If you have not yet begun construction, have your contractor save
and set aside the topsoil from the planned excavation. Topsoil
contains seeds and roots of many native plant species. If set
aside the topsoil prior to excavation, you can then spread it in the
areas you want to foster native vegetation. After spreading the
topsoil, mulch lightly with straw and water.
Site Preparation
If non-native ground cover is present, you can remove these species
or areas either by hand-pulling or by several methods that do not
disturb the soils:
· Smothering:
Black or clear
plastic: Cover the area with black or clear plastic and secure in place
with heavy objects or stakes. Black
plastic may work better in that it eliminates sunlight.
Newspaper shingling:
Cover area with folded newspaper, several sheets thick, in an
overlapping pattern like shingles on a roof.
Cover the paper with a layer of straw and thoroughly sprinkle the
area with water to press the paper and straw into the ground and prevent
them from blowing away. Straw
is preferable to hay, since hay contains seeds of all types of upland
plants, both native and non-native, that may grow where you do not want
them.
Both of these
smothering methods are effective in killing ground vegetation when the
material is left in place for 6 to 12 weeks in spring and early summer.
· Herbicide:
The US-EPA has
approved herbicides, sold under several commercial names, for use on
vegetation near water bodies. It
is important to apply non-specific chemical vegetation eradicators per
label instructions, since these chemicals kill all vegetation. Always
follow directions, and do not apply herbicides before a rain.
A permit may be required for using herbicides in your area.
If erosion control is needed on your property, select an erosion
barrier that is appropriate. You
may have logs or half-logs available near your site.
Bio-logs or bio-mat can be ordered through catalogues or
nurseries. Landscape cloth
and silt barrier material is usually available at hardware and landscape
supply stores.
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