What does ecodesign really mean?

Posted on by taproot ecological design

“Ecodesign is built on principles of efficient resource use, product longevity and repairability, minimized environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle, and sustainable end-of-life options.”

I often get asked by potential clients, “What does the ‘eco’ in your business name mean?”

The truth is it means different things for different jobs but essentially ecodesign means we are installing a landscape plan that will sustain itself, it will not need outside resources to maintain, nor will it detract from the environment around it. Sounds simple, and really it is, but somehow thru industry practices and misinformation, those common sense ideals have not been completely lost but muddled a bit.

The number one way that we, as landscape designers, can do to help the overall ecology of a given site is to plant native species. You will have to read several of our articles about native plants and all of the wonderful benefits that planting with natives provides, but for the purpose of this discussion we will just say that they have the best hope for survival and will contribute the most to the environment around it.

The term ecodesign many times is associated with product development, packaging and overall impact to the environment. The diagram above shows 8 factors that contribute to a product having a proper ecodesign. We can use these same principles in a landscape design scenario to ensure that the finished product is viable for the environment around it.

Reduction of Raw Materials

As a designer I always push the client towards a natural product when it comes to hardscape. Flagstone instead of pavers, boulder walls instead of retaining walls and, of course, native species over non-native. From an aesthetic view it looks better and seems more natural. I am trying to produce a design that looks like it has been there for a while and natural stone does the trick.

For the purposes of this article, natural stone provides the most sustainable product since it will last longer than manufactured products. Pavers and retaining wall block have a lengthy production process, cost money to transport and are pretty darn expensive. My stone supplier breaks his stone out with one machine, loads it on a truck and delivers it to my jobsite. Think about the difference in impact between these products, in this case the steps it takes to put the finished product on the jobsite.

Promotion of Reuse and Recycling

Every year starting around Halloween homeowners begin the unenviable task of leaf removal. They rake them up in piles and bag them up or blow them to the curb for the city to collect. These same people will then pay hundreds of dollars for someone to come fertilize their lawn with unnatural products that are really only solving the problem temporarily. Leaves are a great source of nutrients, all you have to do is break them down into smaller pieces to speed up the decomposition rate for turf areas. Leaves provide nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium while at the same time increasing water retention. If you don’t want to risk the leaves smothering the grass, simply blow all the leaves into your landscape beds to help ‘winterize’ your perennials. The added insulation will help plants survive cold temperatures and then provide nutrient rich mulch in the spring.

Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions

This is an easy one – plants are the best way to combat carbon dioxide emissions in your ecosystem. More plants will increase the overall oxygen content of the air around you. Algae bioreactors can also be produced in a DIY setting in your backyard thru a water feature like a pond. Obviously these CO2 scrubbers are very small scaled on their own but combined with other participators can be increased exponentially.

You can also produce ‘natural’ water features by sequestering water on your property. I am working on a project right now where a client has a storm water drainage creek that splits her lot. We are going thru scenarios where we partially damn the creek permanently or for just a few months to allow the surrounding area to be rejuvenated. We would be acting like beavers for the local ecosystem. The benefits are limitless – groundwater retention, wetland plant seed germination, algae production, insects coming into the area and laying larva while also preventing erosion from high-speed run-off.

Less Impact on Environment

Anything we do as eco-driven landscape designers should not negatively impact the environment and if it does then we should not do it – no matter how much pressure we get from a client. Someone has to be the steward of the environment and who better to do it than the ones who know it best? Eco-design can mean many things from product development to installing a run-off pond in someone’s backyard. It is all important and has an eventual impact. It sounds silly but every little bit helps and if designers would create their designs with this idea in mind we could lead the way towards a more sustainable future.

Taproot Returns to its Roots in Plant Production

Posted on by taproot ecological design

Taproot Eco Design is getting back into the plant nursery business. We have spent the last several years establishing Taproot Eco Design in the Knoxville/Maryville landscape markets and we want to get back into the plant production business, but on a smaller scale. The amount of money that landscape installers spend on plants is quite large over the course of a year – in excess of $40,000 for us. Any amount of these plants that we can produce ourselves is money straight into our pocket. With issues like inconsistent availability, poor quality or simply not enough stock, we decided that growing our own plants was the way to go. Taproot started out on a small piece of land in Hardin Valley (pictured above), we had no idea what we were doing but were driven by a passion for plants and a willingness to learn.

The main theme of one of my favorite books, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki, talks about always maintaining the beginner’s mind in your meditation practice. The beginner’s mind is excited, passionate and always open to new ideas. The opening of the book says: “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” Someone that approaches landscape design with a beginner’s mind will never think they know it all and understand that becoming an expert in this business means that you learn something new every day. If anyone in the the landscape industry ever tells you they have it all figured out – run away from that person as fast as you can and don’t look back.

