Going Native: Talking to Your Landscaper with Bram Gunther of Plan it Wild
Going Native is our gardening series highlighting the contribution of native plants to building resilient landscapes. MyRye.com will introduce you to native plant experts that will tell you ways to get started with a small garden patch, a complete property or just a few garden containers.
Today we speak with Bram Gunther, VP of science and development at Plan it Wild.
MyRye.com: Many homeowners in Rye have landscapers that do some or all of the work taking care of their property.
What are three or four things each homeowner could ask their landscaper to do to lower their environmental impact and create a welcoming environment for pollinators and other wildlife?
Gunther: The steps recommended last week, except for the land assessment, can all be done by your landscaper. For the land assessment, you’ll need to turn to companies or consultants that have this expertise.
In the meantime:
- Get rid of some of your unnecessary lawn space and let it go wild. Your landscaper can mow the outlines of this piece of your land and perhaps mow it once a year in early spring to help prevent invasive species establishment, but otherwise tell them to leave it alone.
- Stop using herbicides.
- Have your landscaper use electric equipment to mow and maintain your lawn bi- or even tri-weekly mowing instead of once a week. Use blowers on driveways and hardscape only. There is absolutely no need to leaf blow your lawn, ever.
- Use native plants instead of standard horticulture plants when you’re doing new or replacement plantings. Most nurseries in the area sell native plants and you can ask to see proof of this from your landscaper.
Also read: Going Native: Gardening with Plan it Wild’s David Baker and our Going Native series.
