Information archive — landscape design & maintenance
In Clark County, properties come in a wide range of sizes and locations. Some county residents have urban or suburban lots that are constrained by neighborhood associations. But many others may have property where it is possible to orchestrate some sort of wildlife habitat. One way or the other, we encourage you to make sustainable green landscaping choices when choosing plants and for your maintenance practices.
Design
We have not found the perfect resource with step-by-step instructions on exactly how to wrap your head around the design, plant selection and installation of a natural landscape. There are so many nuances. Creating natural sustainable habitats is a challenge, but these resources will help you get started.
The Real Gardens Grow Natives and Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest books are written by regional experts. These books address most issues concerned with planning and installing a natural landscape.
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Real Gardens Grow Natives
Real Gardens Grow Natives — by Eileen M. Stark.
Eileen Stark designs wildlife gardens in the Portland, Oregon metro area. The book is very region specific with plant lists, how-to information about installation, drawings, and lots of other information about wildlife and why native plants are important.
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Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest
Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest — Russell Link.
This has long been the go-to guide. It is the basis for workshops all over the PNW.
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Choosing the Right Plants
Choosing the Right Plants
— Saving Water Partnership.Plant lists and much more information about getting started with a design that will work for your site.
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Landscape Design for Wildlife
Landscape Design for Wildlife — Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.
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Right Plant / Right Place
This is a guiding principle for all gardening everywhere. Read more about Right Plant / Right Place in Plant Selection.
Right Plant / Right Place — Saving Water Partnership. This is the index page to this site’s section on this topic which lists general guidelines.
Right Plant / Right Place: Choosing Plants
— Saving Water Partnership. More specific information than previous link.
Maintenance
Resources for garden and landscape maintenance, and answers to some of the most common questions.
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Natural Yard Care
Natural Yard Care
— Washington State Department of Ecology.This is generally a good overall guide about caring for your landscape. But we take issue with a few things like:
- Using compost as mulch. — It is now pretty well established (at least for our area) that fresh, un-composted, woody matter makes the best mulch and that it should cover compost.
- Mowing lawn 1–2” high. — We are recommending lawn height of at least 3”.
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Month-By-Month Gardening in Washington & Oregon
Month-By-Month Gardening in Washington & Oregon — by Mary Robson & Christina Pfeiffer.
A go-to guide for our region’s gardeners.
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Pruning & Growing
How to prune everything under the sun in our area.
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Cass Turnbull’s Guide to Pruning
- Cass Turnbull’s Guide to Pruning — Cass Turnbull.
A great overall pruning guide for woody plants — trees & shrubs. Explains pruning principles behind why certain plants should be pruned in certain manners. Simply excellent!
- Cass Turnbull’s Guide to Pruning — Cass Turnbull.
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Pruning Ornamental Woody Plants
- Pruning Ornamental Woody Plants — Goodnight Design.
- Pruning Ornamental Woody Plants
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Evergreen Shrubs
- Evergreen Shrubs — Royal Horticulture Society.
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Blueberry
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Fig
- Fig — Fruit Trees & More.
Prune early crop figs for cool season climates (like PNW).
- Fig — Fruit Trees & More.
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Grapes
- Grapes — WSU Extension.
Basic Guidelines for pruning grapes in home gardens.
- Grapes
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Hazelnuts
- Hazelnuts — Oregon State University Extension.
- Hazelnuts
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Kiwi
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Raspberry
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Red-twig Dogwood
- Red-twig Dogwood — Goodnight Design.
Using shrub dogwoods in landscape settings.
- Red-twig Dogwood — Goodnight Design.
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Renovation Pruning
- Renovation Pruning — Royal Horticulture Society.
Different ways to renovate old or poorly pruned shrubs.
- Renovation Pruning — Royal Horticulture Society.
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Root Pruning
- Root Pruning — Fine Gardening Magazine.
Necessary maintenance for potted woody plants.
- Root Pruning — Fine Gardening Magazine.
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Suckers & Water Sprouts
- Suckers & Water Sprouts — University of Illinois Extension.
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Related resources: Food Gardens in Landscape Features | Lawn | Grasscycling | Soil / Compost / Mulch
Related articles: Tolerant Mindset | Appropriate Plants