Taproot Nursery will mainly produce the plants that we use in our design/installs – lots of grasses, sedges, native perennials, several types of ferns, hosta and succulents. Obviously we can not produce ALL the plants we use in a given design like trees, most shrubs or larger scale specimens because we simply do not have the room. With that being said, it is amazing how much you can produce in such a small area given that a 1 gallon pot does not require much space. We do have the advantage of having full sun, partial shade and full shade all in the same small backyard. We can grow full shade ferns 70 feet away from full sun perennials like amsonia hubrichtii. This a hard set up to create artificially (shade cloth) so we will not waste what we have been afforded.

Taproot has two main goals that need to reach for this endeavor to be successful – reduce the cost of plant material by 25% by growing our own stock and learn more about the plants we install. Perfecting the process of growing plants that we use in our designs will give us a more in-depth knowledge of plant processes and in turn give every plant we install the best shot at success. By immersing ourselves in the plant production process we hope that better overall plant health and noticing the signs of plant sickness will make us better at what we do and ultimately will benefit our customers and their landscapes.

Stay tuned as we chronicle the process of converting a suburban backyard into a fully functioning native plant nursery. We will construct plant growing tiers by using an old trampoline frame, create a rain catchment system that will allow us to use untreated water most of the year and dig out a pond for water sequestration. We are excited and hope you can come along for the ride.

Adaptable Native Plant Design Principles

Posted on by taproot ecological design

As more people become environmentally conscious, the trend of incorporating native plants into landscape designs is rapidly gaining momentum. Native plants are not only a sustainable choice but also offer a unique aesthetic appeal that can greatly enhance the overall look of your garden or landscape. Native plant design is an acquired taste and not always appreciated by everyone so educating people on the benefits is essential.

Native plants refer to the plants that have evolved and adapted to your specific geographical area over thousands of years. They require less maintenance, are more resistant to pests and diseases, and are more likely to thrive than imported or exotic plants. This makes them a perfect fit for those interested in eco-friendly, low-maintenance landscaping. Not to mention that native plants provide food and forage for native species of animals and the ever important insects in your area.

Creating a seamless blend of form and function, native plants provide a natural and authentic feel to your outdoor space. They help to maintain the local biodiversity by providing food and habitat for local wildlife such as birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Native plants typically have a deeper root system which makes them more tolerant to drought and relieve compaction of the surrounding soil. In East Tennessee this is especially important because of the 4-6 week droughts we have in late summer and with climate change, some small droughts in the Spring.

A well thought out landscape design with native plants can also help in water conservation. The reason being, once established, native plants typically require less water than non-native counterparts as they are naturally adapted to the local climate. This makes them a great choice for those living in areas with water restrictions or those interested in reducing their water usage.

How can you start incorporating native plants into your landscape design?

Start by researching which plants are native to your area. You can do this by visiting a local nursery, consulting with a local landscaper, or researching online. Locally, around Knoxville we have excellent native plant nurseries – Riverdale, Overhill Gardens, Tennessee NatureScapes and Stanley’s Greenhouse are all within reasonable driving distance, carry almost exclusively native plants and have very helpful staff that are knowledgeable and friendly. There is no better resource for plant placement and care than an experienced nursery worker, they have seen it all and usually know what is best for your garden. Any plant you buy from this type of nursery will have a better chance of survival than plant material bought from a big box store where the plants could be grown anywhere.

Look at the space you have available. Consider the soil type, sunlight exposure, and the overall climate. This will help you choose plants that will thrive in your specific conditions. This is a step that is most commonly left out by design amateurs and also professional designers that are just getting started. Good plant selection is hard enough without setting the specimen up for failure right from the start. By putting a full sun perennial deep in the shade you are not always going to kill it but it will never reach its full potential.

Choose a variety of native plants that offer different colors, textures, and sizes to create an appealing and diverse landscape. Consider flowering plants for color, grasses for texture, and trees or shrubs for size and structure. Native plant design has evolved over the last decade to include a more organized structure and appeal to clients that do not care for the messy look that so many enjoy. Simply grouping up similar colors or creating “drifts” of one species can organize the garden and pull the eye of the observer to certain spots within the design.

Think about how you want your landscape to look. Do you want a formal design with structured beds, or a more natural look? Native plants can accommodate both styles. A growing design trend is to incorporate native plants into a structured base. Creating division by using hedgerows with boxwood or some other evergreen will create breaks in the landscape that allow for clients that want a more organized look. This design principle is one of the main elements in the English Cottage look – controlled chaos as it is sometimes referred to.

While native plants typically require less maintenance, they still need care. Regular watering until established, occasional pruning, and yearly mulching can help your plants grow strong and stay healthy. The native plant design aesthetic lends itself to fewer weeds because so much of the available space will be taken up by plant material and what open space there is will be filled in the following season as seeds move across the site. This is very much the opposite of modern design where clients want large spaces around each plant which leaves available sunlight for emerging weeds. This aesthetic is not pleasing to all customers so you have to get a feel for how far you can push them towards sustainable landscape design. The clients that come to you with these ideas are the best because you only have to educate and ensure them about native plant gardening and not convince them to follow a completely foreign idea.

