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4 Milwaukee/NARI Remodelā€¢Renovateā€¢Restore April 2014 It's not too late in the season to find some peace and harmony outside - away from it all, as gardening does remain hot with an ever- growing "green" emphasis in our world. Members of Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council, Inc., the area's leading home improvement and remodeling industry resource for 52 years, address some of the trends they are seeing. Green, sustainable, environmentally con- scious, beautiful, and year-round enjoyment seem to be the trends for homeowners' outdoor living spaces. Whether planting native shrubs, natural fertilizing of lawns, or cultivating a rain garden, there are many options to choose from. And because outdoor space is meant to be enjoyed, landscapers continue to get requests for incorporating lighting, firepits, water fea- tures, and a cozy atmosphere around the fami- ly patio. "The horticulture landscape has always been about being green, which is what we do," said Bill Wandsnider, RLA, CLP, owner of Wandsnider Landscape Design & Construction, Menomonee Falls. "I think that in general there is an increase in environmental consciousness. Concerns about the environ- ment we live in tends to focus our thinking about what we can do on our own individual scale, such as buy a shade tree or do a planting in the yard that gives off oxygen, provides food and shelter for wildlife, and at the same time, helps prevent runoff and erosion to keep from polluting and flooding our streets. There is a more of an environmental consciousness that we are starting to see, not just for the beauty of plants but what they do for our everyday health and living. "Hand in hand with this, homeowners are entering a world of horticultural appreciation. They are wanting some key plants that develop into beautiful specimens that serve a wide vari- ety of needs whether it's from a human beauty perspective or perspective of benefitting wildlife. I think that whole piece is becoming more pronounced," he said. "It's also becoming a lot more pronounced that plants aren't only pretty little things out there. There are critically important to our health and wellbeing. We are planting because it gives us clean air to breathe, it makes us healthier, and it will make our environment better." A Natural Fertilizer and Meadowland Grass Before there was fertilizer, there was clover. Until after World War II, White Dutch clover was widely accepted as part of a lawnscape; however when herbicides were developed, they not only killed weeds, but clover too. "Years ago, if you observed a park during a draught, it was green because of the clover in the grass and a reduced use of chemicals," said Patrick Devereux, ASLA, and co-owner of Stone Oak Landscapes, Inc., Cudahy. "As part of the green movement we may be getting back to that, with the dwarf or micro clover. It's a very small clover so it's not as noticeable, but it's something different, especially if you are environmentally conscious, because it is self fertilizing and it stays greener with less water." "Another new product is a grass called lo- mow. It grows to eight or nine inches but not any higher and provides a meadow look with- out being weedy. You don't have to mow it, but you can. I have been using that with cus- tomers who have large lots who don't want to spend the whole weekend cutting grass. A homeowner can do a more traditional lawn closer to the house and the have the outer lawn be a low mow, low grow variety," Devereux said. Nurture Plants with the Correct Soil Plants do not grow and become beautiful unless they have the proper growing environ- ment and that is significantly related to the soil. According to Wandsnider, that is an area that is getting more awareness. "If you want plants to grow, develop, and flourish, you've got to pro- vide the proper growing environment for them," he said. He prefers agricultural char- coal, which holds nutrients in the soil and retains moisture. "One of the things we can do as homeowners to address carbon sequestration is to use this organic material and work it into our soil. It was widely used in the 1800s before agricultural fertilizers were introduced. Now it is starting to come back. It's almost like a won- der drug for the soil," he said. Furthering environmental protection is the aspect of water management. A better use of water is coming more to the foreground, including an awareness of rain gardens. "It used to be that a rain garden was a negative because it was a low spot that collected water and it had mosquitoes in it. Now there is more realization that this low area collects water and puts it back into the soil, helps prevent run off, and prevents flooding. There are differently types of plant that grow in that environment and it benefits other types of insects and but- terflies too," Wandsnider said. Cultivating Native Plants for Beauty and Wildlife "We are seeing a continued interest in a lot of perennials," said Devereux. "Homeowners want four seasons of color and texture." Popular flowering plants include a new variety of dwarf lilac that blooms for a longer period of time and even re-blooms, and the hardy shrub rose, which will begin blooming in late spring and continue even after a couple of frosts. Native trees such as Golden Glory dogwood and musclewood, both of which have an inter- esting back texture that provides interest for all four seasons. 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