1) Dear Garden Associates uses eco-friendly landscaping practices such as using native plants from local sources within 50 miles, avoiding plastic and using organic and natural materials when possible. 2) They recommend avoiding non-native, invasive plants that can choke out biodiversity and instead using indigenous plants that provide better habitats for wildlife. 3) Their designs aim to require minimal supplemental watering once established and use natural rainwater and soil drainage rather than irrigation systems.

1. Eco-Friendly
Landscaping
This area, once open lawn, was planted by Dear Garden Associates to screen the residence from a highway.
by Keith Bandelin Photos/Dear Garden Associates
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T
Bill Dear of Dear Garden he majority of the plants that we twenty years, says that when you buy plants PA, he says, “You see, if that had been import-
use in our gardens are grown with- from large chain stores, chances are they are ed, it could be browning right now. Besides,
Associates, encourages the in a fifty-mile radius of our studio,” imported from far away. “When plants are when you buy locally, you’re supporting the
use of natural non-synthetic says Bill Dear of Dear Garden grown in other climates, they may have lower economy in your neighborhood.”
materials and products, and Associates. “On many of our proj- survival rates. They are not as hardy in this In regard to eco-friendly, one of Dear
ects, we may include plants from environment and don’t endure as well as Garden’s local sources provides plants in
the purchase of native plant- ten or more local sources.” Bill, locally grown plants during extreme weather organic containers made out of rice, which
ings from local growers in his who has been creating beautiful conditions.” Pointing to an evergreen box- decompose naturally, rather than the usual
landscaping plans. gardens in the area for more than wood on his business’s property in Pipersville, plastic version.
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2. After
Before
This pond was built by Dear Garden Associates in an area of lawn too wet and marshy to mow. It has no thing.” Instead, Bill recommends spraying
synthetic liner but was lined with clay stockpiled during the excavation process. The pond fills naturally as needed instead of spraying automatically
with rainwater and runoff from higher ground. The plantings surrounding the pond are filled with indige-
nous plant material and support the local wildlife. Now turtles and frogs habitate the pond as well as once a month. When he does use pesticides,
several types of birds nesting and feeding on the plants. They also constructed the driveway bridge he uses organic materials or systemic pesti-
under which much of the water flows into the pond providing a great vantage point for the pond when cides, which are put at the base of a single
entering the property. plant and absorbed into the plant to attack
the diseases, pests and fungi in that plant
Indigenous Also Means Eco-Friendly survival rate here. Yet when non-native alone. No matter what, Bill emphasizes that When Less Is More
In terms of selecting the most ecological- plants like Japanese stiltgrass, English ivy it is important to make sure to follow the “We strive to design gardens so they don’t
ly friendly plants, Bill favors indigenous and lythrum are introduced, they tend to recommendation displayed on bags and not require supplemental irrigation once estab-
species. “It’s just better for the local choke out other plants, making it harder for try to overcompensate. lished,” says Bill. Installing plants with high
wildlife,” he says. This is the ecosystem in native species to flourish. Bill recommends Finally, when dealing with pesticides, water requirements in low areas or near a
which these plants originally grew, so it visiting the Bowman’s Hill website at Charlie Somma, the lead designer at Dear downspout can provide the necessary water
only makes sense that they’d have a higher www.BHWP.org/native/invasive-plants.htm Garden Associates, emphasizes the impor- naturally with little additional effort. With
to view lists of invasive plants to tance of knowing your pests. “Don’t make an array of plants nourished by healthy soil
avoid. “Lythrum just goes nuts,” the mistake of assuming that all bugs are and ample sunlight and rainwater, these
Bill exclaims. This harmful necessarily bad for your garden. Ladybugs gardens need a less watchful eye in the long
bloomer may be attractive, but kill aphids, and honeybees pollinate both run, but it’s important that you “look out
it cuts down on the biodiversity flower and vegetable gardens,” Charlie says. for your new plants in their first year, water-
of the area. Native plants pro- Make sure to do your research before ing them as they need it,” Bill advises. After
vide both food and habitat for attacking any perceived pests. a year, they should be firmly established.
birds and other wildlife.
As far as mulching is concerned, there are For his customers that have ponds, Bill
Chemicals and Synthetics plenty of organic mulches which decompose contours the soil around the perimeter,
On the subject of pesticides, Bill and contribute to the garden, such as pine adjusting the slope so rainwater pours nat-
says, “A large percentage of the needles, leaves and bark, to name a few. urally back into the pond.
sprays aren’t necessary. Some “There’s no point in using synthetic Bill suggests using natural materials
people might spray an entire mulches when you can use something that’s whenever there is the option to do so. For
area when they really need to organic.” Bill prefers to use bark mulch in instance, instead of using concrete or brick
spray just one plant. When you many of his projects because it’s heavier
Jelena witchhazel, a hybrid of a native species, is low mainte-
pavers, use some Pennsylvania fieldstone or
blanket-spray, you kill every- than other materials and won’t blow away.
nance with colorful blooms in winter. flagstone. Instead of gravel for a woodland
80 Nouveau/March 2008 Nouveau/March 2008 81

3. Thalia daffodils and grape hyacinths are deer-resistant and low maintenance early-blooming plants.
path, use wood chips or pine needles. “In
fact, whenever you see an opportunity to
use something natural and nonsynthetic,
take it,” he emphasizes.
In addition, “Good-old fashioned work can
reduce carbon emissions quite a bit,”
Charlie notes. Instead of using a leaf blower,
use a rake and broom. If your property is
small enough, downgrade from a ride-on
mower to a hand mower and get some exer-
cise while you’re at it. If you want to cut
L
emissions and fuel costs even further, switch
to a push-reel mower, which requires no
fuel, just a little more elbow grease.
Ultimately, “People need to practice
patience in order to conserve,” Bill com-
ments. After all, in the words of garden his-
torian Mac Griswold, “Gardening is the
slowest of the performing arts.” n
Editor’s note: Dear Garden Associates is a mem-
ber of the Ecological Landscape Association.
American beautyberry (Calicarpa americana) has
a brilliant showing of berries in the fall.
82 Nouveau/March 2008