Incorporating native plants into your landscape design is not just about creating a beautiful outdoor space. It’s also about creating a sustainable and eco-friendly environment that supports local wildlife. So, why not give native plants a try? With careful planning and design, you can create a beautiful aesthetic to come home to while also contributing to the conservation of your local biome.

Check out taprootecodesign.com for ideas!!

Climate Change Rebuttal

Posted on by taproot ecological design

Harnessing the Power of Native Plants: A Climate Change Solution

Climate change is an undeniable reality, and its impacts are becoming increasingly evident around the world. Amidst this crisis, native plants offer a ray of hope. Native to specific regions and well-adapted to local climates, these plants have the potential to combat climate change and restore ecological balance. In this article, we will explore the importance of native plants and how they can be our allies in the battle against climate change.

One of the key strengths of native plants lies in their ability to withstand and adapt to changing climatic conditions. Over centuries, these plants have evolved in specific regions, developing unique traits that allow them to thrive in their native habitats. Their deep root systems, drought tolerance, and resistance to local pests and diseases make them highly resilient to the challenges posed by climate change. In a world where extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, native plants can act as a buffer, helping ecosystems withstand the impacts of climate change.

As designers, we have forced plants to adapt to climates that may not suit them and by doing so have not helped the environment around us either. When we “move” plants away from where they have naturally developed over thousands of years, we take away all the work they have done to successfully exist in their local environment. By doing so we put them in a new environment where they have to start over and many times even though they survive, they do not thrive in their new locations.

Native plants are excellent allies in the fight against climate change due to their impressive carbon sequestration capabilities. Through photosynthesis, these plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, converting it into oxygen and storing the carbon in their biomass and soil. Native plant communities have a unique ability to accumulate and store carbon, making them essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. By incorporating native plants into our landscapes, we can enhance carbon sequestration and contribute to a healthier planet.

There are millions of dollars being spent on research into carbon sequestration and even more money spent on its application. Plants can do this for us naturally without all of the by products that come from the construction of these systems.

Climate change poses a significant threat to biodiversity, as species struggle to adapt to rapidly changing conditions. Native plants play a vital role in preserving biodiversity by providing crucial habitats for a variety of animal and insect species. Birds, pollinators, and other wildlife rely on native plant communities for food, shelter, and nesting sites. By embracing native plants, we can restore disrupted ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and protect vulnerable species from the impacts of climate change. Every time we plant a non-native species in our yard we take away an opportunity to diversify our local habitat. That small plot now taken up by a non-useful plant does not contribute anything positive to local biodiversity and becomes a dead spot, similar to what our lawns have become.

Native plants are particularly adept at conserving water and maintaining soil health. Their deep root systems improve soil structure, allowing for better water infiltration and retention. This helps mitigate the effects of drought by reducing water runoff and increasing groundwater recharge. Additionally, native plants help prevent soil erosion and nutrient loss, ensuring the long-term health and productivity of the land. By planting native species, we can conserve water resources, prevent the loss of vital nutrients in our top layers of soil and improve the sustainability of our overall plant life.

This is an important point to make with the local soil content being what it is. Anyone that has ever tried to plant anything in East Tennessee can attest to the clay content of our soils. Clay is wet, dense and heavy like concrete. This being said, our local plant population thrives in it and our local area supports more plant species than most places in the world. Just because so many species of plants call our clay-rich soils home does not mean imports fare as well. Many non-native plants can not handle our intense dry summers or minimal nutrients in the top layers of our soil.

Native plants solve climate change…sounds good doesn’t it? Is it possible? No one knows but it seems about as realistic as a billion dollar machine that removes carbon from the air. Why don’t we just use the things that evolution created for this exact purpose? PLANTS.

We just have to figure out what plants are the best and most efficient carbon scrubbers and disperse them properly. Most likely the answer will be that native plants in their native areas are the the best carbon scrubbers and we should figure out how to give them an advantage over their invaders.

The Popularity of Native Plant Design and How to Bring it to Your Community

Posted on by taproot ecological design

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in the landscape design world, with homeowners, businesses, and public parks alike embracing the diverse beauty and environmental benefits of native plant design. It’s an approach that blends aesthetics with ecology, resulting in stunning landscapes that are in harmony with their local environment.

In one study in Mind, 95% of those interviewed said their mood improved after spending time outside, changing from depressed, stressed, and anxious to more calm and balanced. Other studies by Ulrich, Kim, and Cervinka show that time in nature or scenes of nature are associated with a positive mood, and psychological wellbeing, meaningfulness, and vitality. Over the last 3 years I, personally have seen what the benefits of being in nature every day will do for my overall mental health. Now, I do not know how I ever survived without this approach or slept well for that matter. Forest bathing has become a popular term over the last few years. Since surviving the pandemic, countless people developed habits of walking, hiking or simply sitting in their backyards as a stress relief management system. Do not go to the mall or your local gym to walk around an indoor track or even worse, a treadmill. Simply go outside and go for a walk – preferably in a place with trees, flowers and green. Breath it in and feel the restorative properties that occur when you immerse yourself in nature.

