Gardening Practices with Health and Ecology in Mind
A healthy landscape is a self-sustaining ecosystem requiring fewer external inputs. It is characterized by living soil, biodiversity, water efficiency, and the use of native plants. These components work together to create an entire ecosystem. The ecology of a property can be just as diverse as the natural landscape. It can have a range of micro-climates, impacted by existing natural and constructed elements on a property. An organic approach include all these components, and allowing them to guide the design process, rather than imposing a preconceived idea onto the land.
How to Begin
The first step in planning a garden is to assess the natural features of the landscape to have a better understanding of the soil and light conditions. Things to focus on are sun and shade, as well as identifying the areas that are dry and damp. Once you have a better understanding of these conditions, you are that much closer to understanding which plants will thrive. If you need assistance with the initial step, site-visits can be arranged with Nature Gardens.
The Design
The design process can be a casual visit to provide guidance or it can be a thorough assessment of your property leading to a complete design package which includes the property map, notes on ecology, documenting microclimates, identifying erosion concerns, a suggested plant list and an estimate on cost of materials, plants, and installation.
Planting
If you need assistance with planting, the work can be done by Nature Gardens or it can be referred to another reputable plant nursery that is specialized in native plants. We are able to plant annuals, perennials, wildflowers, herbs, grasses, sedges, shrubs and trees with an emphasis on plants that provide ecosystem services.
NATURE GARDEN SERVICES
PLANTING
Planting services include consultation, site prep, sourcing materials and plants, planting, and guidance on maintenance. Planting projects include creating of garden beds, building or sourcing planter boxes and amending existing beds.
Flowering annuals, perennials, ground covers, sedges, grasses, veggies, herbs, fruit trees, shrubs and berries
ECOLOGY
Ecological service are site-specific with an emphasis on landscape restoration. Habitat features focus on building biodiversity. Your garden can be certified as a wild-life friendly habitat as recognized by the Canadian Wildlife Federation
Removing unwanted or invasive plants, transforming lawns, creating rock structures, brush piles and pollinator sites