|
| Water Quality Buffer Design | ||
| Kalmia Landscape Design specializes in Buffer Designs. Vegetative buffers are plantings used in the watershed to prevent the negative impacts of soil erosion and run-off on water quality. |
||
| Potable water is one of our most precious resources. In the United States, we are still blessed with pristine lakes and fish-filled rivers. At the same time, more and more people are building homes, cottages and camps along our waters, hoping to take advantage of the peace and recreation that these beautiful places offer. Without careful management practices, new and existing human impact can have detrimental effects on one of our state's most valuable resources. | ||
 |
Buffers are an important part of proper watershed management. They slow and filter water and include the following elements: trees, shrubs, perennials and duff or mulch layers. (These are also the elements of any ecological landscape design). | |
| The root systems of your buffer plantings will capture water, the leaf canopy will lesson the erosive impact of raindrops on your soil and the duff layer will improve infiltration of rain water and reduce the effects of drought on your plantings. | ||
| Using native plants in your buffer helps your water-side property to fit naturally into its environment. Even well-manicured and highly formal gardens can be planted with native plants that give your property a place-centered appeal rather than looking like "anywhere suburbia." |  |
|
 |
Buffer plantings aren't designed to take away your view. Instead, a well designed buffer can enhance your views by framing good views and blocking out those that are less desirable. | |
| Buffers can be low maintenance or high maintenance. If you are looking for low maintenace, a buffer can be designed for you that is much less work than an average lawn. Buffers also do not require the use of expensive pesticides or herbicides. | ||