For the uninitiated, native plant design refers to the practice of using plants that are indigenous to a specific geographical region in landscaping projects. These plants have evolved naturally over thousands of years to survive and thrive in local conditions, making them a sustainable and low-maintenance choice. The overall look is something that many clients can not wrap their head around, not to mention that to them it just looks ugly. When I first started out in this field 16 years ago, I would have definitely fit into this category – not only did I not know many native species but more importantly, it was not pleasing to my eye. Over time I grew to appreciate the native plant aesthetic by noticing its beauty in nature, not in a design, but on a local hike or in the mountains. Taking that natural native look to a backyard in West Knoxville became the next challenge. The ultimate challenge is getting clients’ to appreciate it on their own without the designer having to tell them how beautiful it is.

The growing popularity of native plant design can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, using native plants in landscaping projects greatly reduces the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides, making them a more environmentally friendly choice. They also help to create habitats for local wildlife, contributing to the preservation of biodiversity. We have talked about this subject matter in previous articles and will continue to make the connection between native plant design and the beneficial effects it brings to local biodiversity.

In addition, native plants offer a sense of place and authenticity that can’t be replicated with exotic species. They help to maintain the distinctive characteristics of local landscapes, creating a strong connection between people and the natural world around them. Not to mention that natives have a much better survival rate because they are conditioned to thrive in local soil conditions, summer drought or frigid temperatures in the winter months. Look at Knoxville over the past 2 winters, we have had below normal temperatures that have wreaked havoc on some plant species. Most of the victims have been non-natives like boxwoods, crape myrtle, distylium or indian hawthorne.

Furthermore, the use of native plants has been linked to health benefits. Research shows that being in nature, particularly in green spaces that resemble natural ecosystems, can reduce stress and increase feelings of well-being. Find a park or some type of green space near your home that makes you feel calm and visit this place as often as possible. If you can accomplish this type of setting in your own backyard, even better.

As the climate crisis deepens, the importance of sustainable landscaping practices is becoming increasingly clear. Native plant design offers a practical and beautiful solution, helping to create resilient landscapes that can withstand the impacts of climate change. As we talked about earlier in the article, natives have an advantage over non-indigenous plants because the climate and soil conditions are not foreign to them and little acclimation is needed.

Another factor driving the popularity of native plant design is the trend towards outdoor living. As more people seek to make the most of their outdoor spaces, there is a growing demand for landscapes that are not only beautiful, but also functional and sustainable. It has taken some time but the public, overall, has started to see the beauty in this type of designing. It is no longer an aesthetic that is only pushed by landscape designers. It is an amazing feeling when you show up for a new lead and the first words out of the client’s mouth is, “native plant design.” Usually these types of clients are very knowledgeable which makes your job as a designer easier because they know what they want.

Despite its many benefits, native plant design does pose some challenges. Finding the right plants can be difficult, particularly in urban areas where native species may not be readily available. However, a growing number of nurseries are now specializing in native plants, making it easier than ever to incorporate them into your landscape design. In Knoxville we are especially lucky to have a non-profit organization that collects native plants from sites scheduled for construction and disperses them to the community. NPRS or Native Plant Rescue Squad will sell these reclaimed plants to the public and also do plant installations for private homeowners and community programs as well. Taproot recently worked with NPRS to complete a wildflower garden in the Island Home Community. NPRS is also a great source of information about native plant design and what each individual plant can do for the health and beauty of your garden.

I am always amazed by the native plant lovers that have not acquainted themselves with their local native nursery – at this point, they exist, I promise, you just have to make an effort to find them. I do not know a better way to spend an afternoon than slowly moving through a native plant collection and imagining the possibilities. It doesn’t matter whether it is for work or relaxation it is always time well spent.

In conclusion, the popularity of native plant design is a testament to a broader cultural shift towards sustainability and environmental consciousness. As we continue to grapple with the impacts of climate change, it’s likely that this trend will only continue to grow. So, whether you’re planning a major landscaping project or simply looking to add a touch of nature to your outdoor space, consider embracing the beauty and benefits of native plants, your community and local environment will thank you.

Urban Wildflower Gardening

Posted on by taproot ecological design


In the concrete jungles of urban areas, it’s easy to feel disconnected from nature. But what if you could transform your small patch of land into an oasis filled with wildflowers and native grasses? Urban Wildflower gardening in urban areas is a growing trend that not only adds a touch of natural beauty to our surroundings but also provides essential habitats for pollinators and other wildlife, including insects. Downtown Knoxville is buoyed by the success of the Urban Wilderness initiative where large areas have been saved from further development by becoming walking/mountain biking trails for public use. As successful as this program has been, we need to take it a step further and allow our downtown to mimic the wilderness around it. In this blog entry, we will explore the benefits of wildflower gardening in urban areas and provide some tips to help you get started on your own urban wildflower garden.

