DO NATIVE PLANTS REQUIRE LESS WATER?

As a residential landscape designer practicing in New York City and surrounding areas, I speak from professional experience and studies.

A native plant is a species that occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem and/or habitat and was present prior to European settlement in the United States. (Elsewhere in the world, there are different parameters.)  Native prairie, woodland and wetland plants have evolved to thrive in our natural conditions and, after the first season or two of establishment in your garden, typically require less maintenance than a conventional lawn or garden. 

They have adapted to the geography, hydrology, and climate of that region. Native plants occur in communities, that is, they have evolved together with other plants. As a result, a community of native plants provides habitat for a variety of native wildlife species such as songbirds and butterflies.

It’s important to understand that a commercial or residential landscape design may often be very different from the native conditions where a plant originated, even if they are found in the same state.  For the success of any plant, install the plant in similar conditions (light, soil, water/humidity, temperature, ph, etc) that you would find it in nature. Hence the axiom “right plant, right place”. 

Native plantings—prairie and woodland gardens, rain gardens set in a residential landscape design—are much more effective than lawn grass in slowing down stormwater and filtering out chemicals contained in it. The deep roots of many native species are able to absorb, hold, and gradually release this water—water that would otherwise rush into nearby bodies of water, eroding their banks and delivering pollution.

Some natives have incredible root systems that support the plants in times of drought. Compared with the roots of most non-native plants, warm-season grasses and flowers have a deep, extensive root system that helps absorb moisture and prevent erosion. Many species of prairie plants have roots that extend four to eight feet into the soil, while cool-season non-native grasses, such as Kentucky blue grass extend only a few inches into the soil. Deep roots allow native plants to withstand long periods of dry weather and so they require little or no watering after they are established.

According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center, a native landscape provides so much more than just water conserving features. Native landscapes provide habitats for wildlife and encourage the presence of native insects and microorganisms that benefit plants by keeping them healthy without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Even in the urban setting of a New York City garden design, my clients enjoy the entertaining value offered them when native plants attract butterflies and other pollinators.  It’s magical!

IDEAS FOR VERTICAL GARDENS AND WALL GARDENS: VERTICAL GARDEN DESIGNS AND TIPS

A vertical garden is a living wall. Whether you refer to them as wall gardens or vertical gardens, these can be wonderful and appealing opportunities for homeowners with restricted backyard space. They have the power to capture the imagination, they defy gravity, they link us with older civilizations and most importantly create aesthetic appeal where it was formerly absent.

Vertical gardens can be large or small, as with any garden dimension.  A vertical garden design can cover an entire wall or multiple walls in a courtyard. Vertical gardens are becoming very popular for inner city properties with tiny backyards.  As a New York City garden designer, I have ample opportunity to create these living walls to disguise unattractive views, erect privacy screens or create a focal point in a small garden design.

The most common vertical wall system (basic and time-tested) is to grow vines up a vertical wall.  There are several very effective trellis systems, from the basic wood or plastic trellis you could purchase at a Home Depot or Lowe’s – to more sophisticated heavy gauge, plastic coated or galvanized panel trellis systems.

photo: artencordoba

A conventional system for gardeners is to run small gauge wire across a span of wall and much like you would on the back of a picture frame, put galvanized screw eyes into a wall and attach the wire (or fishing line) to span the width.  Depending on the plant and what you choose to accomplish with its growth you can install these in parallel lines or create a grid pattern for the vines to spread on.

A variation of vertical gardens (as opposed to growing vines up a wall) is hanging pots with slits up the sides (common in several Mediterranean countries) or pots on stands or frames. These pots and containers are specially designed to attach to vertical walls or fences. There are more modern systems which use various bags of growing media that are attached to the wall into which the plants are sown. Other systems use specially designed plastic vertical pots that are designed for wall gardens. Hydroponic vertical gardens have become popular in the last ten years. Some of these vertical gardens are “cutting edge,” but a word of caution …these are higher maintenance and typically more costly.

In designing a vegetable garden it is important to take advantage of every opportunity to maximize your space. Even when people have the space, many prefer the convenience of an herb or vegetable garden at eye, or waist level which is much easier to tend and harvest. A vertical garden design increases your yield per square foot because you can fit more plants into the garden! Some people like the idea of being able to grow herbs or vegetables on a building wall, although care must be taken not to damage the existing structure. Additionally, vertical gardens increase accessibility for gardeners with disabilities or limitations because they can tend and pick from a chair or garden seat.

Photo: verticalgardenpatrickblanc

Here are the many benefits to vertical gardening:

• Aesthetic - first and foremost, whether it be a residential or public space garden design

• Improvement of Air quality – we all remember from grade school that one of the many benefits of plants is that they clean the air. China needs a few of these!

