Hill Gardens of Maine - Choices Along the Shore

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Choices Along The Shore
by Fred Davis, MG, Hill Gardens of Maine (To view other articles, click: Archives)

Welcome through Fred's Garden Gate! Knowing that the "zone" of lake- or stream-side shore frontage is a fragile—if not critical—part of our environment that must be managed with care and planning to preserve water quality, let’s consider a few of the many plants suitable for this zone’s often unique requirements. We’re looking for erosion control, attractiveness, ease of care ("low maintenance"), and the ability to deal with frequently windy, usually rocky or sandy, low nutrition conditions. We’ll focus on that twelve to fifteen feet of usable soil area above the high water line, and on selected perennial varieties that won’t obstruct the view or require application of water-polluting chemical fertilizers or pesticides. It should go without saying that plants are ideally installed with as little disruption to the existing shoreline environment as possible.

The Sunny Shore. "Sunny" is defined as receiving eight to ten or more hours of bright, uninterrupted, direct sunshine per average growing season day. While a great many plants prosper in these conditions, we’re looking for those that are truly tough, forgiving, and have the ability to rapidly cover soil surfaces with dense foliage while bonding soil structure with an equally dense network of roots and/or "runners."

Ornamental Grasses. Three very attractive and fast-growing grasses are 1. Molina caerulea variegata—commonly called "Ribbon" or "Moor Grass". It can reach 30" but, in the more spartan conditions of a no-fertilizer shoreline, tends to be considerably shorter. It can also be very aggressive in its horizontal spreading habit. 2. Festuca glauca—"Blue Fescue" grows to about a foot tall with thin, blue-green foliage in neat tufts. Fescue spreads by seeds, but is not invasive. 3. Elymus arenarius—or "European Dune Grass." Bold yet graceful half-inch-wide arching swords of haze-blue that thrives in the difficult environment of shore-side sand. Dune grass reaches about 18" and spreads by underground "runners" spreading a foot or more in all directions during an average season. Ornamental grasses are best planted in the spring, and should be chosen to at least complement native grasses. They should be sheared back close to the ground in the late fall.

Broadleaf Groundcovers abound! Ajuga repens ("Bugleweed") is the first to come to mind. Barely 4" tall with attractive green, bronze, or variegated foliage, this dense-growing beauty delights the senses with 6" spikes of bright, azure blue flowers during mid- to late-spring. Sedums ("Stonecrops") also provide dense, ground-covering ability plus bright and cheery yellow flowers in late spring. There are literally dozens to choose from at local nurseries. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) creates an almost impenetrable mat of fibrous roots and tight-to-the-ground foliage, and an early spring blaze in a broad range of colors. Consider also one of the Juniper species that, while sporting no significant flowers, the foliage of several varieties spreads laterally to provide a soil-protecting blanket of green, blue-green and, in the late fall, bronzy-green. Others: Potentilla (Wineleaf Cinquefoil), Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), and Running Serviceberry (Amelanchier stolonifera).

The Shady or Partly-shady Shore. Defined as receiving only occasional spots of dappled or filtered sunlight—if any at all. Plants in this kind of light are generally more "delicate" and often ask for a bit more moisture. Nearby trees that provide shade, however, are notoriously thirsty—and hungry—and take more than their fair share of water and nutrition. Fore-warned is fore-armed!

Attractive Flowering Ornamentals. Hosta are an absolute delight with their widely varied foliage patterns and colors, and often majestic flower spikes in white, lavenders and purples during late summer and early fall. Astilbe, too, adds pleasant textures and bright colors to complement others. Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) with its nodding blue flowers in spring provide early spring color. Even the Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus septentrionalis), which many consider a weed, adds a pleasing and airy cloud of bright yellow spring color. Pseudacorus and Siberian Iris add eye-catching color with the added attraction of bold, sword-like foliage for background and complement. Daylilies (Hemerocallis ssp.), too, provide wide-ranging color and interest from mid-summer to mid-fall. And don’t forget Wood Violets (Viola pedata) to fill gaps between other plants.

Others to consider: Lily of the Valley (Convallaris majalis), Running Pine (Lycopodium clayatum), Canadian or European Ginger (Asarum ssp.), Variegated Bishop’s Weed (Aegopodium podagraria variegata), Pachysandra terminilis—a highly desirable evergreen groundcover, and any of several ground-hugging and colorful Loosestrifes. (Avoid the common roadside Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) that can become a significant trial through its highly invasive habit. A non-invasive clump-forming alternative is ‘Robert’). Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum) and False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina) should be considered as well.

Don’t forget ferns. From the smaller "Christmas Fern" and "Japanese Painted Fern" to the large, somewhat imposing varieties like "Ostrich", "Cinnamon", "Interrupted", and "Regal" ferns, the splendidly graceful attitude of these lovelies adds an appealing "finishing" touch.

These are only a few of a great many plants for shoreline buffer zones. Choices for effect, theme, or impact are yours. Allow your imagination to soar. Whatever you do, plant to please. . .but, most importantly, plant to protect one of our most precious resources— our dwindling supply of fresh water!

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