Native Plant Solutions: Managing Water in Your Landscape
Traditionally, built structures and hardscape did the heavy lifting when it came to managing water and runoff in our landscapes. While that’s often still the case, we now recognize that plants, soils, and natural systems have a greater role to play. Not only do they provide solutions, but they also add ecological benefits and build resilience. This presentation focuses on plant-based solutions for managing the water that falls on our landscapes. We’ll discuss how we treat it and how to make plant choices that support its role as a precious resource. We’ll examine wetland indicator status as a helpful tool and then take a deep dive into a handful of specific native plants that are well adapted for drainage areas—at the base of downspouts, in ditches, near air conditioning outlets, or anywhere that water collects. We’ll focus on characteristics and adaptations that make these plants particularly helpful. Leave the presentation with a better understanding of how plants can improve drainage and help your garden in the face of increasingly severe storms.