With the Environment in Mind: Planting Guides

The following post comes courtesy of Global Site Plans' The Grid. CNU and Global Site Plans recently teamed up to syndicate Grid content, as its contingent of writers presents a view on the opportunities and issues of urbanization all across the world. CNU will carry select posts from the Grid direct on the CNU Salons.

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 In the age of sustainability and more environmently-minded people, landscaping guides are more prominent now than in the past few decades. Alandscape guide sets out specific plants pertaining to a certain region, city, or town. Their main purpose is to solidify the native and non-native species in a given area, including, but not limited to, flowering plants, soils, bloom time, water use, and trees. Planting guides, as they are sometimes referred to, inform the user of planting techniques, preservation plans, irrigation options, maintenance & replacement concerns, and suitable materials for their specific landscaped area.

Flowering plants require more sunlight and maintenance than other shrubs

The harsh Colorado winters and lack of water limit plant typologies native to the region

The Town of Buena Vista, Colorado offers a planting guide, approved by the Board of Trustees, for its citizens to follow when submitting landscaping plans. TheBV Planting Guide outlines what trees, shrubs, and flowering plants are native to the South Central Colorado valley region. A highlight of the guide is the ‘Xeriscape Landscape Techniques’ section, which refers to a landscape practice requiring less watering than a more traditional landscaping approach.

The planting guide states xeriscaping includes seven principles:

• Proper Planning;
• Soil Improvement;
• Limited Turf Area;
• Efficient Irrigation;
• Proper Use of Mulches;
• Use of Native & Drought Tolerant Plants;
• Proper Maintenance.

Referring to a planting guide can really benefit a resident of the specified region.Knowing what to plant, when to plant it, and the maintenance of a given region can dramatically reduce cost and time spent on landscaping. A planting guide can also keep native plants in their natural setting versus introducing or populating non-native species into the incorrect area.

Have you checked out your city’s planting guide? Do you know what plants are native to your region?

To read the original post, written by Katie Poppel, visit Global Site Plans.