Check in your local area for native plant nurseries that can provide not only plants, but helpful advice
Purple coneflowers are native to East Tennessee and provide a great food source to birds in late summer
Simply letting your existing grass grow for a month will reveal hidden beauty

1. The Benefits of Urban Wildflower Gardening:
– Enhancing Biodiversity: Urban areas often lack natural habitats. By planting wildflowers, you can create a welcoming space for bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators, promoting biodiversity and helping to sustain local ecosystems.
– Improving Air Quality: Wildflowers absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, helping to improve air quality in urban environments and combatting the effects of pollution. We can not see what we are breathing in downtown areas, many times it is a mixture of car pollution – ambient (outdoor) fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which can be filtered and minimized with the presence of a proper urban landscape. Sometimes I wish we could see the benefit of plants in our environment, actually see plants taking in carbon dioxide (bad) and releasing oxygen (good) right before our very eyes. This would at least convince some of the skeptics of the value that plants bring to our world and that without them we could not exist. Unfortunately, many people have to see something with their own eyes before they believe it or understand its importance.
– Creating Beauty and Serenity: Wildflowers bring a burst of color and beauty to urban landscapes, transforming dull spaces into vibrant and visually appealing areas. They also provide a sense of serenity and tranquility, offering a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. Studies have been done that confirm the fact that we are genuinely happier and more productive if we have trees and green scape readily available. Whether this means trees outside of your office window or a quiet, landscaped courtyard where you can eat lunch, the benefits of outdoor spaces filled with plants is immense when it comes to good mental health.

2. Choosing the Right Wildflowers for Urban Gardens:
– Native Species: Selecting native wildflowers is crucial as they are well-adapted to the local climate and soil conditions. They also play a vital role in supporting indigenous wildlife. We have talked about this in previous articles – native wildflowers and shrubs attract native species and insects that have no use for plants like nandina or the ornamental garden juniper we used for groundcover. In most cases, native species will eat the plants they are familiar with or what they have traditionally eaten.
– Low-Maintenance Varieties: Opt for wildflowers that are low-maintenance and require minimal watering or fertilization. This will make it easier to maintain your urban garden without compromising its aesthetics. Drought tolerance should be the number one factor when choosing your plants because most urban landscapes do not have the ability to draw water from far away. These plants usually only have a small plot of soil with minimal depth to survive in so the ability to go long periods without water is key.
– Long Bloom Periods: Look for wildflowers that have extended bloom periods, ensuring that your garden will have a continuous display of flowers throughout the season. This is important in any landscape design but particularly in urban landscapes because of the limited space that you have as a designer to make a visual impact. These factors make designing these spaces more challenging but also rewarding when you can produce an attractive urban setting with limited space and plant choices.

3. Designing and Maintaining Your Urban Wildflower Garden:
– Assess your Space: Determine the available space for your garden, whether it’s a small balcony, rooftop, or a tiny backyard. Consider factors like sunlight exposure and soil quality to ensure the success of your garden. The design process can be as simple as determining what native plants will work in the space, purchasing plants and then arranging them before installation. Being able to arrange in a way that maximizes the bloom time/seasonal interest in each plant while also spreading the blooms through all four seasons is easier said than done and can challenge the most experienced landscape designer.

If this is your first time designing and things do not go as planned, don’t worry, this is not a permanent planting. Gardening is truly a trial and error endeavor that is never completely mastered so run quickly away from anyone that says they have it all figured out. By using native plants you greatly increase your chances for success since they have a much better survival rate than the plant you buy from the big box store.
– Soil Preparation: Wildflowers generally prefer well-drained soil. Prepare the soil by removing any weeds or debris and add organic matter to improve its fertility and drainage. Keep in mind that most native wildflowers and the grasses that naturally accompany them are not accustom to rich, fertile soils but poor, nutrient deficient soils that contain rock and other unwanted material. Try to match this soil quality and do not use fluffy potting soils that you would use to plant your annual container garden.
– Planting Techniques: Follow the instructions on the seed packets for optimal planting depth and spacing. Scatter the seeds evenly or create small clusters or ‘drifts’ to accentuate the groupings of certain plants. Piet Oudolf, a Dutch garden designer, is an expert at this method, he creates wild spaces that have a loose structure to them that allows the viewer to appreciate the highlighted groups of plants that the designer wants to draw attention to. Lurie Garden in downtown Chicago is an Oudolf masterpiece that brings the beauty of the prairie to one of the busiest cities in the world. 

– Maintenance: The beauty of using native wildflowers and grasses is that your garden will only get so big. There will not be a whole lot of trimming or work to do on your space from year to year. Mainly it will be keeping the garden confined to the space for which it was intended and not spilling out onto walkways or driveways. Once a year, early February, the space will need to be cut down 3-4 inches from ground level to allow for new growth. Simply cut everything back and remove the waste, some finer clippings can be left behind to decompose into fertilizer. This is for wildflower/grass areas only, shrubs and trees will be trimmed according to their individual needs in the years that follow. A good tip to follow is shaping your trees/shrubs before they get to optimal size. Waiting until something is overgrown and then aggressively trimming it back stresses the plant out and may result in unwanted die off. When the plant is 2/3 its eventual size trim it back ever so slightly to slow down the growth rate. Then wait a season or two until the plant is close to optimal size and trim it again. This patient approach allows your plant to be “trained” to be the size you want instead of trying to force it.

