Home  Landscaping Brochure |
Friday, September 3, 2010 |
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
)Lakeshore Landscape Design
Lakes need a green buffer to prevent the erosion of shorelands into the water.
Landscaping of a lakeshore property requires special consideration to help ensure that the lake is minimally impacted by human activity. In that effort, ground covers, shrubs, and trees serve an important function in trapping sediment and water runoff.
This brochure suggests landscaping strategies for both established and new properties. Included are lists of both native and appropriate non-native species for different soil and light conditions.
Overview
|
|
The best landscape design near a body of fresh water is one that interrupts any potential flow of surface water directly into the lake, pond or stream. Existing trees, new plantings, and ground covers all can trap runoff water from rain and snowmelt and allow it to settle into the soil. The water can then be filtered by the soil before it reaches the lake through underground routes. |
Runoff from rain contains phosphorus and silt, which is also a major source of phosphorus. Phosphorus is a nutrient that feeds algae in the water; algae "blooms" kill fish, turn the water green and ugly, and smell awful!
Silt carried into the lake not only brings phosphorus, it also settles on the bottom, creating a fertile bed for unwanted weed growth. Sediment fills stream beds, inhibiting water flow, destroying fish spawning areas, and suffocating all organisms living on the bottom.
Keep a Green Buffer Zone
|
State and local regulations call for a "buffer zone" with as much native vegetation as possible in areas near the shore, in order to limit runoff. (Consult the town of Wolfeboro’s zoning regulations and New Hampshire's Shoreland Protection Act.) Allow natural materials to build up on the soil, as they do in the woods: pine needles, leaves, and small branches create a "duff" layer, which mulches and absorbs water. |
|
The presence of plantings, rather than grass or eroded areas, allows the plants to trap silt and water. Their roots hold soil together, reducing the chance of erosion, and absorb the phosphorus from runoff water. (Phosphorus is a helpful nutrient to the plants which take it up.)
Minimize Lawn Area
Plants trap runoff better than manicured lawns. Groundcovers and rock gardens can substitute well for grass. Views over shrubs can be maintained with careful pruning.
If you want a lawn, plant low-maintenance grass varieties that do not require the use of fertilizers.
Design Paths and Walks to Meander
|
|
Allow any path leading down to the shore to curve and meander, so that water will not flow down the path but settle into the soil along the way. Walks should be made of permeable materials to help water settle into the soil, rather than run into the lake. |
Plants for Shoreland Areas
The list that follows is a good selection of plants that are native to the Lakes Region, or which are appropriate non-native species hardy in this climate. Native plants and the non-natives listed are accustomed to weather and soil conditions like those found in this area and do not need high concentrations of fertilizer. (Fertilizer runoff is harmful to lakes.)
|
A well balanced landscape design will include trees, shrubs and ground covers. There are local and state regulations about cutting trees; check with the Wolfeboro Conservation Commission. Although larger trees are not listed in this brochure, they are available from local landscapers and nurseries, who can advise you as to appropriateness of specific species. |
|
Key
* These plants have berries that will attract birds.
# These plants are recommended by the LWA as particularly appropriate native species.
Shrubs
Evergreens Good for Screening
|
Plant |
Comment |
|
Austrian Pine (Pinus
Nigra) |
Sandy soil |
|
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga
canadensis) |
|
|
Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)
|
Well drained, full sun |
|
White Cedar (Thuja
Occidentalis) |
|
|
White Pine (Pinus
strobus) |
Does not tolerate salt
or pollutants |
Full Sun, Dry Soil
|
Plant |
Comment |
|
American Hazelnut (Corylus
americana) |
Tolerates poor, dry soil |
|
Blackhaw (Viburnum
prunifolium) |
Sun to dense shade * # |
|
Meadowsweet (Spirea
latifolia) |
|
|
Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo) |
Good drainage |
|
Potentilla (Potentilla
fruticosa) |
|
|
Spiraea (Spiraea species)
|
|
|
Sweet Gale (Myrica gale)
|
Tolerates poor, dry soil
|
Full Sun, Average Soil
|
Plant |
Comment |
|
Forsythia (Forsythia
intermedia) |
|
|
Gray Dogwood (Cornus
racemosa) |
|
|
Lilac (Syringa species) |
|
Full Sun, Moist Soil
|
Plant |
Comment |
|
Common Witchhazel (Hamamelis
virginiana) |
|
|
Elderberry (Sambucus
canadensis) |
Tolerates acidic soil * |
|
Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium
corymbosum) |
Well drained, moist soil
* # |
|
Northern Bayberry (Myrica
pensylvanica) |
Slow growing |
|
Red Twig or Red Osier
Dogwood (Cornus sericea) |
|
Partially Shaded, Sometimes Wet Soil
|
Plant |
Comment |
|
American Cranberry (Viburnum
trilobum) * # |
|
|
Arrowwood (Viburnum
dentatum) |
Quick growing * # |
|
Inkberry (Ilex glabra) |
Protect from wind # |
|
Large Fothergilla (Fothergilla
major) |
|
|
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia
Latifolia) |
Well drained soil.
