Conservation landscaping promotes landscaping management that works with nature to reduce pollution and enhance wildlife habitat. It encourages a low input formula for yard care: less fertilizer and pesticide use, combined with less lawn area and the use of beneficial plants, results in less water use and less overall maintenance. By being mindful of the practices you use while landscaping and maintaining your yard, you can assist with stormwater control, drainage and soil health,and natural resource protection.
A conservation landscape:
1. Is designed to benefit the environment and function efficiently and aesthetically for human use and well-being;
2. Uses locally native plants that are appropriate for site conditions;
3. Institutes a management plan for the removal of existing invasive plants and the prevention of future nonnative plant invasions;
4. Provides habitat for wildlife;
5. Promotes healthy air quality and minimizes air pollution;
6. Conserves and cleans water;
7. Promotes healthy soils;
8. Is managed to conserve energy, reduce waste, and eliminate or minimize the use of pesticides and fertilizers.
★ Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wayne County’s Master Gardener program provides a vast archive of educational resources for the beginning gardener. For any information, please contact them at mgwayne@cornell.edu with your questions or concerns. CCE of Wayne County’s office number for all other questions is (315)331-8415 or their website is located at (blogs.cornell.edu/waynecce)
★ The Montezuma Audubon Society (ny.audubon.org/Montezuma) in Savannah offers many educational classes about natural landscape, wildlife and other herbaceous classes.
★ Trail Works Inc. (www.trailworks.org) is a not for profit organization that was developed for trail development and maintenance/expansion of trail use.
