The document provides details on projects completed at a demonstration property to make the residential landscape more wildlife and watershed friendly in central Indiana. Two rain gardens were installed to capture runoff. Native trees, shrubs, and prairie plants were planted for wildlife habitat and to replace ash trees threatened by emerald ash borer. An organic vegetable garden and compost system were added. The lawn was cared for organically with compost tea and top dressing to reduce runoff impacts.
Measures of Central Tendency: Mean, Median and Mode
Wildlife and Watershed Friendly Residential Landscape
1. Wildlife and Watershed Friendly Residential Landscape for Central Indiana Demonstration Property Prepared for and with Guidance by Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District Prepared by Matthew Newell http://wildlifeandwatershedfriendly.weebly.com/ May 29, 2010 DRAFT 4
6. Objective About Family Friendly Need multiple outdoor options for an active family Watershed Friendly Minimize water and nutrient runoff Wildlife Friendly Attract and coexist with wildlife Visually Appealing Curb appeal and ample visual interest throughout property Mostly Native Species Wildlife benefit, ease of maintenance, habitat restoration Low Maintenance Minimize need for labor and materials (fertilizers, mulch, water, pesticides, herbicides, equipment) Mostly Organic Minimize use of synthetic chemicals Ash Tree Mitigation Minimize cost of ash removal and replacement, preserve a wooded look
17. Native Trees: Species List Name Mature Light Soil About Ht Yrs Washington Hawthorne Crataegus phaenopyrum 15’-30’ 5 Full sun Well drained Excellent cover and winter food for wildlife/thorns protect nests Flowering Crabapple 15’ - 40’ 5 Full sun Well drained Large crop of small fruit that persists into winter providing food and cover for wildlife Persimmon Diospyros virginiana 30’ - 70’ 30 Full sun Well drained / Wet Can be used for human consumption White Pine Pinus strobus 50’ - 100’ 40 Full sun Well drained Fast growing windbreaks, wildlife food and cover Shagbark Hickory Carya ovata 50’ - 100’ 50 Full sun/ Part shade Well drained / Wet Nesting site for bats (they hang between the trunk and shaggy bark) Black Cherry Prunus serotina 50’ - 100’ 50 Full sun Well drained Host plant for many types of Lepidoptera (butterflies/moths)
18. Native Shrubs: Species List Name Mature Light Soil About Ht. Yrs Silky Dogwood Cornus amomum 5’- 10’ 3 Partial shade Well drained / Wet Wildlife cover and summer food, will grow at waters edge. Hazlenut Corylus americana 5’ - 10’ 3 Full sun Well drained Wildlife food and cover Gray Dogwood Cornus racemosa 5’- 10’ 15 Full sun Well drained Clusters of white flowers in spring and white fruit in fall. Important food and cover for wildlife. Black Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa 5’ - 13’ 3 Full sun Dry to Moist Wildlife food and cover Common Chokeberry Prunus virginiana 15’ - 20’ 5 Full sun / Partial shade Moist Wildlife food and cover American Plum Prunus americana 15’ - 30’ 10 Full sun Well drained / Moist Abundant white flowers in spring and small edible plums in summer. Pawpaw Asimina triloba 10’ - 30’ 5 Full sun / Partial shade Well drained / Moist Valuable wildlife food
19. Native Vines, Flowers & Groundcovers: Species List Name Mature Light Soil About Ht. Yrs Wild Ginger Asarum canadense 5” 1 Shady Moist Heart shaped glossy lustrous leaves that cover the ground.
23. Prairie: Species List Name Type Origin Bloom Height Exposure Moisture Little Bluestem Schizachrium scoparium Grass Native n/a 2’-3’ Full sun Drained Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis Grass Native n/a 1’ -2’ Full sun Drained Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Flower Native Purple 2’-3’ Full sun Drained Sweet Black Eyed Susan Rudbeckia subtomentosa Flower Native Yellow 1’-3’ Full sun Drained Showy Goldenrod Solidago speciosa Flower Native Yellow 1’-3’ Full sun Drained Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium Grass Native White/ Green Balls 2’ - 5’ Full sun Drained
33. Emerald Ash Borer Infestation -Likely 100% Die Off of all untreated Ash Trees in Hamilton and Marion County (but when?) -1 in 6 of all trees in Indiana are ash trees Balcha Wasp: non-native predator of Emerald Ash Borer
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36. Mitigation Options Item Description Cost Will it Work? Comments Prevention Do not move firewood more than 1/2 mile Low No Its the law! Will slow, but not stop infestation Biological Release of natural predators (Bacha wasp) in ash forests. Huge Maybe Works in small areas Chemical 3 year Injection: Emaectin benzoate 1 year soil drench: Imidacloprid $20-$80 per tree per year Yes Requires preventative and then continuous treatment Imidacloprid may not be good for bees Removal Selectively remove weaker specimens Varies No Healthy ash trees are equally susceptible Replacement Replant areas with a diverse set of pest and disease resistant trees Low (seedling) High (mature) Yes Avoid monocultures
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41. Source: Hamilton County Master Gardeners Herbivore Repellants Recipes (Deer, Rabbits, Squirrels, Chipmunks) Kim’s Milk and Egg Spray 1 cup water 1 cup milk 2 eggs 2 tps dish soap Liquefy in the blender for a few minutes Nancy’s Granular Fertilizer Spread Mix 40 lbs of MilOragnite with 8 oz garlic powder Broadcast on ground under plants. Repeat every 3 to 4 weeks Jeanette’s Hot Sauce Mix 1 part Hot Sauce 1 part Wiltproof 10 parts water Mix and spray Granular Mix for Omnivores (Raccoons, Possums, Groundhogs, Skunks) Ground Cayenne – 90,000 Heat Units and Powdered Garlic. Mix together and sprinkle on ground around plants as a deterrent. Do not sprinkle directly on plants. Animal Repellant Applied Kim’s to vegetable garden 5/17/10