Please note this website is not an official Howard County Government website. To learn more about the programs mentioned in this website and available through the Howard County Government, please visit: https://www.cleanwaterhoward.com/
A conservation landscape is not just a group of plants but rather an intentionally designed community of various plants with an emphasis on native plants and their ability to manage stormwater and provide other ecosystem services. It benefits the environment, uses native plants that will do well in the site conditions, involves the management and removal of invasive plants, creates wildlife habitat, improves air quality, filters and conserves water, encourages healthy soils, and is managed in a way that minimized waste and conserves energy.
Ecosystem services are benefits that come from healthy ecosystems. The plants in a conservation landscape work together to provide these services and benefit the environment more than a traditional garden does.
A conservation landscape next to a walkway
filters stormwater
prevents erosion
aesthetic appeal
provides habitat and food for animals
can attract pollinators with nectar plants
How much of your yard are you willing to convert to a conservation landscape?
Are you willing to maintain a conservation landscape? If you are looking for something low maintenance, visit the native plants page, which includes a list of lower maintenance plants.
Identify the conditions of the site (Is it sunny? Shady? Wet? Dry? On a steep slope? On flat land?)
Identify the soil type you have. See the guide at the bottom of the page for instructions.
Pick native plants that will thrive in those conditions.
Layer your planting to maximize function. Think of the space as three layers, the ground cover layer, the annuals and perennials layer, and the shrub layer.
The ground cover layer filters a lot of water, holds the soil in place, and prevents erosion and weeds. This layer is filled with low growing plants that cover all of the available soil. Evergreen species are best for this since they can prevent weeds in the winter.
Annuals are plants that only live for a year, whereas perennials come back year after year. The annuals and perennials layer provides color, beauty, and nectar for pollinators. Pick plants that bloom at different times for a pop of color multiple times a year. Different bloom times will also ensure food for pollinators throughout the year.
Shrubs are plants with a woody stem that are smaller than trees. They provide structure and consistency since they do not bloom and die back like flowers do.
Plant and water often until the plants are established (a few weeks after planting).
Maintain your conservation landscape by removing invasive species (see bottom of Native Plants page) and weeds, replacing any dead plants, and watering as needed. Rain barrels are a great source of water for this.
The more plants in your conservation landscape, the better. More plants can filter more stormwater and hold more soil in place. Filling your space with the plants you want makes it harder for weeds to take over, which means less maintenance for you.
Consider using plugs instead of buying plants in cartons. They cost less and can adjust to their new environment quicker, making them more successful. Remember, they will need lots of water in the first few weeks.
If you plant a plant that is not well suited for a site, it will not do well. If a plant dies, replace it with a plant that may do better in those site conditions.
Plants with deep root systems are best for stormwater management.
Newly planted plants will need regular watering for a few weeks until they are established.
Maintain your conservation landscape well for it to look its best.
Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)- likes wet soil, sun to part shade
Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra)- likes moist soil, full sun to part shade
Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta)- average, well-drained, rich soils, full sun
Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)- moist, well-drained soil, full or part sun, loved by pollinators
Coral Bell (Heuchera americana)- wet soil, shade
Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia)- average soil, shade
Goldenrod (Solidago)- average soil, full sun, loved by bees
Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)- wet or moist soil, full sn or light shade, loved by bees
Milkweed (Asclepias)- attracts Monarch butterflies
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)- moist or wet soil, full sun
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)- average moisture, full sun
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)- dry soil, full sun
Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)- moist or average soil, full or part sun, interesting bloom, pollinators love it
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)- well-drained soil, full or part sun, pollinators love it
Swamp Rose-Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)- wet but well-drained soil, full or part sun, has large leaves
Tickseed (Coreopsis)- a range of soils, full sun
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)- dry soil, full sun, loved by bees
Golden Ragwort (Pakera aurea)- loves moist soil and can tolerate drought, full sun or light shade
Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)- likes shade and moisture
Creek Sedge (Carex amphibola)- moist to wet soil, prefers shade
Tussock Sedge (Carex stricta)- likes moisture, likes sun or partial shade
Tufted Hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa)- moist soil, partial shade