In previous articles Taproot Eco Design has talked about the significance of wild space in our environment and hopefully some good advice on how to incorporate them at your house. Taproot deeply believes in this ideology and hopes to successfully promote this idea in the Knoxville area in the future. As with anything else we need the help and involvement of the community in this endeavor and hope we can humbly add to the growing movement we see going on around us. Progress is slow, but if you take the time to notice and no where to look, it is easy to see. To participate you can do nothing – just let your lawn grow, without cutting it, until Memorial Day and see what happens… Some wildflowers may appear, the existing grass you have will get taller and form seed heads, when long enough the grass will move with the wind and create a sound you probably have never heard while standing in your lawn. Imagine your own landscape providing you with peace and serenity that is hard to find sometimes in an urban setting and the benefit over time that could bring.       

Island Home and the Native Plant Movement

Posted on by taproot ecological design

  Taproot recently converted a backyard in Island Home, Knoxville from a mix of weeds, grasses and invasives into an eventual wildflower oasis complete with meandering walkways and a 30 foot fallen tree or “snag”. Most of the time fallen trees are cut up with a chainsaw and hauled off to a green waste site but these snags can have serve as a very productive piece of the ecological environment around it. In the realm of the usual suspect projects this one was definitely out of the box, but surely welcomed. Through the years, my dislike of turfgrass has grown quite intense. The amount of fossil fuels that are used up every year to fuel lawnmowers and the trucks/trailers that wind through our urban streets 9 months out of the year is staggering. Not to mention the grass treatment companies that make millions a year pumping poison onto our nicely manicured lawns or after a heavy rain, down the drains and into our watersheds. Unfortunately I worked for one of these companies many years ago and witnessed firsthand the sheer amount of product that is pumped out of these trucks every year. Think about 15 trucks a day carrying 300-400 gallons of weed killer/fertilizer that is sprayed onto lawns 360 days out of the year. Do the math, or on second thought, don’t. We have enough depressing things to deal with these days.

  Through years of being involved in the industry and observing the changes our local environment has undergone over my lifetime it is clear to me that we must make changes to our own personal landscape impact. We can effect not only our small ecosystem around us (backyard) but by learning and teaching can spread to our neighborhood, then to the community and beyond. The aforementioned Island Home neighborhood is quickly becoming one of these type communities. If you drive through the neighborhood there are several lots that have rid themselves of turf altogether. Some of them have been done by local designers, others by the homeowner with a little help from Stanley’s Greenhouse (a local company that specializes in native and obscure plants) and non-profits like NPRS (Native Plant Rescue Squad) who collect native plants from sites all over Knoxville and replant or sell them to locals for native plant installations. Sometimes all it takes is a mentor or information source (with the right information) to steer a potential homeowner who is looking to make changes in their landscape towards an all native landscape rather than going to Lowes and buying what looks cool.

  Keep in mind these are relatively small lots but the impact is still quite strong. The architecture of the neighborhood combines nicely with the native plant aesthetic – you have Craftsman style homes with subtle lines and simple elegance. Overall, the neighborhood has embraced the native plant movement and idea that you can help improve the environment by starting with your own property, big or small. The property we did this past fall was on Maplewood Drive which backs up to Baker Creek just before it empties into the Tennessee River. We eliminated invasive plants (Shrub Honeysuckle, Privet and Autumn Olive) that had grown between the new wildflower area and the property line. The Baker Creek watershed is a perfect example of a wildlife ‘corridor’ as it runs behind Maplewood Drive and through more residential areas on its way to the Tennessee River. Wildlife corridors establish ‘safezones’ for animals and insects as they move through our environment that are not interrupted by roads, railways or other human establishment. These corridors are essential when it comes to overall wildlife health by allowing individuals to move through populations cutting down on inbreeding and other factors that arise in isolated populations. Established corridors would also help cut down on road kill, reduce the local flora devastation done in small areas where deer are isolated and allow an overall healthier diet for animals by providing them with a larger area to forage. The idea is to eventually connect enough of these corridors together to form large, uninterrupted wildlife zones that serve as wildlife management areas that are managed by the community and individual landowners.

  

  

  Knoxville, as a whole is becoming more open to this type of landscape aesthetic. More and more homeowners are at least considering non-turf landscapes because of the impact to the environment, no lawnmowers to pay every week and in the end a more pleasing overall look to your property. Keep in mind there have been numerous studies done that affirm that we as humans are healthier when we are in nature, amongst the trees or in a wildflower meadow. We were not meant as a species to only walk through asphalt paved streets and only see plants when we venture out into the country someplace. We can have what we need to be happy right there in our own yards – trees, shade, flower blooms and occasional wildlife. Lawns as we know them today represent vanity in its purest form, they originated when farmers or landowners became so wealthy that they did not have to farm all of their land every year. Instead they grew turf in these areas as a form of pride to show that they had more than they needed. Instead of using these unneeded areas as grasslands or wildflower pastures, the landowners began the practice of creating environmental dead zones, a practice that is still being used today.

