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David
and Deirdre (URI Master Gardener) Wrenn, Wickford, RI
What you will see!
Area 1: Coastal
bank -- sustainable plants - this page
Existing conditions
Phase
I plantings
Phase II plantings
Area
2: Shade Bed -- sustainable plants
Area
3: Roof runoff control
Back to demonstration sites
Area 1: Coastal
bank - sustainable plants - this page
Tip
1 - Choose the right plants
Existing
conditions:
The
north west side of the yard contains a steep bank that
slopes down to Wickford Cove. It is an approximately 1,000
sq. ft. area that contained a sparse covering of lawn grass,
was difficult to mow and subject to erosion.
Goal: The plan is to establish native and sustainable plants that allow for a
view of Wickford Cove to be maintained, require low maintenance once the plants
are well-established, and can tolerate north winds, ocean salt and partial shade.
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Phase
I sustainable plantings: September
22, 2003
Due
to the steepness of the bank area, the plants were planted
directly into the existing grass area and mulch was not
applied due to concerns of wash-out. The
areas between the plants will need to be clipped periodically
until the
plants fill in and cover the area. The upper fringes of
the planting
area were rototilled to aid in planting groundcover. Initial
plant list includes: Russian Arborvitae (Microbiota decussata);
Sweet fern (comptonia peregrina); Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica);
Anthony Waterer (Spirea Bumalda); and GreenSheen pachysandra
(groundcover).
Day
lillies currently exist along the bottom of the bank. Additional
day lillies from on-site were transplanted along the bottom
of the bank.
 |
| The
URI 101 class of students learn about sustainable
landscaping practices and techniques from Dr. Richard
Casagrande, URI Plant Science Department. |
Plants
selected and placed by Patricia Mullins, URI
Landscape Architecture Program
 |
|
 |
Anthony
Waterer and Russian Arborvitae, September 22, 2003 |
Sweet fern, October 14, 2003 |
Bayberry, Russian Arborvitae, October 14, 2003 |
Russian Arborvitae, Anthony Waterer, October 14, 2003 |
Russian
Arborvitae is a low growing shrub/groundcover and will spread
much like Rug Juniper. Here is an example of established
Russian Arborvitae at the URI
CE Botanical Gardens, June
2004.
July
2004, Anthony Waterer and Daylillies in bloom, Wickford
Cove |
June
2004, Anthony Waterer in bloom, Spiraea bumalda, Wickford
Cove |
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Phase
II sustainable plantings, 2005:
As
of July 2005, the Russian Arborvitae is well established
and is spreading at a rate of about 6 inches per year.
Grass needs to be periodically mowed in between the
plants, and it was determined that it would take a
few years before the plants would spread and fill in
the spaces due to the harsh conditions on the bank.
It
was decided that another option could include establishing
sustainable
groundcovers
within
the spaces
to reduce maintenance and enhance aesthetics. |
July
2005. The following grouncovers have been selected:
Barrenwort,
Epimedium (red, white and yellow)
Spotted Deadnettle, Lamium 'Pink Pewter'
Herman's Pride Dead Nettle, Lamiastrum Galeobdolon
Two additional Russian Arborvitae have also been planted
within the larger spaces.
|
A
line of sweet fern and two bayberry plants had originally
been planted to the western edge of the bank. Due
to winter kill and excessive shade, one sweet fern
and
one bayberry plant have survived.
They
have been transplanted to the eastern, bottom edge
of the bank
where another
sweet fern and bayberry plant already exist. The
eastern edge of the bank receives considerably more
sunlight.
July 13, 2005, two sweet fern at bottom, east edge
of bank. The sweet fern on the left was transplanted
from the western side of the bank.
July 13, 2005, one bayberry transplanted to bottom,
east edge of bank.
|
July
13, 2005. The eastern third of the bank has been accented
with Barrenwort. The outer
perimeter contains the GreenSheen Pachysandra that
was originally planted in previous years. The GreenSheen
variety has not performed as well under the harsh conditions
as other common varieties. Common Pachysandra varieties
will be interplanted to boost the perimeter planting. |
The spaces between the Russian Arborvitae plants was
lightly tilled. Newspaper was applied in between
the new and existing plants to help kill the underlying
grass and will break down over time. Mulch was applied
to reduce weeds, reduce erosion, and preserve soil
moisture until the groundcovers spread and fill in
the spaces. The mulch will be monitored
closely for wash-out. July
13,
2005. |
Lamium,
'pink pewter' is planted in the spaces on the western
third of the bank. The top left of this photo (the
bottom left of the bank) once contained the
bayberry
and sweet fern plants that have recently been transplanted
to the bottom, east edge of the bank. July 19, 2005. |
July
19, 2005. Looking up at the newly planted and mulched
lamium from the bottom of the bank. |
Area
2: Shade Bed -- sustainable plants
Area
3: Roof runoff control
Back
to demonstration sites Special
thanks to Patricia Mullins, URI Landscape Architecture
Program, for dedicating much thought and time to the site
design and plant selection.
Special thanks to Dr. Richard Casagrande and Dr. Brian Maynard (URI Plant Sciences
Department); URI Master Gardeners Rudi Hempe, Vicky Wilson, Linda Hughes and
Joy Gerstenblatt; and the URI 101 class of students for their time, expertise,
and assistance with planning, implementation and maintenance. Phase I.
Special
thanks to Dr. Sue Gordon and the Kinney Azaelea Gardens
for a generous plant donation.
Special
thanks to Dr. Brian Maynard, URI Dept. of Plant Sciences
and Rosanne Sherry, URI Master Gardener Coordinator for
their expertise and assistance with plant selection and
layout. Phase II. |
