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55 Richard Smith Drive,
Wickford, RI 02852,
401-294-3521
Smith's
Castle is
a historic site open to the public and located in the
town of North Kingstown, Rhode Island. The Castle is owned
and operated by the non-profit Cocumscussoc Association.
URI Master
Gardeners and Smith's Castle volunteers partner in the
care and
management of the Castle gardens and grounds and incorporate
many healthy landscaping practices. The
pictures below illustrate some of the sustainable landscaping
methods being practiced at the Castle.
Crushed
Stone Walkways, Parking Lot and Runoff Control
Smith's Castle features a
crushed stone walkway on the grounds in heavy traffic
areas where it is difficult to maintain grass.
Crushed stone or other permeable
paving options are better
than impervious
surfaces because they allow rainwater to soak through, replenishing
the groundwater table instead of creating stormwater
runoff which can lead to pollution
in nearby storm drains or water bodies. This is especially
important for Smith's Castle because
it is surrounded by Mill Cove in the Narragansett Bay and
the Cocumscussoc Brook, important water resources
for the area.
The
small shrubs lining the crushed stone walkway above also
help control runoff by slowing it down, and add
an aesthetically pleasing look.
As
shown in the above and below pictures, crushed stone
also serves the dual purpose of slowing down roof runoff
at the Castle. The majority of the roof area does not
use gutters or downspouts, so the crushed stone serves
as the mechanism to slow down
the
runoff
and allow
it
to
infiltrate.
Smith's
Castle has a large lot for visitor parking. Crushed stone
reduces runoff to nearby fresh and coastal water resources.
June 9, 2005.
Crushed stone parking lot, June 9, 2005.
Shoreland Buffers
Shoreland
buffers, also known as riparian buffers, are
also important for controlling stormwater runoff and
protecting water resources. Shoreland buffers are areas
bordering water bodies that are maintained
in natural vegetation instead of a lawn or other managed
landscape. This vegetation helps slow down and settle
stormwater
runoff and allows it to filter naturally into the ground
or
be uptaken by the plants. This can help to remove some
pollutants such as bacteria and nutrients.
Shoreland
buffers also provide habitat for many species. For many
fresh water resources, trees in the buffer zone are important
as they provide shade which helps keep the water cool.
Cool water stores more oxygen than warm water so this
is crucial for the health of aquatic life.
Mill Cove
The picture above shows where the Cocumscussoc Brook,
a freshwater stream, enters Mill Cove. A narrow area that
is managed in lawn provides
view and access. The key, as has been done here,
is to
minimize
these areas to only what is required to ensure a well functioning
shoreland buffer remains.
For more information on landscaping near
surface water resources, click
here.
Healthy
Lawn Care
The
lawn at Smith's Castle does not receive irrigation water,
fertilizers, or pesticides, which helps to protect the
surrounding water
bodies from potential
pollution. The pictures
below illustrate some additional healthy
lawn care practices
being employed at the Castle.
White
clover, a legume, fixes atmospheric
nitrogen and converts it into a form that
the lawn can use, reducing the need for added fertilizers.
Lawn clippings are also left on the lawn after mowing,
providing additional nutrients and further reducing the
need for applied fertilizers.
There
is often waterfowl passing near the Smith's Castle grounds.
In situations such as these it may be tempting to feed
the waterfowl but that is not recommended because it encourages
the waterfowl to congregate in groups larger than would
naturally be present. This creates a water quality issue
because of the excess animal
waste.
This
lawn area contains natural stones and boulders at the surface.
The lawn in this area is subject
to shallow soil depth near the rocks which can lead to
reduced drought tolerance and weed invasions--especially
crabgrass. Another issue is that this landscape is more
difficult to mow.
Naturally
occurring boulders can be used to create rock and
water gardens as has been done at our Glen
Demonstration Site. Another option here would be to
expand on the existing cedar stand to create a park-like
setting. Some options could include planting additional
hardwood trees with interesting bark, fall leaf color,
or spring flowers and/or other evergreen trees and shrubs
that provide interesting foliage, flowers, fruits and berries.
The lawn area beneath the cedar stand (and additional tree
and shrub
plantings) could be planted to native wildflowers and groundcovers.
Think about creating irregular or wavy edges with
additional tree and shrub plantings. Some plants should
be selected for their tolerance of salt spray, others
for their ability to tolerate shallow soils, others, near
the shoreline, for their ability to tolerate temporary
flooding or moist soils. Installing benches, paving stones,
and crushed stone can
also enhance the aesthetics of a park-like setting. For
more information on landscaping in wooded areas see our Woodscaping
Factsheet Series, Today's Forest Tomorrow's Legacy: A Guide
for Small Acreage Woodland Owners. For
other site suitable plants, consult the URI
CE GreenShare Sustainable Tree and Shrub Manual.
Composting
The
composting at Smith's Castle is managed by a group of URI
Master Gardener volunteers. This bin was constructed to compost
plant prunings and other yard waste to use as mulch.
Master
Gardner Jules Cohen discusses Smith's Castle's composting
activities during a recent Healthy Landscapes tour in
August 2004. To find out more about composting view this
GreenShare
factsheet or
call the URI Master Gardener Hotline at 1 (800) 448-1011.
Rain
Barrel
Rain
barrels are used to gather rain water coming out of roof
gutter downspouts so it can be used to water plants during
dry periods. Collecting the rain water also helps to prevent
stormwater runoff. The rain barrel above was installed
at Smith's Castle in August
2004 and holds 54 gallons of water. The Barrel's outlet will
eventually connect to a soaker hose to water
the nearby
garden,
shown
below.
This barrel is installed on cement blocks to help with
gravity flow from the barrel.
During the Spring of 2005, a roof gutter downspout extension
was installed to allow for two rain barrels to be linked
in series, holding a total of 108 gallons of water.
The rain barrels are linked with a flexible plastic hose
that comes with each of these ready-made rain barrels.
June 9, 2005.
18th
Century Garden
The
18th Century Garden is a unique garden on the Smith's
Castle grounds that displays many of the same plants that
would
have been present in a similar garden during the 18th Century.
The garden uses many sustainable practices such as crushed
stone walkways
and mulch to retain moisture, reduce watering needs,
and reduce weeds. Where possible naturally disease
and pest resistant plant varieties
are used. Future plans for the garden may include a water
efficient drip irrigation system.
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