Cannot tolerate clay. Protect from wind # |
|
Rosebay Rhododendron or
Great Laurel (Rhododendron maximum) |
Tolerates dense shade,
needs well drained, moist soil. Protect from wind # |
|
Serviceberry or Shadbush
(Amelanchier canadensis) * |
|
|
Spicebush (Lindera
benzoin) |
|
|
Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron
viscosum) |
Sun or shade, wet or
average soil # |
|
Sweet Pepperbush or
Summer Sweet (Clethra alnifolia) |
Heavy shade to full sun
# |
|
Winterberry or Black
Alder (Ilex verticillata) |
Tolerates very wet soil
* # |
Partially Shaded, Dry Soil
Native viburnums, which attract birds but can become wild and undisciplined:
|
Plant |
Comment |
|
Hobblebush (Viburnum
alnifolium) |
Sun or partial shade * |
|
Maple Leaved viburnum (Viburnum
acerifolium) |
Partial shade * |
|
Nannyberry (Viburnum
lentago) |
Sun or partial shade * |
Ground Covers
|
Plant |
Comment |
|
Allegheny pachysandra (Pachysandra
procumbens) |
|
|
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos
uva-ursi) |
Full sun |
|
Bunchberry (Cornus
canadensis) |
Cool moist woods # |
|
Canby Pax (Pax canbyi) |
|
|
Creeping Juniper (Juniperus
horizontalis) # Species: Wiltonii (6") Bar Harbor (12") |
Full sun, dry |
|
Hay Scented Fern (Dennstaedtia
punctilobula) |
|
|
Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium
angustifolium) |
Part shade, dry soil |
|
Mountain Cranberry (Vaccinium
vitis-idaea) |
|
|
Sweet Fern (Comptonia
peregrina) |
|
|
Virginia Creeper or
Woodbine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) |
Tolerates all soil, sun,
exposure to wind * # |
|
Wintergreen (Caultheira
procumbens) |
|
|
Yellowroot (Xanthoriza
simplicissima) |
Part shade, moist but
well drained |
Ornamental Options for Ground Cover
|
Plant |
Comment |
|
Astilbe (Astible species)
|
|
|
Cranesbill (Geranium
species) |
|
|
Daylily (Hemerocallis
species) |
|
|
Ginger (Asarum species) |
|
|
Plantain Lily (Hosta
species) |
|
|
Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa)
|
Dry and sandy |
Sources of native species
Local sources for a variety of species appropriate for shorefront lots, and advice on selection:
· Spider Web Gardens, Tuftonboro (603) 569-5056
· Merrymeeting Garden Center, New Durham (603) 859-3030
· Sias Farm Garden Center, Osippee (603) 539-4602
· Cameron’s Home and Garden Center, Farmington (603) 755-2189
There are also many landscape gardeners in the area who can advise you and acquire these plants.
Acknowledgements
|
|
The LWA gratefully acknowledges the use of materials provided by the Lake Sunapee Protective Association in the preparation of this publication. Bill Stockman of Spider Web Gardens also contributed to this brochure. |
The Lake Wentworth Association
PO Box 834
Wolfeboro Falls, NH 03896-0834
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