Image courtesy of Biodiversity For All

  From an economic standpoint, the practice of mowing our yards once a week is either too costly or time consuming depending on if you do it yourself or pay someone else to do it. Over time it would certainly save money to spend the upfront cost of naturalizing our yards whether it be with plants or some other form of groundcover like clover, sedum or creeping juniper. Or it can be done in stages by spreading the cost out over several years. Just allow yourself to think about how much healthier our environment would be if we all eliminated turf or at least the mowing of it 20 times a year. By eliminating turf mowing we also eliminate lawn care companies that spew poison all over the place that kill our insects and encourage a stagnant landscape. The worst problem this presents is what do we do with all the lawnmowers we no longer need, but that would be a good problem to have.

Stay tuned to see how the Island Home wildflower garden comes together in 2024 and all of our future projects that fall in this category…

 

The Difficulty of Designing Eco Friendly within Today’s Industry

Posted on by taproot ecological design

Native Plant Design is not Always an Easy Sell

The interest from potential clients in a native plant design has never been higher. Many homeowners are hearing the calls for native plants in neighborhood designs to provide sustenance for insects, birds and other critters that live in our suburban landscape. For the first time it seems as though the general public has grasped the fact that they can help the problem with our loss of biodiversity and contribute in their own way by converting their yards from a barren wasteland to actual ecological habitat.

For the clients that are all in on this concept the designer/client interaction can be exhilarating because their thirst for knowledge in this new field combined with the designer’s need to inform can result in a collaborative product where the homeowner is more a part of the process. By the end, the client feels a connection with their new native plant installation and truly understands the significance it represents to the local ecological community.

The harder clients to convince are the ones that don’t really know what they want or they are simply not real knowledgeable about plants in general. In these cases the client will usually rely on the skills and knowledge of the designer to give them a visually pleasing aesthetic while using plants that fit the microclimate and meet the requirements of sun/shade areas. Many times when the designer is given creative freedom it is the perfect chance to load the design with native plants, groundcovers to maintain the quality of the soil and do all of this while still filling the wants of the client. A good designer will at least have some native species in the plant list since they are the main group of people that have to be behind implementing this change.

Some designers will fill the page with ornamental specimen plants that look nice and fill the requests of the client but provide no nutrients or benefit to any living creature around it. The main thing new designers in the field need to understand is that it is up to them to teach and encourage these plants to their clients because if they don’t, who will?

At times it can be challenging because a customer will want specific requirements that are hard to fill using native plants. You hear the same thing from many clients – low maintenance, no trimming and nothing that gets bigger than 3 feet tall. These specs limit the designer to mainly dwarf varieties because most native shrubs do not stay that small and there is also the issue that non-plant people like compact plants that are simple and maintain their shape.

I have had many clients tell me that the plant looks to furry or does not have a consistent form. People have been conditioned to like a certain look with modern plants and many times it simply does not include natives. In these cases we, as designers, have to do the best we can and consider it a win if we can get some native pollinators included or a native evergreen that caterpillars can feed on. Although, you might not want to mention that last part to the client.

All in all it should get easier over time to convince clients to go native when re-doing their landscape or planning the design for their newly built home. We can only hope as designers that people educate themselves on the importance of maintaining habitat for local insects, birds and small mammals in our ecosystem. If they don’t, we must take it upon ourselves to inform the public of these important issues because once again, if not us then who will it be?

The Need for Connectivity Within a Shrinking Knoxville Landscape

Posted on by taproot ecological design

Currently I am reading, for the second time, Nature’s Best Hope by Douglas Tallamy. It is a book about the shrinking ability for us as a planet to sustain all the plants and animals that have inhabited Earth for millions of years. Tallamy, however, does not believe it is to late, but we must begin to “re-wild” the planet one backyard at a time. His vision is called “Homegrown National Park” where each one of us is responsible for converting part of our backyard or front yard into a haven for local flora and fauna. Find out what species live in your neck of the woods and provide the type of habitat that they need, its as simple as that. If you want to get sophisticated with this concept you can create habitat for species that you desire to live on your property like monarch butterflies, hummingbirds or a family of foxes.

If we can get enough homeowners to go along with this concept there could eventually be a way to connect these wild areas together and provide “highways” for animals to move about as they please. When animals feel pressure to leave an old area of habitation because of de-foresting or new construction they often do not have a safe path to another sustainable area. Ultimately many of these animals get run over by cars or end up being removed because they become a nuisance to the local community. The problem is, as time goes by, the ability to connect these existing wild areas becomes harder and harder. Land in Knoxville is being developed at an alarming rate and the scarcity of untouched urban wilderness is a growing problem.

Around the world there have been solutions to this problem actually put into implementation. Connectivity is the concept that “connects” these wild areas together to provide a large enough space to sustain the animals that inhabit it. This concept is quickly becoming very important as our local landscape gets divided up and developed day by day. One solution that has been used by environmentalists in San Antonio, Texas and Wierdin, Netherlands is a land bridge. It is a bridge across a road that is naturalized with grass and trees that mimic the surrounding landscape.

