Landscaping for a Healthy Watershed

Everything in Nature contains all the powers of Nature. Everything is made of hidden stuff.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

to Barnegat Light, most of the rainfall that reaches our Island eventually finds its way into our Bay. We can manage this flow and keep our waters clean by landscaping wisely.

Consider creating a traditional Island yard, a natural habitat that includes a variety of indigenous grasses, mosses, lichens, and wildflowers. These native ground covers survive summer heat and drought without pampering, poisoning, or polluting.

Thoughtful landscaping can change the volume, velocity, and quality of the water that flows from your property. Trees, shrubs, and ground cover not only enhance the appearance and value of your property but also help reduce runoff, which transports excessive sediment and pollution to the Bay.

A few simple actions can retain more rainwater on your property, replenish groundwater supplies, reduce your reliance on chemicals and fertilizers, and improve the quality of our waters.

If you are building a new home, retain as much of the native vegetation as possible. This not only reduces runoff and pollution, it gives you a head start on your eventual landscaping and thus may also save you money.

Wetland regulations control the cutting of vegetation adjacent to water bodies. Without a buffer, nutrients transported from the land flow directly into the Bay, stimulating excessive proliferation of algae blooms and seaweeds. These plants can dramatically reduce oxygen levels in the water, making it impossible for

The term “Mosquito State” is appropriate for New Jersey because 63 species of mosquitoes have been found here. Mosquitoes need water. Coastal salt marshes serve as breeding areas. Mosquitoes use their antennae, like radar, to detect the carbon dioxide we exhale. Finally, when they touch down, heat-seeking sensors in the antennae and proboscis locate a plump blood vessel to tap.

The Greenhead Fly is an abundant summertime pest. The salt marsh is this fly’s favorite habitat. This scourge of Barnegat Bay is a strong flier, capable of flying over 30 miles without landing. Deer flies are large, triangular-shaped flies with wings marked with dark patterns. These tiny tormentors are most active on warm, sunny days when there is little wind. They are visual insects, locating hosts to bite by movement. They are also attracted to the carbon dioxide we expel. As with mosquitoes, it is the female fly that bites us.

Apparently, the Mosquito, Greenhead Fly, and Deer Fly play an essential part in maintaining our ecosystem. When you are swatting away at these bloodsucking insects, however, it’s hard to believe they are beneficial in any way!

local fish and shellfish to survive. Vegetative buffers also provide natural habitat for native insects and other animals.

Well planned landscaping offers other benefits. You can reduce your heating and cooling costs by as much as 30% just by planting and clearing wisely. Trees, shrubs, and ground cover also attract wildlife and require much less maintenance, fertilizer, and pesticide than grass.

Before you head to the nursery, consider the growing conditions of your land. Different plants require different kinds of soil, nutrients, and exposure to the sun. Parts of your property may also be subject to wind, foot traffic, or salt spray.

Island soil is naturally sandy. You may have planting beds that have been enhanced with topsoil or other material. Check the soil. In order to know just what to plant and how to treat your property, have soil samples tested for type, pH (acidity), nutrient availability, and mineral content. Homeowners can have their soil tested by a professional landscaper, or purchase a soil test kit from Rutgers Cooperative Extension or a local garden center. Check the Resources chapter for information about soil testing kits.

Matching the needs of your plants to the conditions of your landscape decreases the need for extra water and fertilizer and increases your plants’ resistance to disease and pests. Plants native to LBI are well adapted to our climate, soil, and water supply; they are less bothered by salt, disease, and pests than plants introduced from other areas. When established, native plants are practically maintenance free requiring little or no irrigation or fertilizer. Resistant to most pests and diseases, they have root systems that help rainwater soak into the soil, reducing runoff. Our birds, insects, and butterflies depend on them for food and shelter. Do not dig these plants in the wild. Purchase them from nurseries that offer nurserypropagated native plants. Examples include bayberry and beach plum, which thrive in dry conditions and provide food for wildlife. Little bluestem, an ornamental grass, whose seeds are eaten by birds, turns bright orange and bronze in the fall.

Flowers attract beneficial insects that kill harmful pests. Perennials come back every year, and are attractive and low maintenance. Many spread quickly to form lovely dense beds. Annuals live only one season. While some annuals require a lot of water, others are drought tolerant. Choose non-self-seeding varieties. Wildflowers are another alternative. They are perfect in sunny spaces and along fences. It takes about three years to establish a wildflower garden, but your patience will be rewarded. Ornamental grasses are another good choice. They need little water and minimal fertilizer. And they are largely free of insects and diseases.

Visit the Native Plant Society of New Jersey’s website for plant lists. Other sources of information include the Rutgers Extension Service, which provides additional publications. Local nurseries will help you select plants appropriate to your yard and soil type.