03/26/2008 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Blue Thumb Standards Manual and Partners' Agreement Terminology When discussing the three areas of the Blue Thumb program, they should be listed either from least to greatest direct impact on water quality (native gardens, raingardens and shoreline stabilization) or from greatest to least impact on water quality (shoreline stabilization, raingardens and native gardens). Sample Descriptions of the Program Areas I. Design Native Gardens They are beautiful, cost less and require less maintenance than a regular lawn. Once established, native plantigs need little weeding, watering, mulching or mowing. II. Create a Raingarden Filter dirty stormwater from streets and rooftops before it enters our lakes and rivers. The main purpose of a raingarden is to absorb storrnwater runoff Therefore, both natives and non - natives are acceptable in raingarden plantings. III. Stabilize Shorelines Roots of native plants are long so they anchor the soil and filter out pollutants as well as discourage geese from congregating. In stabilizing shorelines with plants, native plants must be used. To avoid confusion with other programs, it is important to keep terminology consistent. When covering the three main areas of this program, only use "acceptable terminology ": Acceptable Terms to Describe the Blue Thumb Program Areas — Native Gardens — Native Plantings — Raingardens (one word) — Stabilize shorelines — Stabilize shorelines with plants or plantings — Stabilize shorelines with native plants or native plantings — Shoreline stabilization with /using plants /native plants /vegetation Terminology to be Avoided in Describing the Blue Thumb Program Areas — Natural plantings — Rain gardens (two words), rainwater gardens, water garden — Vegetated buffer, lakescaping, aquascaping. shoreline buffer, buffer zone or any other term • Blue Thumb Standards Manual and Partners' Agreement • • • Definitions Background Better landscapes result from a balanced mix of turfgrass lawns and /or other traditionally manicured portions with areas that can use plants that require less maintenance. How the balance is made depends on what is appropriate for the overall situation. Also, what is appropriate for one part of a yard may be completely inappropriate in another part. Many factors should be considered in making planning decisions for any landscape project. Some of these are: • site conditions such as soil type and shade; • functional or use requirements such as play areas and structures; • surroundings such as shorelines, wetlands and /or neighborhood culture and environment; • personal tastes and interests of the land owner(s); • local codes, association covenants and other'requirements placed by government agencies. Some places that are good candidates for using lower maintenance plantings are shorelines, wetland buffers and raingardens. There are various options for landscaping these areas. One very desirable and increasingly popular option is to use native plants. Native plants are important to use because of their low maintenance, soil stabilizing, stormwater retention abilities, and wildlife attracting characteristics. It is also very important to help reintroduce the hundreds of wonderful plant species that were "here first ". What is a "Native Plant "? Generally speaking, all species are native to someplace. But, people have taken many plants with them as they have emigrated around the world. In landscaping terms, "native" refers to a plant species that is used in a location or region where it grew before people began moving plants around. In the US, this means before the time of settlement by Europeans. Many species are known to occur across relatively wide ranges of geography, climate and environmental conditions. It is commonly understood that sub - groups of these species became adapted to various local conditions within these wider ranges. These are called "local ecotypes ". It is desirable to use the best adapted plants for a landscape project. Local ecotype native plants are clearly well adapted to local conditions. Therefore, Blue Thumb projects using native plants require local ecotype native plants. This means plant material propagated from original sources no farther than zoo miles (30o miles for trees and shrubs) from the project. Certain projects, such as ecological restorations, may require sources closer than this. What's the difference between a native plant and a "cultivar "? Many kinds of garden plants result from a breeding program or a deliberate process to select for certain desirable characteristics such as flower color. These plants are called "cultivars ". The word is derived from "cultivated" and "variety". They are usually given a unique name. Most turf grasses as well as annual and perennial bedding plants are cultivars. There are cultivars that have been selected and bred from species native to the U.S. too. Their genetic make -up is considered to be somewhat narrowed and altered from the original source material. Therefore, cultivars may only be used in those Blue Thumb projects that specifically allow them. Raingardens are an example of where cultivars could be allowed. Shoreline stabilization plantings and native gardens are an examples of where only local ecotype natives plants are to be used. Why are distinctive regional landscapes important? An intriguing aspect of landscaping and gardening is that you have to work with what you have. For the most part, soils and climate conditions are givens. This means that a yard in Minnesota is fundamentally different front one in Arizona, or even Iowa. It should look like it too! However, the cultural forces of uniformity that give us identical big box stores and fast food restaurants across the land also tend to create a bland sameness in the style of our landscapes. While mass producers and marketers lower costs and broadens availability, it also turns something special into a bland commodity Lowest possible up -front cost and standardization is fine for cars and electronic toys. It is questionable for food, a big threat for native plants and a disaster for regionally distinct, environmentally beneficial landscapes. One size definitely does not fit all and lowest price is not always best. Time and money invested into a quality landscape that promotes clean water benefits everyone. It's a lot less expensive to keep pollution out of our lakes and rivers by planting for clean water than it is to clean our waters up later. drafted by Blue Thumb Partner, Karl Ruser Landscape Alternatives, Inc.