• Noise reduction – plants buffer sounds, reduce sound refraction

• Reduction of the “Urban Heat Island Effect” (a phenomenon caused by the centralized heat in urban cities caused by vehicle exhaust, air conditioners, and massive quantities of heat harboring in asphalt and concrete.)

• Reduce energy demand on buildings due to shading / introduction of microclimate. Living walls and green roofs reduce air-conditioning requirements and energy consumption of urban buildings through cooling the city.

• Stormwater absorption – it slows down the run-off effect of heavy rains from roofs

• Provide habitat for birds, their food sources and pollinators.

• Biophilia hypothesis – the inherent urge to affiliate with other living systems

• Potential for food production – whether latticing vegetables or espaliering fruit trees

• Greenery soothes your eyes. When you spend time with plants, not only do you feel relaxed and rejuvenated, but it also takes your mind off everyday worries and troubles. Any type of gardening is known to be a stress release. There is a natural human proclivity towards “natural” scenery in which vegetation is present – particularly in urban settings where the immediate environment is otherwise devoid of such luxuries

• From a gardener’s perspective, you are maximizing your space with minimal exposed soil, THEREFORE LIMITING THE WEEDING!

The keys to a successful vertical garden is having enough growing media for the plants and making sure that they can be watered efficiently and that the soil does not dry out quickly. Another key to a success (as in any garden design) is matching plants to the location of the garden and the variables associated with the garden's location such as sun, shade, wind, the plants needs, culture, size. Not all plants are suitable for vertical gardens.

Watering using irrigation systems are critical to the success of the garden.  Many of the pot systems are stacked so that water drains down from one pot to the next one below it.  As with any other types of gardening, vertical gardening must be carried out on a site-specific basis

photo: wallofcolor

Photo: vuon treo

Most vertical gardens need watering every day, except in wet and cold weather. Watering systems such as drippers are ideal to keep the plants properly hydrated.

Many high-tech vertical garden systems can be very expensive and cost many thousands of dollars to install, especially to retrofit new gardens into older properties. Vertical gardens are less costly when they are built into the design of the house and yard when it is first constructed.  However there are some low tech options such as Dripworks that is suited both to the DIY and professional landscaper.

Vertical gardens in cities are becoming trendy, as people love the way vertical gardens soften the wall, reduce heat and reflection, and provide a lush modern and contemporary look to a property.  You can find many vertical gardens in a New York City or Brooklyn garden design.

TIPS FOR VERTICAL GARDENING

Don’t overlook the gateway and your garden entrance - With a little creativity the entrance can be made into a beautiful creative vertical garden. An attractive gate or entrance adds character, and is very welcoming for visitors and can become a real showpiece.

photo: toddhaimanlandscapedesign2015

How Permanent Should your Vertical Structure be? This depends on whether or not you own the property and your future plans for it. This is also depends upon whether there are local ordinances, restrictions, codes. Generally you should choose lightweight materials that are easily removed.

photo:buildapedia

Check for shade and the availability of direct sun – Understand the direction the wall faces.  Based upon that you will have a better understanding of the amount of light the site offers. Remember a south-facing wall receives full sun, while a north facing wall mostly shade. Vertical gardens are less vulnerable to frost, but may be more vulnerable to wind. Grow shade tolerant plants long periods of shade throughout the day.

Choose your plant wisely - The best plants are those that are suitable for growing in dense clusters, that tolerate shade well and periodic drying. Many plants need to have airflow around them to mitigate fungal diseases, so keep that in mind when the vertical wall becomes a lush verdant wall. It may be time to do a bit of thinning. Vines and creepers work well but avoid species that become unmanageable and difficult to prune and control.

Make best use of vertical structures for attachment - The best way to set up a wall garden or vertical garden is to fix the pots or frames to a wall or fence. If you can’t, or don't want to drill into a wall or fence, the pots can be attached to chains dangling down the walls. You can also hang the planters from hooks or install frames to support the garden. Then design the plant.  Plants are phototropic. They grow directly to the sun, which means your vine wants to grow to the open sky. If you want the entire wall covered, try to take the first leaders and affix them horizontally.  The vine will then make a 90-degree turn and direct itself to the sun.

photo:inhabitat

Think carefully about the height and strength of the structure - Make sure that the wall and fence and the attachment points are strong and solid. They have to support the garden at all stages of its development. Remember that the vegetation will get heavier and heavier as the garden develops. Planters can get very heavy when filled with wet soil after heavy rain showers. Don't make the garden too high for easy care and maintenance.

photo:inhabitat

Be well aware of the maximum height the plants are likely to grow to when mature - This will affect the kind of structure you choose and will also affect accessibility for pruning, watering, fertilizing and various maintenance tasks. Consider how high you can comfortably reach! Also consider how you are going to trim, prune and maintain the plants as they grow.

EXAMPLES + IDEAS FOR BUILDING A VERTICAL GARDEN