Sustainable Landscaping
healthy lawn care
rain gardens

 

 
We have six demonstration sites in the town of North Kingstown that showcase examples of healthy landscaping.


Plant Pro, with Marion Gold

Several Plant Pro and other TV segments have been filmed at our local demonstration sites.

Every yard is a work in progress. Options for having an attractive, healthy landscape that protects valuable water resources are endless and will be determined by your goals, time, and resources.

Here are some examples of things that you can do:

Davisville Site -- click here for site map

Area 1: Front lawn and beds

*Beds of trees, shrubs and other plants that require minimal inputs of fertilizer, pesticides and water; Border beds to control stormwater runoff

*Alternative white grub control


*Rain barrels and soaker hose


*Lawn renovation


Area 2: Backyard

*Permeable paving alternatives--using crushed stone for walkways and to minimize difficult to maintain lawn areas.

*Lawn renovation with shade tolerant grass mix and white clover

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Gilbert Stuart Road Site
small acreage livestock farm

Area 1: Rotational grazing of sheep; nutrient and manure managment on pastureland

*pet waste managment using in-ground disposal system

Area 2: Runoff management

* home-made rain barrels

* permeable paving materials -- driveway

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The Glen Site

Area 1: Front lawn and beds*Beds of trees, shrubs and other plants that require minimal inputs of fertilizer, pesticides and water; Border beds to control stormwater runoff; naturalized areas

*Sustainable, water wise lawn management, proper use of automatic sprinkler system

*Crushed stone to protect soil and control runoff

* New bed of sustainable plants and drip irrigation

Area 2: Rock and water gardens -- sustainable landscaping around existing site conditions -- rock ledge

*composting with the soil maker composter

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North Kingstown Town Hall Demonstration Rain Garden

*Overview, regular updates, and plants used

*Details on planning, design, and installation

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Smith's Castle Site

*Crushed stone walkways, parking lot and runoff control

*Shoreland Buffers

*Healthy Lawn Care

*Composting

*Rain Barrel

*18th Century Garden

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Wickford Cove Site -- click here for site map



*Area 1: sustainable plantings on steep, coastal bank; minimizing difficult to maintain lawn area

*Area 2: shade gardening; bed of sustainable and native plants

*Area 3: stormwater runoff management -- roof runoff

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The URI Cooperative Extension Botanical Gardens

*2004 Renovation Project: southwest entrance of the gardens

Sustainable landscape enhancement in an area subject to heavy foot traffic and exposure. Practices include use of native and sustainable plants, control of soil erosion and storm water runoff, the use of fencing, rock gardening (hardscaping) and permeable paving options to control foot traffic and allow for low maintenance.

*URI Master Gardener Vegetable Demonstration Garden: rain barrel and drip irrigation