BESTPRACTICES
It is the mission of Stream Team to protect and enhance water resources and associated habitats and wildlife in Thurston County through citizen action and education. Stream Team is funded and jointly managed by the stormwater utilities of the Cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater and Thurston County. www.streamteam.info
Onceyou’vesmothered,bakedorremovedyourlawn,youarereadytoplant!Butwait!Howwillyouknowwhatplantstochoose?First,you’llneedtogainanunderstandingofthegrowingconditionsofyournewbed.Creatingawellthoughtoutplantingplanwillhelpyoureduceplantmaintenance,avoidcostlymistakesandsupportplanthealth.Considerthefollowingfactorsbeforemakingplantchoicessoyoucanenjoyabeautiful,carefreegarden:
• Howmanyhoursofsunlightorshade?• Whatsoiltypeisit?• Howwelldoesthesoildrain?• Aretherelargetreesblockingaccesstowaterorsunlight?• Aretherewallsclosebythatreflectheat?• Willthebedbeusedforscreening?• Whatcolors,sizesandfoliagetexturescomplimentyourhouseorsurroundings?• Doyouwanttoincludeedibles,fragranceorwildlifehabitat?• Haveyouthoughtaboutfourseasonsofinterestinyourbed?• Doyouwantamixofevergreenanddeciduousplants?• Howmuchtime,effortandmoneydoyouwanttospendonthebed?• Toavoidtheneedforfertilizers,pesticidesandexcesswater,thinknative!Nativeandwater-wiseplantsaretheeasiesttocareforandprovidehabitatforournativewildlife.
Belowareresourcestonativeandnon-nativeplantsuggestionsthatwillhelpyoucreatealovelygardenbedthatharmonizeswithnature.LookforplantsthatareknowntothriveinPacificNorthwestgardens,whilenaturallyofferingresistancetopestsanddiseases:Formoreinformationonplantselectionvisit:• www.greatplantpicks.org/plantlists/nw_native/yes• www.wnps.org/landscaping/landscaping_why.html• http://depts.washington.edu/hortlib/resources/hort_web_sites/plant_selection.php
Nextpage:PlantsforSun,Shade,PartSun/ShadeMix
DownsizingYourLawn:GetReadytoPlant!
BESTPRACTICES:DownsizingYourLawn:GetReadytoPlant! 2of2
It is the mission of Stream Team to protect and enhance water resources and associated habitats and wildlife in Thurston County through citizen action and education. Stream Team is funded and jointly managed by the stormwater utilities of the Cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater and Thurston County. www.streamteam.info
PlantsforSun
CoastalStrawberry•Kinnikinnick•MockOrange•PacificNinebark•RedFloweringCurrant
PlantsforShade
BleedingHeart•LowOregonGrape•RedHuckleberry•SwordFern•Trillium
PlantsforPartSun/ShadeMix
EvergreenHuckleberry•Rhododendron•Salal•Snowberry•VineMaple
Source:StreamTeamNews,Spring2017