Find out in our newly updated Greenscapes Guide
Fall is a great time to Greenscape! Planting in fall give plants time to get established, and fall is an excellent time to switch over to drought-resistant low-maintenance lawn cover. Follow the recommendations in our newly updated Greenscapes Coalition Greenscapes Guide to create beautiful, natural outdoor spaces that protect our water and wildlife.
Nurturing a healthy environment for your family
Nearly 70% of the pollution in our rivers, ponds, and oceans comes from rain and snowmelt that travels across the land. Especially in spring and summer, this stormwater runoff can become highly polluted from landscaping chemicals and fertilizers. Studies have shown that these synthetic products can cause many health problems through direct contact as well as air and water contamination. Greenscapes techniques will help you replace pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers with natural solutions, keeping a healthy environment for your family and for the environment around us.
Conserving water
Most years, we get enough rain to maintain a healthy summer lawn, yet massive amounts of water are still used for irrigation. Massachusetts households that water their lawns in the summer use up to 1900 gallons a week. That’s like running your shower for 12 hours! In most towns, water consumption nearly doubles from winter to summer, putting a strain on community water resources. Reducing or eliminating lawn watering through Greenscapes practices can save water, money and time.
Creating an oasis for birds and pollinators
Plants that are indigenous to your area (also called “native”) will bring more wildlife to your green spaces. Native plants attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife that have adapted over centuries to use them as a food source. Using pesticides will kill beneficial bugs along with those considered pests and could also inadvertently harm birds and other small mammals. Using natural plant care practices will assure that your yard is an oasis for wildlife.
Planning for an unreliable climate with adaptable outdoor spaces
While heavy rainstorms and “flash” flooding are becoming more common, Massachusetts suffered the worst drought in its history in 2016. Future climate forecasts predict an overall increase in dry days and the frequency of daily temps over 90°F, as well as an increase in heavy rainstorms. Planting your landscapes with drought-resilient plants that grow deep roots will help guard against these patterns of drought, heat, and flooding.
The Greenscapes Coalition’s Greenscapes Guide will help show you how to meet these goals while saving time, water and money! Find the Guide online here or come visit us at Riverbend to pick up a copy. Copies will also be available, for free, in Greenscapes Communities. Don’t know if your town is a member of the Greenscapes North Shore Coalition? Check out the list of members at greenscapes.org/members.