Practices that benefit wildlife and water Shannon Stephens, Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority
Our Mission: Working together to value, protect, enhance and restore our watershed resources for a healthy, sustainable future.
Ecological Landscaping: Landscaping with the health of the planet in mind, and nature as our guide.
Soil & Fertilizer
Water Plants & Wildlife
People
Soil & Fertilizers
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Soil
Mulch & groundcovers Compost Design gardens for low/no fertilizer use Leave leaves to mulch woodland gardens Allow seed-bearing perennials to over winter
Many native species are adapted to low nutrients Legumes, like native Lupine flowers, fix nitrogen from the air and enrich the soil
Inter-seed with Dutch White Clover can give the needed 1-2kg N/100m2/year Opt for no-Phosphorus fertilizers Organic or slow-release Soil Test (apply ½ to 1/3of recommendation) Nothing after Sept 15th
Riparian Zone Littoral Zone
The Ribbon of Life is essential for the overall health of the Lake
Percent Phosphorus Reduced (%)
Buffer Strip Effectiveness at Removing Phophorus
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Grassed Buffers Treed Buffers 0
10
20
30 Buffer Width (m)
40
50
60
Water Domestic water consumption can increase 50-100% during the summer when many people water their lawns and gardens. In Ontario, 80% of home owners water lawn/garden.
Water no more than twice a week in average soils – 1 to 1.5 inches per week.
Learn the signs that your lawn needs water ◦ foot-prints don’t bounce back
Rain gauges are a great way to
take the guess-work out.
Use rain water ◦ Rain barrel & cisterns ◦ Rain Gardens
Consider a sprinkler timer ◦ Save money ◦ Save water ◦ Reduce runoff
Cut turf 2.5 - 3 inches: ◦ This promotes deeper roots,
more tillers, shades the soil (water and weeds).
Never cut more than1/3 of the grass blade.
Keep mower blade sharp
Watch for wildlife
Many prairie grasses and wildflowers have exceptionally deep roots Some cases 20ft deep! Indian Grass
Dense Blazing Star
Little Bluestem
Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
Plants & Wildlife
They’re beautiful!
Evolved to survive here
Resistant to disease, predation, harsh weather, fire
Food and habitat for local birds & wildlife
Shoreline protection
You’ll be able to relax more!
Grow Me Instead… ◦ www.landscapeontario.com ◦ Mix of native plants and non-invasive non-native ornamentals
List possible candidates: (Use Latin names!) Light Moisture Soil
◦ Cultural Benefits ◦ Ecological Benefits Pollinators Food Habitat
◦ Suppliers: specialized native plant nurseries
Water & Wetland Gardens
Dogwood spp. Red Oiser Dogwood Gray Dogwood Silky Dogwood Alternate Leaf Dogwood
Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
Arrowheads Saggitaria latifolia
Meadow Gardens
Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
Woodland Gardens
Serviceberries Amelanchier spp.
Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
People
Stress and Nature (Ulrich)
Study: 120 people watch stressful video Monitored: • Heart Rate • Blood Pressure • Sweat • Cortisol • Muscular tension Urban Scenes
Lack of Recovery
Nature Scenes
More Complete Recovery
Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
Health and Nature
Hospital recovery time reduce, if patients can see tree out of a window (instead of buildings) Increased pain tolerance (even with a few potted plants) Subjective: ◦ Less stress, depression and hostility ◦ More lively and sense of well-being
Objective: ◦ Decreased heart-rate, blood pressure, and cortisol ◦ Increased immune-system, HR variability and cognitive ability, longevity (Health Canada study)
Recommended Books/Sites: Trees of Canada Newcomb’s Field Guide Fish & Wildlife Habitat Mgt (BMPs) Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Restoring Nature’s Place Donna Havinga
[email protected]
Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
Recommended Sites: Evergreen Phone:(416) 596-1495 Fax: (416) 596-1443 E-mail:
[email protected] Web site: http://www.evergreen.ca Native Plant Resource Guide for Ontario ($5 web, updated yearly) Society for Ecological Restoration www.serontario.org
North American Native Plant Society (NANPS) Phone: (416) 680-6280 www.nanps.org E-mail:
[email protected] Land and Water Stewardship Services WWW.NVCA.ON.CA
Shannon Stephens Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority 705-424-1479 ext 239
[email protected]