Land Bridge in San Antonio, Texas

The idea is to get the local animals comfortable crossing the bridge to allow them the amount of space needed to remain in that area. Carrying capacity is an important concept that the land bridges provide plenty of for local animals. Two small areas may contain no local animal species because there is simply not enough food, cover or land for them to live, but if you connect 3 or 4 of these small areas together suddenly you have created a sustainable habitat and a living area that animals are not looking to move away from.

Land Bridge in Wierdin, Netherlands

I work in Knoxville and Maryville, so I drive down Pellissippi Parkway (I-140), quite often and at all times of the day. I have seen deer jumping a 5ft tall median wall with cars whizzing past at 80 mph. This past fall in particular there were a dozen dead deer between the Northshore exit and the bridge that crosses the lake. The area around this part of Pellissippi Parkway is very unique in that it is like a long, wide isthmus that stretches out towards the lake. The lake makes has a big bend along this stretch that forms the peninsula that has water on both sides and is split almost perfectly in half by the highway.

As you can see from the picture above (area highlighted in yellow) the area in question is rather large but is cut in half by the highway. This addition to the landscape decades ago changed the movement of animals in this area like deer, fox, raccoon, opossum, coyote and turkey. The carrying capacity for this area changed dramatically and is continuing to change as more of this area gets developed. Most of the deer I see on the highway are crossing from South to North and it is pretty obvious why – the area to the North of the highway is relatively undeveloped (and hopefully stays that way). The animals are simply moving from a highly concentrated area with houses, cars and household pets to a lower concentrated area with woods, edge areas where forest and grass fields meet, and a lack of human activity.

There is an existing bridge in this area that could be an option for a land bridge for animals to use while still allowing a “path” for cars to use that have to cross this bridge to get to their home. As you can see from the blown-up image, there are not many homes in this area and very few that have to cross the bridge to get home. This area also has plenty of woods on both sides of the highway for animals to use as cover. As with many of the ideas in Tallamy’s book, Nature’s Best Hope, for this to work there would have to be a collective effort by mostly private land owners to keep this area as undeveloped as possible moving forward. The largest cost of a project like this would be the building of a bridge that crosses a 4 lane interstate, but we already have that part covered in this scenario. The money could be spent on a restoration of the existing bridge and asphalt to a more animal friendly walking surface. Trees, shrubs and grasses would have to be planted to make the land bridge look as natural as possible. A fence would have to be built on both sides of Pellissippi Parkway to “funnel” the animals to the land bridge.

This would be a large undertaking but well worth it when you think of the animal species that could be saved as we move into the future. Imagine how cool it would be to have something like this in our area and the bragging rights we could have over surrounding areas that have not thought about animal conservation in such a serious way. There is no reason why we can’t look at this in the same way South Knoxville looked at developing the Urban Wilderness that so many of us enjoy. The Urban Wilderness required planning, a large budget and the cooperation of private land owners. The Scott Bridge Project would require the same amount of cooperation but is totally achievable.

Native Plants All Day, Every Day

Posted on by taproot ecological design

Introducing native plants into your landscape can create a food source or cover for the endangered species in your own neighborhood

Most modern landscapes that you see in your neighborhood have very little to no native plants included in them. The design and overall look of the landscape may look great with perfect balance, an established style and plenty of color. With that being said a non-native landscape provides no food for local insects or wildlife and will tend to create a sterile environment where nothing living will go. We have been brainwashed into thinking that this is the ideal environment for our suburban lifestyles with no long grass where snakes might hide or native shrubs with berries because they might attract birds that will poop on our cars. It really is sad to see, people that are afraid of nature, or at least do not want it anywhere near where they live.

Native Butterfly

Local species are moving out of suburban areas because they no longer can find the food they need among those types of landscapes. It really can be as simple as the choices you make at the plant nursery or what you tell your landscape designer you want in your yard. Most landscape designers push native plants because they have been educated about their necessity in a healthy natural environment but most will not push back against a client that is do not see natives value. Most of the time clients will say the same thing, “I don’t want to trim anything, so it can not get to big and it has to be low maintenance.” This eliminates many natives because in order to stay small with your plant choices designers have to go with dwarf varieties. This means using a lot hybrids which look like the native cultivars but often do not provide the nutrients that birds and insects can recognize.

This does not mean that we have to convert our whole yard to wildflowers and get rid of any plant that is not indigenous. We can devote a small corner of the yard where we let the tall fescue grow long and plant a few elderberry shrubs or some low growing perennials if you want to start a little smaller. Provide some habitat for the local rabbit population or the family of skunks that travel thru the neighborhood. You will be amazed at how interesting your yard can become with just a few, small changes.

Many plant nurseries in your area might have only a small selection of native plants and for this reason you might have to travel a little farther to get the good stuff. Every town has an off the beaten path native plant dealer that will give you everything you need and will also have the knowledge of where to plant them. So give natives a chance this spring when deciding what to plant in that empty spot where that cool cultivar died from last year (Native plants have a much higher survival rate) and at the same time be a contributor to the local animal food source.