2nd year Conservation & Restoration Ecology (CARE) major student Robyn Sayer describes the benefits of using native plants in landscaping. Her Naturescaping presentation was for a Restoration Ecology class at Lakeland College. CARE is one of four environmental sciences diploma majors. Lakeland College is located in Vermilion, Alberta, Canada.

1. Naturescaping
Robyn Sayer
Lakeland College
Conservation and Restoration Ecology Major
These slides were designed to accompany an oral presentation and were submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of Restoration
Ecology (SC329). This material was prepared for a general audience.

2. Shwhaaat?
Landscaping with native
plants!

4. Why?

5. Fewer inputs
• Less water
• No fertilizer
• Resist disease
• Resist pests
en.wikipedia.org

6. Resulting in:
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Dolla dolla bills yo!
Improved air quality
Improved water quality
More time to do the things you WANT
www.advancedfoottexas.com

7. Attracts beneficial wildlife
less biodiversity loss
The birds and the bees
…and others
www.calhort.org
en.wikipedia.org

8. Conserve Canada’s
natural heritage
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/sk/grasslands/index.aspx

9. How?
Which plants?

10. Resources
• www.invasiveplants.ab.ca (Alberta Invasive Plants
Council)
• http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/discover-wildlife/gardening/
(Canadian Wildlife Federation)
• http://www.anpc.ab.ca/content/index.php (Alberta
Native Plant Council)
• http://www.goert.ca/gardeners_restoration/index.php
(British Columbia)
• http://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-we-do/
resource-centre/101s/native_gardening_101.html
(Nature Conservancy Canada)
• Books
• Contact your local Wildflower Society

11. GUIDELINES FOR THE PURCHASE
AND USE OF WILDFLOWER SEED MIXES
Alberta Native Plant Council
1. Avoid "Wildflower" mixes. These usually contain species that are "wild" in Europe
or other parts of North America, but not in Alberta.
2. Know exactly what is contained in the seed packet. Common names are not good
enough.
3. Even if a packet contains only ONE species of plant you should be aware of the
scientific (Latin) name for that species.
4. Look for packets that indicate WHERE the seed material was collected.
5. The packet must give CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS as to growing requirements.
6. AVOID MIXES that have a variety of types of plants.

12. Alberta Agriculture
Prohibited Noxious Weed:
means a plant designated in accordance with the regulations as a prohibited noxious
weed and includes the plant’s seeds. This weed designation can be seen as regulatory
support for an “Early Detection, Rapid Response” stage of invasive plant
management. Plants in this category are either not currently found in Alberta or are
found in few locations such that eradication could be possible. Under the Weed
Control Act a person has a responsibility to destroy a prohibited noxious weed.
Noxious Weed:
means a plant designated in accordance with the regulations as a noxious weed and
includes the plant’s seeds. This weed designation can be seen as regulatory support
for a “containment” stage of invasive plant management. Plants listed in this
category are considered too widely distributed to eradicate. A local authority may
conduct control programs for these weeds if they feel they may have significant
ecological or economic impact on lands within their municipality.
http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/Weed_Identification_Book.pdf
commons.wikimedia.org
Himalayan balsam

13. Plant this instead!
Pink Sensation Monkshood

15. Things to consider
• Where you live – visit a natural area
• Plant needs i.e. sun, water, nutrients,
tolerance of other species, how much space
Soil pH and texture
When to plant
Size and growth form
Sensitivity to freezing
www.aktrekking.com
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• Town’s regulations

16. Planting
• Plan out where everything will go – keep in
mind mature size
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Keep plants cool and moist until planting
Pick a warm but NOT HOT/SUNNY day
Make sure soil is moist but not wet
Dig the hole yatta yatta you know the drill…
water after
For seeds, follow depth and spacing
instructions!
www.interiordesigninspiration.net

17. Wildlife
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Fallen logs
Bird bath
Leaf piles
Bird/bat house
Pond

18. Maintenance
Establishing the garden takes work but after that, it’s cake.
Year 1:
• Place mulch around plants
• Weed regularly, then mow
• Water for first few weeks, then only in dry
times
Year 2:
• Weed annual weeds
• Dig up perennial weeds
After a couple years, weeding will be minimal
boltefarms.blogspot.com
Don’t compost your weeds!

19. References
http://cwf-fcf.org/en/discover-wildlife/resources/online-articles/this-spring-growsome-prairie_resource.html
http://www.cnps.org/cnps/grownative/getstarted/starting_a_garden.php
http://www.evergreen.ca/docs/res/Design-Ideas-5-Natural-Habitat-Communities.pdf
http://www.evergreen.ca/en/resources/native-plants-and-invasive-species/start-yourown-native-plant-garden/
http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-plants/motukarara-conservationnursery/planning-and-planting-a-native-garden/