Region
Northeast MN
City
Duluth
Project Type(s)
Pocket Planting
Template(s) Used
Sunny and Low Garden for Pollinators (BWSR)
Site Conditions
Full Sun
Gardener Name
David K
Gardener Comments
Urban Streetscape. Planted on a steep slope with SE exposure, predominantly clay soils, dry to damp. A total vegetation block is essential to success, we covered the planted area for 13 months, with a geo-textile fabric. We removed that fabric, then covered the area with a biodegradable wood-fiber mat prior to planting. Holes were cut for each plant. Drilled 3″” diameter plug holes, removed in-place soils and blended with a planting soil to provide a boost to root formation, also treated roots with growth hormone.
Steepest sections were the biggest challenge. We planted low, dense, ground-cover to capture rain, planting density should have been higher. We filled in areas that needed more density then following spring.
We kept the most aggressive plants together and discovered they all responded with a vigorous growth rate. Moreover, all species planted near that cluster exhibited a better growth rate than those of the same species planted further away. Plants species that are not suited to your conditions will fail, leaving an opportunity to try others, or add more of the successful types.
We focused our plantings on the flowering plants, and then integrated supportive plants as needed ie. long-headed coneflowers with little bluestem. We added a second, larger, section to the hillside. The two-year vegetation block was 100% effective.
Wildlife Observed
We’ve noticed a significant increase in the number and variety of all types of pollinators and birds feeding on the native seed heads. Deer and rabbits were present prior to the installation, no significant increase or decrease was noted.
