Many homeowners are making the best of their time during the COVID-19 pandemic by putting extra energy into their properties.
If you count yourself among the crowd who wants to beautify your yard and garden, do it with plants that will save you time, money, and energy well into the future–plant native plants.
We all know the Pacific Northwest is about the most beautiful region of the country, capture some of that beauty and watch it flourish in your own little corner of the world.
There are numerous benefits to a well-landscaped yard. Trees, flowering plants, ferns and shrubs all add eye-catching vivacity and dimension. Additionally, when planted in the right location, they can shield your home from the elements and help lower your home’s energy consumption for as long as they stand in place.
A deciduous tree growing on the sunny side of your home will shade the house from the sun’s warming rays in summer. In the fall and winter, the leaves will fall off and allow the sunshine through to warm your home.
A mighty hedgerow or even a few hearty shrubs will protect your home from the heat-robbing winter winds that frequent areas of Clark County. But all these benefits aren’t limited to people living inside the home, native vegetation also provides habitat and potentially food resources for local wildlife, like birds and pollinators.
The Clark Public Utilities website is a great resource to better understand the benefits of landscaping with native plants, at www.clarkpublicutilities.com/landscaping.
“Southwest Washington is home to a wide variety of native plants that are adapted to our various local and regional conditions,” said Brad Mead, invasive species coordinator for Clark Public Utilities. “So, before you go to the nursery, take note of your property’s characteristics–the sun exposure, soil type, and proximity to waterways–then choose plants suited to those conditions so they thrive with minimal care.”
In addition to natural features, take note of the manmade ones. Find out what utilities, (water, sewer, gas, electric, etc.) are buried around your property and avoid them. Hitting buried cables and pipes with a shovel or tool could be catastrophic. Call 811 at least three business days before you dig. One quick call will direct all relevant utility companies to mark utility locations on your land with water soluble paint for free.
Also, think about how your land will look years from now. A nice little tree can easily grow into a tall giant, in just a few short years. Planting the wrong tree in the wrong spot, can not only damage water and sewer lines, but they can also threaten power lines and other overhead utilities.
“My best advice for planting near power lines or around electrical equipment is to avoid it,” Mead said. “But if planting near those facilities is unavoidable, consult with experts to find a species that won’t grow too tall and position it away from any equipment on the ground.”
The Arbor Day Foundation’s website can help you identify the right tree and the right place. Visit www.arborday.org/trees/righttreeandplace/size.cfm to learn more.
Additionally, Clark County and the Portland area are home to many nurseries and community plant sales that offer native plants and have helpful folks on hand to provide guidance. You can also consult the Washington State University Clark County extension office for more information about what grows well in our region.
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
