Grow Low-Maintenance Grasses. 



Due to lower maintenance re- 

 quirements, there is increased 

 interest in and research devoted 

 to the development of dwarf turf 

 grasses These grasses, such as 

 fine-leaf fescues and perennial 

 ryes, perform well with lower in- 

 puts of fertilizer, water, mowing, 

 and pesticides Dwarf turfgrasses 

 are survivors under adverse con- 

 ditions — including our infertile, 

 acidic soils — and tolerate shade, 

 drought, most pests, and cold 

 temperatures. Several new variet- 

 ies have been developed espe- 

 cially for home landscape use. 

 Since many of these new dwarf 

 turf grasses may only be limit- 

 edly available from local suppli- 

 ers, you may need to contact 

 producers directly. A recent Ex- 

 tension publication, Low-Mainte- 

 nance lurfgrass for Landscapes and 

 Commercial hgriculture. is now avail- 

 able to assist in successfully us- 

 ing these newer turf types. 



Use Alternative Landscaping. 



Using alternative landscaping 

 techniques, such as ground- 

 covers, rock gardens, or shrubs 

 mulched with bark or stones, can 

 greatly reduce the need for turf 

 areas and can help reduce or 

 eliminate fertilizer and water 

 needs, helping to prevent ground 

 and surface water pollution from 

 shoreland areas 



Most perennial plants can 

 make adequate growth with rela- 

 tively low inputs of additional 

 nutrients. Proper plant selection 

 and the use of organic mulches 

 can greatly minimize the need 

 for applying additional fertilizer. 



Maintain Natural Buffer Areas. 



Keeping a portion of a property 

 between lawns or gardens and 

 any stream, pond, or wetland in 

 native vegetation will help re- 

 duce the impact on surface wa- 

 ters. According to the Shoreland 

 Protection Act, where existing, a 

 natural woodland buffer shall be 

 maintained within 150 feet of the 

 reference line The act also 

 specifies what type of vegetation 



JLlants for Buffer Zones 



Trees 



Balsam Fir {^bies balsamea] 



Fraser Fir |A. fraseri) 



Red Maple [Acer rubrum) 



Sugar Maple |A. saccharum) 



Shadbush {Amelanchier sp.| 



Yellow Birch {Qelula alleghaniensis\ 



Black Birch (B \enta) 



Paper Birch IB papyrifera) 



White Ash {Fraxinus americana) 



Green Ash (F. pennsylvanica) 



Carolina Silverbell {Halesia Carolina) 



Black Tupelo INysso sylvatica) 



White Spruce {Picea glauca) 



Red Pine (Pinus resinosa\ 



Scotch Pine IP. sylvestris) 



White Pine |P. strobus] 



White Oak {Quercus alba) 



Swamp White Oak (Q. bicolor) 



Pin Oak |Q patustris) 



Red Oak (Q rubra) 



Canadian Hemlock )Tsuga canadensis) 



Small Trees/Shrubs 



Amur Maple lAfer ginnala) 



Bottlebrush Buckeye {Aesculus parviflora) 



American Hazelnut iCorylus americana) 



Pagoda Dogwood (Cornws alternifolia) 



Silky Dogwood |C amomum) 



Gray Dogwood |C racemosa) 



Redosier Dogwood |C. sericea, formerly slolonifera) 



Hawthorn iCralaeus sp.) 



Sweet Pepperbush iClelhra alnifolia) 



Common Pearlbush {Exochorda racemosa) 



Large Fothergilla iFottiergilla major) 



Common Witchhazei {Hamamelis vir^iHifldaj 



Bay berry [Myrica pensylvanica) 



Ironwood {Oslrya virginiana) 



Mugo Pine IPimus mugo) 



Beech Plum (PruMus maritima) 



Azalea {Rhododendron sp.) 



Rhododendron [Rhododendron sp.) 



Rose I Rosa sp., avoid R mulUtlora) 



Snowberry {Symphoricarpos albus) 



Coralberry (S sp.) 



Winterberry illex verticillata) 



Highbush Blueberry {Vaccinium corymbosum) 



Hobblebush Wiburnum alnifolium) 



Koreanspice Viburnum (V. carlesii) 



Arrowwood IV dentalum) 



Blackhaw Viburnum |V. prunitolium) 



Nannyberry |V. lentago) 



Sargent Viburnum |V. sargentiil 



American Cranberrybush |V trilobum) 



Vines and Ground Covers 



Bearberry {Arclostaphylos uva-ursi) 



Ginger [Asarum sp.) 



Astilbe )Aslilbe sp) 



Bunchberry {Cornus canadensis) 



Sweet Fern {Complonia peregrina) 



Barrenwort [Epimedium sp.) 



Wintergreen {Gaullheria procumbens) 



Sweet Woodruff |Ga/ium odoralum) 



Cranesbill {Geranium sp.) 



Hosta {Hosla sp.) 



Candytuft {\beris sempervirens) 



Allegheny Pachysandra {Pachysandra procumbens) 



Canby Paxistima {Paxislima canbyi) 



Virginia Creeper {Parthenocissus quinquefolia) 



Lowbush Blueberry {Vaccinium anguslifolium) 



Mountain Cranberry (V. vitis-idaea) 



Ferns (several speciesi 



management activities may or 

 may not occur in these areas 

 Buffer areas will help to remove 

 nutrients that might be included 

 in the runoff from lawn areas 

 during intense rainstorms and 

 snow melt These areas also pro- 

 vide food and habitat for birds 

 and other wildlife. Many native 

 shrubs and ground covers would 

 be good choices for these buffer 

 areas, especially those with 

 dense surface-root systems. Trees 

 are important plants for buffers, 

 too, but too much shade at 

 ground level may inhibit the 

 growth of many understory plants. 



Good site analysis and evalua- 

 tion is critical for successful 

 planting of buffer areas Knowing 

 the existing growing conditions — 

 sunny or shady, dry or moist — is 

 essential for proper plant selec- 

 tion. The selected list of native 

 and appropriate non-native plant 

 materials on this page represents 

 some good choices, depending 

 on site conditions, for both buff- 

 ers and naturalized landscape ar- 

 eas. In some cases, a particular 

 variety or cultivar may be a bet- 

 ter choice over the unimproved 

 species Because of the diversity 

 of available plant materials, 

 other plants not listed may be 

 good choices, too Also, numer- 

 ous herbaceous perennials, both 

 native and exotic, can make 

 excellent naturalized ground 

 covers 



By helping to make the public 

 aware of the need for protecting 

 water quality through appropriate 

 shoreland landscape practices, 

 the horticultural industry can 

 contribute not only to client edu- 

 cation, but to ultimately helping 

 preserve the quality of the 

 State's water resources for all to 

 use and enjoy. 



Ralph WiMs/ow is Extension Educator, 

 Agricultural Resources and Community 

 Development, at Belknap County 

 UNH Cooperative Extension, PC Box 

 368, LflcOMifl, NH 03247 If you 

 have any questions or comments, he 

 can be reached at 603-542-1737. 



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