a design system inspired by nature
• Based on ethics and design principles that can be used to guide you,
your household and your community ‘beyond sustainability’.
• This practical approach to life encourages a closed system to
landscaping - nothing goes to waste.
permacultureprinciples.com
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permacultureprinciples.com
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• The best approach is to get to know your local/micro ecology
• Your property will have certain unique qualities that will need to
be addressed.
• Native plants may have to be integrated to non native
landscapes.
• Combine various styles and material to achieve your desired
affect.
• Be creative! Increase the quality of your life by looking at your
property holistically.
• Smothering: newspaper, cardboard, geotextiles, tarps. Mulch can
be applied on top of any material.
• Mulch: suppress’ lawns, apply coarse material first.
• Cutting: Mow lawn on lowest setting. Bag the cuttings for
suppression later.
• Cook: clear plastic used to cook the lawn. Minimum 3 weeks up to
2 months.
• Spray: alcohol, vinegar, soap.
• Corn Gluten: keeps grass from re-emerging.
• Boiling water: works along edges and near paths
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• Spray the crown of the plant not just
the leaves
• Never spray when windy
• Shield your desired plants using
cardboard etc.
• Apply in the heat of the day
• Do not mix different spray recipes.
• Use a backpack sprayer for large
areas
Source: www.followpics.com
• Vinegar spray: 2 part vinegar to .5 part
water (less for established weeds)
• Alcohol mist spray: 5 tbsp to 1 Litre of
water
• Soap spray: 6 tbsp to 1 Litre of water
Source: www.agardenforthehouse.com
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Bulk materials (such as mulch)
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Buckerfields - variety of bagged material
Cultivate Garden - bagged material
NorthWest Bay Nursery - Bagged and bulk (Spring 2015)
Sea Soil - fish and lumber fines - bulk @ Nanoose Edibles & Long Lake Nursery (Nan)
ShareCost - Bulk materials, and ornamental stone etc
Ozero - Large bulk orders; rock, soil, gravel - aggregates
EarthBank- Parksville company that sells fish compost
Plant material
• Investigate the companies you purchase from, ask questions about plant distributers
Local suppliers:
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Cultivate Garden- Unique and diverse plant selections
Streamside (Bowser) - All native plants locally & organically grown
Arrowsmith Nursery -No pesticides used or sold. Good selection.
GreenThumb - Large selection of plants.
Nanaimo Area Land Trust (NALT) – Nursery in Cassidy propagates and sells native
plants
Think:
• Diversity
• Chemical-free
• Right plant right place
• Local/Native materials
• Healthy Soil
• Less Wasted Water!
A few before
and after shots!
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Add more depth to your landscape
with creative structures!
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Thank You!
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