Getting Started with Climate-Resilient Landscapes

by Alana Settle

We all want landscapes that are built to last.

Whether or not your clients have begun to express concern with the impact climate change could have on their landscapers, it wouldn’t hurt to incorporate best practices and techniques to help guarantee the plants in your care will thrive.

Anticipated climate changes include rising temperatures, more intense storms, and less predictable drought and rain patterns, all of which present challenges to the green industry and home gardeners. Thankfully, there are many easy ways you can begin to create climate-resilient landscapes and minimize risk to your projects and communities.

Diversify Your Landscapes

A landscape with a wide variety of plants is better equipped to handle changes in its environment. A diverse garden with plenty of flowering plants benefits the local pollinator populations. Diversity is also important to protect from a catastrophic loss to a new pest or disease (for example, the loss of ash trees to the Emerald Ash Borer).

Ask your clients how much of their lawn they are using; encourage them to reduce large swaths of grass and add beds of water-wise perennials and shrubs.

When selecting plants, native species are a smart choice as they are known to be tough and adaptable. Native plant experts advise working toward a landscape composed of 70% natives to maximize benefits to local wildlife. Swapping out a few annuals for easy-going, native perennials can be an easy first step.

Plant More Trees

The fact that trees are beneficial to the environment is common knowledge. Anyone can plant a tree, but the green industry’s responsibility is to ensure trees reach maturity and live long, healthy lives by educating clients and encouraging professional assistance in selecting the right tree for the right spot, proper planting technique, watering requirements, and proactive care for pests and diseases.

More research is becoming available on trees that will adapt well to climate change. For example, researchers advise selecting trees that thrive in our current plant hardiness zone and two zones warmer.

Get Serious About Invasives

Do your part to stop the spread of invasive species to make natural ecosystems more climate resilient. Stay informed on plants deemed invasive in Ohio (available on the ODA website) and consider replacing invasives already growing in your landscapes. Some climate change experts advise avoiding plants that are invasive in other regions as well since their range will most likely change with time.

Water Wisely

Drought-tolerant plants are an obvious choice for dry areas, if there is adequate drainage. Remind clients that regular watering is required for all new plants and “drought tolerance” is only established when the plant has grown a deep root system.

Reducing overall water consumption can be done in a variety of ways, such as using drip irrigation, installing rain barrels, and following best practices for irrigation systems. Information can be shared with clients during Smart Irrigation Month, a public awareness campaign hosted by the Irrigation Association each July.

Stormwater Management

Designing landscapes that can handle excess water becomes increasingly important with predictions of stronger storms and periods of heavy rainfall. Slow down runoff and prevent pollution of waterways with the installation of rain gardens, swales, and permeable pavers.

Stay Informed

Changing weather patterns influence the prevalence of pests and diseases. Stay informed on what experts are seeing in our region with OGIA’s Plant Health Care Newsletter, Diagnostic Walkabouts, and OSU Extensions resources such as the BYGL e-newsletter.