Past Events
Choose the native plants that are right for the conditions of your yard
plant your matrix of plants, then seed the rest of the area
On a slope, plant from top to bottom trying not to compact the soil by overstepping.
automatic seed spreader
electric seed spreader
large capacity manual seed spreader
spreading the tiniest of seeds
then water softly
a lot can be done with just a handful of people
After
using a broad fork to break up the soil
get to know your native plants
A color-coded sketch and plant list can be useful to keep track of which plant goes were!
Common yarrow has deep roots!
Start by cleaning the work area and piling 3" of compost evenly
Fold in 3" of compost into the clay soil. There is only 2" here, better add some more!
Fluff up the soil then mix it
Its getting there!
Great information on those red signs around your neighborhood
Think about the size of the plants you want to put in. Bigger plants are more work.
Rushes and sword ferns are ever green and can 'drink' water year round.
Beautiful native plants
Checking the edge of the sheet/mulch
If not all cardboard is completely composted, that's OK. Leave it in place.
Taking out grass with a hoe may work but you're also taking out the most nutritious layer of soil
detail
Adding rich compost helps plants establish themselves by providing nutrients & microorganisms.
Fringe cup Tellima grandiflora
New plantings are babies, handle with care.
If new plants are root-bounded, cut a few lines
Removing buried plastic to prepare the area
Landscape design by Eve Hanlin
Plant list by Eve Hanlin
try to keep the design dry
Marking the work area
and action!
adding compost to amend and restore soils
working in 3" of compost to 5" of native soil.
Amend soils using a broad fork (font) or spade fork (back)
Adding Salal a gorgeous native plant to landscape.
red-flowering currant
ferns are awesome!
cedar chips for the pathway from the curb to fence door..
Is a good idea to consider multiple access points to a path
it looks done, yeah?
Another tree swing and now is really done!
using fulcrum to lift concrete just enough to place a rock underneath. Hit the gap with a sledge hammer.
Repurpose concrete as a retaining wall, veggie beds or stepping stones!
Landscape design by Eve Hanlin
A seldom used concrete path is not functional.
Visualizing the project.
Using garden hose to trace the front pathway
Visualizing front pathway design
Loosening soil using "the claw".
amending soil using a broad fork
amending consists of fluffing compacted soil and mixing in 3" of compost
Digging trench for path. Cardboard ready for grass removal using sheet/mulch method
geo textile fabric specific for stormwater projects. Using other landscaping fabric may not allow water to in-filter fast enough
1/2"-3/4" crushed clean rock pathway provides room for rain water to be stored and in-filter into the ground
After
pathway with decorative slate
After
Beautiful AND functional!
native rush & garden gigant mushrooms
before
First summer!
before
This plant buffers water from the street
draft of evergreen plants for sunny conditions by Eve Hanlin
Draft of native plants for sunny conditions by Eve Hanlin
removing grass using sheet-mulch method
A planting bed on the edge of a property catches rainwater that feed your plants
before
take out grass using sheet-mulch method
Spreading straw inoculated with Stropharia rugosoannulata spawn (garden gigant)
Stropharia rugosoannulata mushrooms
Yellow eye grass, common yarrow and garden gigant mushrooms. Wood chips are used as mulch!
Landscape design for shade by Eve Hanlin
take out grass using sheet/mulch method
Planting a slope helps control erosion
finished!
First late summer!
The cutest volunteer!
Before
Marking first then taking out the grass using shovels
Amend soil by fluffing and adding compost. Then planting.
Before photo. Water splashed from street will saturate grass roots and wash off nutrients
Removing grass (and roots!) with shovels
Soil left behind is compacted and lacking nutrients. Area will need to be amended with compost, then planted
Hardy plants were chosen to stand the constant splashing of water by cars
native plants are adapted to our climate
A planting bed by a street or a wall can catch rain water returning it to its natural cycle and provide habitat for wildlife.
Roots of grass are shallow so they can only 'drink' so much rain water, the rest just runs off
Preparing the area by removing noxious plant clamatis vitalba
Clamatis vitalba identification
Compacted soil in the front yard. It needs a design that separates walking paths and planting areas
Compacted soil in the front yard. It needs a design that separates walking paths and planting areas
Design by Eve Hanlin
Brought in compost to be mixed with harden soil
Notice compacted vs fluffed soil
3" of compost worked into 5" of native soil
Native plants are adapted to our climate!
Planting a green screen creates privacy from the street and supports wildlife!
cedar chips were used to build permeable paths
Adding stepping stones to a wood chip path looks great!
before
After
A splashing zone was built next to impervious path
Splashing zone should be at least 1' wide. Plants help control erosion
This property receives rain form the sky and the street.
A trench was dug 20 years ago and water was pooling on top. Compaction of soil due to cleaning too much! and no small/med shrubs.
After reshaping and cleaning up the trench. There was river rock and the wrong type of plastic buried!
Amending and planting the area near the gravel path, stabilizes the soil and creates habitat for wildlife
Lay stormwater geo textile (don't use just any fabric!) directly on soil. Fill with 5" of clean crushed rock.
