Conservation Tips: Conservation Landscaping

How to Create Habitat for Pollinators and Reduce Stormwater Runoff at Home

Habitat loss and fragmentation, the introduction of invasive species and pathogens, pesticide use, and climate change has caused many pollinator species to experience population declines in recent decades. Some pollinators, like the iconic Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), have experienced dramatic population declines and have been listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The decline of pollinator populations can be slowed and hopefully reversed if existing habitats are preserved and new habitats are created.

Got Milkweed?

Milkweed species are larval hosts for Monarch butterflies. Female Monarchs lay eggs on the leaves of Milkweed, which provide food for larvae after they hatch. Species of milkweed found in the James River basin include Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Honeyvine (Cynachum laeve), and Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).

Take Conservation Action at Home!

It’s possible to do something about the plight of Monarch butterflies and other pollinator species at home. Replacing turf grass and bare areas in your yard with regionally native plants, also known as conservation landscaping, can create habitat for Monarchs and other pollinators. Turf grass is tough on pollinators as it provides them with little, if any, habitat. Regionally native plants, and particularly milkweed species, provide a critically important food source for Monarchs and other pollinators. Planting flowering species of plants like asters and goldenrods also supports pollinators.

Conservation Landscaping Tips

Replacing turf grass and bare areas in your yard with regionally native plants, also known as conservation landscaping, is a river-friendly conservation practice seemingly growing in popularity across Virginia. By implementing a conservation landscaping project in your yard, you can reduce the amount of stormwater runoff leaving your yard and create habitat for wildlife. Helpful tips for planning and implementing a conservation landscaping project are below for your reference.

• Remove invasive plant species. Invasive plant species can outcompete native plant species. If invasive plant species are present in your yard, remove them. Some common invasive species in Virginia include Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), English ivy (Hedera helix), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), and tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima).

• Test your soil. When cultivating a new area of your yard, consider testing your soil. A soil test will determine which nutrients exist in your yard and provide you with an idea of your soil’s health. Contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension agent for details.

• Start small and expand over time. Conservation landscaping projects are a long-term commitment as they require maintenance. Start your conservation landscaping project by converting a small area of your yard from turf grass to regionally native plants and expand from there as you have capacity to maintain more area.

• Identify a variety of regionally native plants. Selecting a diverse palette of regionally native plants is one of the most fun and important aspects of conservation landscaping. Regionally native plants are adapted to thrive in the region of the world in which they evolved. Be certain to select plant species that will thrive in the unique conditions of your yard. Visit Plant Virginia Natives for regional plant guides.

• Consider the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP). Did you know the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program provides financial incentives to property owners that install eligible best management practices including conservation landscaping in their yards? Contact your local soil and water conservation district for information about VCAP.

• Consult a professional if necessary. While planning a conservation landscaping project doesn’t require professional consultation, it may be helpful to work with a landscape architect to plan your project.

• Enjoy the fruits of your labor. As the old saying goes, “If you build it, they will come.” If you plant a milkweed species such as Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), or Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) in your yard, chances are a female Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) will find it and lay eggs on it. Have fun documenting the wildlife that visit your yard as you implement your conservation landscaping project.