Description of Plantings

Landscaping

Whether you live in the city, a suburb, or rural America, you can expect more from your yard than a manicured lawn and ornamental plants.

Once completed, the grounds at a demonstration house in Madison, Wis., will show how much more a yard can give you. The yard and the house are projects of two agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – the Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The landscaping is based on "Backyard Conservation," an effort led by NRCS to help homeowners think more environmentally about their yards. The first plantings will be part of an Earth Day celebration at the house on April 22, 2002.

When completed, the landscape will show how you can conserve and protect our natural resources, while bringing beauty and natural diversity to your yard. The plan enhances the kinship between humans and nature and reflects the latest conservation design:

More Efficient Heating and Cooling–Trees will be placed where they will help cool the house in summer and block prevailing winds in winter, which will save energy and lower utility bills.

Less Water Damage and Consumption–Rainwater that falls on the roof of the house will be collected and used for irrigation, reducing both surface runoff and municipal water use. Retention basins and pervious paving will trap sediment and reduce surface water runoff. Grading a portion of the yard will demonstrate erosion control and slope stabilization.

More Habitat for Wildlife–Native trees, shrubs and other plants will provide homes and food for a wide variety of birds, small mammals, insects and other wildlife.

Greater Pleasure for the Senses–Special spaces will exhibit modern landscaping techniques. Plants in these areas can be used in herbalism, aromatherapy and flower essences. Special plantings will include a fragrance garden of pleasant smelling plants; a moon garden of light-colored, shiny and night-flowering plants; and a sensory garden of plants that are fun to touch.

Improved Safety–Soft, springy shrubs will cushion the landing if anyone falls or jumps from second story windows.

Opportunities to Recycle Plant Materials–The landscaping plan also includes areas for mulching and composting. Parts of the yard will be linked by paths and ramps made of recycled materials.

Landscaping with conservation in mind may have other benefits. Who knows–looking at native plants and wildlife through your kitchen window might even help relieve the stress of your busy life.

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The landscaping plan for the demonstration house was conceived by Bob Snieckus, ASLA, and Ginger Murphy of the NRCS headquarters in Washington, D.C. Detailed planning will be by the Wisconsin chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and landscape architecture students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Initial plantings will come from NRCS’s Plant Materials Centers.