Finding Plants for the Water's Edge

moose tracks · 08-12-2007, 12:11 PM

I want to do some landscaping by the water’s edge. I am looking for plants that occur near water in their natural habitats. I purchased two books from the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension “Landscaping at the Water’s Edge” & “The Best Plants for New Hampshire Gardens and Landscapes”. These books provide an ecological approach to shoreland landscaping and are both very good. I now have an idea on what plants I want to plant, but I am having a difficult time finding them at the local nurseries. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to buy plants suitable for planting at the water’s edge?

ACutAbove · 08-12-2007, 06:15 PM

post up the names of them and I can see if I can find them for you. I might be able to help you out.

Pineedles · 08-13-2007, 07:42 AM

I have a suggestion, wild blueberry bushes. We have a number of the high bush variety and presently picking a cup of these delicious is no strain at all.

Lakegeezer · 08-13-2007, 08:10 AM

With the new shoreline protection act rules coming next April, there is going to be an increased market for plants that help protect the soil and also count towards the permeable land calculation. The way the law was written, only trees count in the calculation, but once implemented, the DES is going to have to come up with additional types of plants that count towards the 80% permeable target. Blueberry bushes are a great example. They soak up water, slow down runoff and don’t get high enough to block most views. A list of other alternatives will be nice to have, but the DES needs to quickly get on board and advise what will be accepted for the waver processes.

moose tracks · 08-15-2007, 05:04 PM

Hey people, thank you very much for your input! I am going with the advice given to me by Pineedles & Lakegeezer, which suggested I plant wild blueberries. They already grow on islands on our lake and are native to the area. What an idea! – Don’t know how I missed it. Thank you ACutAbove for your input and willingness to help. As I said in other posts, “You people on this forum are the Best”

BBS2 · 08-19-2007, 07:28 AM

We went with wildflowers in fromt of the cottage this year too. Just one of those shaker cans but the results were great. After some summer observations of butterflys and hummingbirds I'd like to put in some Queen Anne's Lace and Joe Pye Weed. Any ideas where I could get them?

ACutAbove · 08-19-2007, 08:29 AM

Another option for the wild flowers is to have the mixture sprayed by someone that does hydroseeding. I have spoke to a few of the guys that do this for a living and they say it works pretty good.

CanisLupusArctos · 08-27-2007, 10:38 AM

I agree with anyone who says to plant blueberries. Some of my favorite childhood memories of summer at the lake are from picking a bucket of blueberries from the canoe first thing in the morning when the water is mirror-smooth, and bringing them inside for Mom to mix in with the pancake batter. YUM!

Pineedles · 08-27-2007, 03:27 PM

You said it Canis, except I was the klutz on shore that tried to pick blueberries and fell in the smooth as glass lake.

KonaChick · 08-27-2007, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACutAbove

Another option for the wild flowers is to have the mixture sprayed by someone that does hydroseeding. I have spoke to a few of the guys that do this for a living and they say it works pretty good.

I'm not too sure I'd do this...you might be introducing an invasive plant species to close to the water's edge. You have to be real careful!

08-12-2007, 12:11 PM	#1
moose tracks Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Loudon, Tennessee, foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains Posts: 283 Thanks: 340 Thanked 41 Times in 33 Posts	Finding Plants for the Water's Edge I want to do some landscaping by the water’s edge. I am looking for plants that occur near water in their natural habitats. I purchased two books from the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension “Landscaping at the Water’s Edge” & “The Best Plants for New Hampshire Gardens and Landscapes”. These books provide an ecological approach to shoreland landscaping and are both very good. I now have an idea on what plants I want to plant, but I am having a difficult time finding them at the local nurseries. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to buy plants suitable for planting at the water’s edge? __________________ Moose Tracks

08-13-2007, 07:42 AM	#3
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,535 Thanks: 1,059 Thanked 652 Times in 363 Posts	Shoreline foliage I have a suggestion, wild blueberry bushes. We have a number of the high bush variety and presently picking a cup of these delicious is no strain at all.

08-13-2007, 08:10 AM	#4
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,657 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 342 Thanked 618 Times in 278 Posts	Shoreline protection act With the new shoreline protection act rules coming next April, there is going to be an increased market for plants that help protect the soil and also count towards the permeable land calculation. The way the law was written, only trees count in the calculation, but once implemented, the DES is going to have to come up with additional types of plants that count towards the 80% permeable target. Blueberry bushes are a great example. They soak up water, slow down runoff and don’t get high enough to block most views. A list of other alternatives will be nice to have, but the DES needs to quickly get on board and advise what will be accepted for the waver processes. __________________ -lg

08-15-2007, 05:04 PM	#5
moose tracks Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Loudon, Tennessee, foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains Posts: 283 Thanks: 340 Thanked 41 Times in 33 Posts	Shore Line Cover Hey people, thank you very much for your input! I am going with the advice given to me by Pineedles & Lakegeezer, which suggested I plant wild blueberries. They already grow on islands on our lake and are native to the area. What an idea! – Don’t know how I missed it. Thank you ACutAbove for your input and willingness to help. As I said in other posts, “You people on this forum are the Best” __________________ Moose Tracks

08-19-2007, 07:28 AM	#6
BBS2 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 88 Thanks: 11 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	going wild We went with wildflowers in fromt of the cottage this year too. Just one of those shaker cans but the results were great. After some summer observations of butterflys and hummingbirds I'd like to put in some Queen Anne's Lace and Joe Pye Weed. Any ideas where I could get them?

08-12-2007, 06:15 PM	#2
ACutAbove Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Holderness Posts: 219 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	post up the names of them and I can see if I can find them for you. I might be able to help you out.

08-19-2007, 08:29 AM	#7
ACutAbove Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Holderness Posts: 219 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Another option for the wild flowers is to have the mixture sprayed by someone that does hydroseeding. I have spoke to a few of the guys that do this for a living and they say it works pretty good.

08-27-2007, 10:38 AM	#8
CanisLupusArctos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 15 Thanked 472 Times in 107 Posts	blueberries! I agree with anyone who says to plant blueberries. Some of my favorite childhood memories of summer at the lake are from picking a bucket of blueberries from the canoe first thing in the morning when the water is mirror-smooth, and bringing them inside for Mom to mix in with the pancake batter. YUM!

08-27-2007, 03:27 PM	#9
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,535 Thanks: 1,059 Thanked 652 Times in 363 Posts	Blueberry Pancakes Yum You said it Canis, except I was the klutz on shore that tried to pick blueberries and fell in the smooth as glass lake.