Wetlands and Wildlife

• Native Plant Trust’s Garden Plant Finder
• Coastal Landscaping in Massachusetts Plant List – Find landscaping options for controlling coastal erosion and preventing storm damage, provided by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) StormSmart Coasts Program. The native plants listed here are good choices for the rugged coastal conditions of Massachusetts.
• Landscaping to Protect Your Coastal Property from Storm Damage and Flooding – This fact sheet from the StormSmart Coasts Program provides suggestions for native plantings and other landscaping options specific to coastal habitats to protect your home from flooding and storm damage. 
• Native Plant Finder for Pollinator Species at Risk – Dr. Robert Gegear at UMass Dartmouth studies plant-pollinator interactions and has currated a list of native plant recommendations for native pollinator species, including those at risk.
• National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder

Environmentally-Friendly Landscaping Practices to Prevent Stormwater Pollution

Stormwater pollution is the fastest growing type of water pollution in the state. Any natural or man-made contamination, such as dumped leaves and grass, dog waste or lawn fertilizers, that finds its way into our natural water sources (i.e. streams, ponds, rivers, bays, groundwater) is stormwater pollution. Everyone can do their part to reduce pollutants for clean water and a healthier environment. Right now is a good time to think about what you can do with your landscaping to help improve ecosystems, environmental practices, and reduce stormwater runoff from your yard. Consider speaking with your landscape company about their lawncare practices that can make your yard more environmentally-friendly. 

• Consider planting native groundcover plants or grass alternatives, rather than maintaining grass lawns.
• If you live on the water, consider planting maritime shrubs to help not only with runoff but with preventing erosion and assisting with flood control as well.
• Use grass clippings and mulched leaves to naturally fertilize lawns and garden beds
• Adjust mower blades to 2″ – 3″ tall and keep the blades sharp
• Don’t mow wet grass
• If you have to water, water once a week and no more than 1″
• Pick up dog waste and properly dispose of it

More lawn care tips are available at: ThinkBlueMassachusetts.org or Lawns and Landscapes in Your Watershed

Wildlife-Friendly Garden Tips

Do you enjoy watching wildlife in your backyard? Here are some great tips from the National Wildlife Federation on creating a wildlife garden (Sources: https://www.nwf.org/Garden).

Wildlife gardens can connect corridors of habitat necessary for migratory species between natural and larger protected areas of habitat on municipal, state, and federal lands.

Reducing your lawn and planting native plants can:

• Save time and money that you would normally spend on mowing and fertilizing grass. Native plans require much less maintenance than turf grass.
• Areas of lawn that include only one type of plant, such as turf grass, offer little habitat value for wildlife. A variety of native plants can provide wildlife with food, cover, and places to raise their young. 
• Conserve water. Native plants, once established, require much less water than turf grass.
• Reduce lawn mower air pollution.
• Decrease run-off of lawn fertilizers and pesticides into local watershed. Once established, native plants do not require fertilizers or pesticides. 

Certified Wildlife Habitats result in high percentages of:

• Wildlife that is present and observed on a daily basis, in particular, migratory wildlife such as bees, butterflies, birds, along with small mammals.
• Indicator species, such as monarch butterflies, bumblebees, and frogs. Indicator species are those that are moderately affected by disturbances to ecosystems and can act as an index of ecosystem health. Experimental small-scale flower patches increase bee species density.
• Tree coverage than neighboring non -certified sites, improving water retention, minimizing erosion and surface habitat. Significantly, reduced carbon and air pollution properties was evident. In fact, National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitats sequester 811.62 metric tons of CO2 annually more than their non‐certified neighbors.
• Native plants supporting wildlife than neighboring non-certified sites.
• Water conservation and stormwater runoff management through groundwater permeability.

To learn more about creating a sustainable garden that helps wildlife, visit the National Wildlife Federation Garden for Wildlife.