The path catches rain, allowing it to seep into the soil feeding plant roots. Also serves as garden maintenance path.
The rest of the area needed to be fluffed up, amended with compost and planted
The rest of the area needed to be fluffed up, amended with compost and planted
Compost to amend compacted soils
This project was about planting a low maintenance hedge against a fence. The space is 7' wide (the rest is city easement) on a slope
We amended & restore soils by adding compost and mixing it in.
The result was fluffy soil! We used a 4' wide roll of burlap or jute to control erosion on the slope
This natural fiber will degrade in time. If you need to secure the fabric, use materials that will also degrade like bamboo
Place some soil on the top edge of the fabric to secure in place while you work
Two strips of burlap were placed, overlapping them a few inches. Try to avoid compacting the area again!
Cut the fabric in an X and strip it back to place your plants
After planting, cover the fabric with 1"-2" of mulch. Water the area and let materials settle in
Working with care to not compact the amended area again
We dug a trench at the bottom for the water flow and done!
Seeds of native wildflowers were spread at the end to support wildlife and deter weeds. As the shrubs grow, they will shade the ground
compost to amend compacted soils. 3" of compost worked into 5" of native soils.
Landscape design by Lora Price
Front view, before.
Front view, during.
Enhancing what you already have is an efficient way to change the functionality of your yard!
Enlarging existing beds reduces grass, support wildlife and capture more water for your plants
After marking the area, take out the grass (and its roots) using a shovel (shown) or sheet/mulch method (easiest to do!)
Ready to amend the soil and plant. Notice how water pools on top if not amended!
Small planting bed next to driveway with unused concrete path (before)
Enlarged planting bed next to driveway, no concrete path!.
finished!
Adding existing plants to the bigger planting area makes it beautiful!
finished!
Add existing vegetation to the planting bed makes the vignette more interesting!
After taking out the grass (with shovel)
Then amend with 3" of compost into 5" of native soil. Plant and mulch 1"-2" on top.
Depaving: study the area to determine how it will function after depaving
Decide where to cut off the concrete. Sharp edges and a coherent design gives a professional touch to the job.
Use existing cracks on the concrete to break
Break concrete into manageable pieces
Rain water will pool on top if the soil is not amended
Repurpose broken concrete into retaining walls, veggie beds or stepping stones!
Is good to have friends
Start by thinking what activities would you enjoy doing in your yard
Use garden hose or branches to visualize new planting beds
Mark with landscaper spray paint all the areas to get a more accurate picture of your plan
Remove all rocks, branches, noxious plants and debris from the area to be transformed
Make a sketch! This design is by Lora Price
Planting on the edge of a property makes sense. If there are too many noxious plants to sheet/mulch the grass in place, remove with a pick
Remove grass from planting areas
Amend and restore soil by mixing in 3" of compost into 5" of existing soil
For a great look, border planting beds with natural materials like rocks and thick branches
Native plants are adapted to our weather and need no fertilizer or pesticides. I want a friend like this guy!!
Repurpose natural elements from your own yard!
Make sure to space plants according to how big they will get. Even if it looks a little sparse at first!
After amending with compost (black) and planting, mulch on top with 1"-2" of bark dust (red)
Before amending and planting
Finished!
During
After
BEFORE: lots of grass is ok but having birds and butterflies in your yard is awesome!
AFTER: a planting bed that returns rain to its natural cycle and supports wildlife!
BEFORE: an unused corner
AFTER: a green privacy hedge growing!
Lots of fun with a few friends, oh yeah!
While working on your landscape, always protect drains from debris, soil & sediment
This front yard receives more water than its capacity to in-filter it resulting in very soggy grass.
The project is to make existing planting bed bigger and build a permeable gravel pathway
Use garden hose to visualize where the path will go. Mark until satisfied with the layout.
The trench should be 5" deep. This was done by hand with shovels and picks
Scoring the path was a great way to keep the edges of the trench sharp
For about $350 we rented a dumpster for soil to be recycled.
Use sheets of plywood for equipment so the rest of the grass does not get ruined
We took out the grass with a shovel, it was 1.5" deep. The trench is 5"-6" deep
There was a short retaining wall that had to be adjusted slightly for the steps to fit the walkway
Plywood protects the grass we're keeping. A geo textile fabric specific for stormwater management lines the trench.
After photo
The gravel path will fill up with excess rain allowing it to seep into the ground slowly and feed nearby shrubs & trees
There is still plenty of grass but now there is a functional area adjacent to the house to manage rain!
Before. Notice the moss and lack of vegetation at the edge of the bed, clearly too much water is gathering there.
By amending the soil we create a sponge on top. Planted water loving plants that can evaporate and in-filter rain water.
Another view
Before
Finished!
Tucker demonstrating how compacted clay soil can get
Not much rain can in-filter in these soil. Amending is a must!
Landscape design by Lora Price.
For this project we are creating a short hedge along the chainlink fence
First thing was to take our rocks, branches or noxious plants from the area
This property needs many trees and shrubs to appropriately manage rain
Property slopes towards the center so by creating a planting bed at the edge we are capturing and slowing down the flow of water