Healthy soil can absorb more water into the ground during a deluge and help your plants need less water when the dry times come. Learn how to build soil health in your yard, prevent or mitigate soil erosion and compaction by choosing appropriate plants, and determine whether certain landscaping techniques – such as terracing or a bioswale – might be appropriate for your yard. Extension Master Gardeners Joan McIntyre and Beth Buffington explain how soil health and water management are fundamental to a more sustainable home landscape.
Zoom session, recorded February 12, 2021
Video of Presentation
Because of technical difficulties, the order of the presentation needed to be changed during the live Zoom meeting when one of our presenters lost her Internet connection. We have corrected that through editing and by breaking the video into two parts.
Part 1
Chapter Breaks
VCE Sustainable Landscaping – Healthy Soil and Water Conservation Resources – Updated February 2022
Compiled by VCE Master Gardeners (Arlington & City of Alexandria)
Sustainable Landscaping – General
- Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council. 2013.Conservation Landscaping Guidelines: The 8 Essential Elements of Conservation Landscaping.
- Extension Master Gardener Help Desk. 2022.
Email the Help desk at this email address - Landscape for Life. 2022. United States Botanic Garden.
- Making Your Yard Sustainable. 2022. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (MGNV).
Conservation – Soil
- Goatley, Michael. 2020. ‘Leave’ Them Alone: Lawn Leaf Management. VCE Pub 430-521.
- Hunnings, Joseph R., Donohue, Stephen J. and Steve Heckendorn. 2019. Soil Sampling for the Home Gardener. VCE Publication 452-129.
- Mulching for a Healthy Landscape. VCE Pub 426-724.
- Natural Resources Conservation Service Soils. USDA.
- Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. Fairfax County Government. (Great resource for water conservation, too)
- Rishell, Ed. Backyard Composting. VCE Publication Hort-49P.
- Sherman, Rhonda. 2021. Vermicomposting. NC State Extension.
- Soil Sample Information Sheet for Home Lawns, Gardens, Fruits, and Ornamentals. 2021. VCE Publication 452-125.
Conservation – Water
- Stormwater Management & Chesapeake Bay. City of Alexandria.
- Drip Irrigation. 2022. UC Master Gardner Program of Sonoma County.
- Ling, Erin and Brian Benham. 2019. Greywater Reuse. VCE Pub BSE-114.
- Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. Stop Erosion – Solving Drainage and Erosion Problems.
- Stormwater at Home. 2022. Arlington County Virginia.
- Take the Tuna Can Test! Slow the Flow Program. City of Spokane, Washington.
- Water Wisely: Start in your own backyard. 2020. University of Minnesota Extension.
- How to Water Trees and Shrubs. The Morton Arboretum.
Native Plants for the Mid-Atlantic Region
- Adkins Arboretum and the Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays. 2012. Green Book of the (Chesapeake Bay Watershed) Buffer. Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
- Best Bets: Plants for Particular Uses. 2022. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
- Guide to Native Plants for Northern Virginia. 2022. Plant NOVA Natives Campaign:
- Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed. 2003. United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Tried/True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
Native Plant Finders
- Chesapeake Bay Native Plant Center. 2016. United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Missouri Botanical Garden:
- National Wildlife Federation Plant Finder.
- Native Plants for Conservation, Restoration and Landscaping. 2011. Native Plants for Conservation, Restoration and Landscaping Project. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
- Native Plants of North America Plant Database. 2022. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The University of Texas at Austin.
Rain Gardens
- “Rain Gardens,” Appendix C p. 69. Homeowner Guide to a More Bay Friendly Gardens. 2013.
- “Seven Myths About Rain Gardens.” Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District.
- How to Build a Rain Garden. Northern Virginia Regional Commission. YouTube video.
- Rain Garden Design and Construction: A Northern Virginia Homeowner’s Guide. 2009. Fairfax County.
- Rain Garden Fact Sheet. Chesapeake Bay Trust.
- Rain Garden Plants. VCE Urban Water Quality Management Pub 426-043.
- StormwaterWise Landscapes: Rain Garden Specifications. 2019. Arlington County, Virginia.
Plant Suggestions for Wet Spaces
- Sweet Bay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
- Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)
- Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)
- Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum)
- White Turtle Head (Chelone glabra)
- Blue or Common Verbena (Verbena hastata)
- Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
- Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia)
- Orange or Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
Plant Suggestions for Dry Spaces
- White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
- Gray Dogwood (Benthamidia racemosa)
- New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
- Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
- Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa)
- False Blue Indigo (Baptisia australis)
- Blue-stemmed or Wreath Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
- Wild, Woodland, or Three-leaved Stonecrop (Sedum ternatum)
Plant Suggestions for Rain Gardens
- Three-nerved (Coastal Plain) Joe-pye-weed (Eupatorium dubium)
- New York Ironweed (Vernonia novaboracensis)
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
- Virginia or Southern Blue Flag (Iris virginica)
- Scarlet Beebalm, Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma)
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
- Threadleaf Coreopsis, Whorled Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata)
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Community Resources—Stormwater Management
- Stormwater Management. Arlington County Virginia.
- Northern Virginia Rain Barrel Workshops. 2022.
- Virginia Conservation Assistance Program – open to residents of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax. Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Community Resources—Native Plants Program
- Arlington Tree Canopy Program. Free native trees for Arlington residents.
- Arlington Tree Planting Programs
- Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District Native Seedling Sale. Orders start in February with pick up in mid-April.
- Small Trees Make Big Canopies. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia