Contact Us
Native Creations Landscape Service Logo

A NATIVE APPROACH TO PENNSYLVANIA LANDSCAPES

Riparian buffers consist of trees, shrubs, and/or other perennial plants. They are located by streams, lakes, or wetlands and provide a variety of benefits including:

  • Maintaining the health of our waterways;
  • Filter the sediments and pollutants from farm fields, residential lawns, and roadways to help keep them from reaching the water.
  • Provide shade and partial protection from the impact of adjacent land uses. - Improve water quality in nearby streams, rivers, and lakes, while helping to reduce pollution.
  • Increasing water quality in nearby streams, rivers, and lakes, while helping to reduce pollution;
  • Provide stream and creek bank stabilization/erosion control
  • Aide in reversing the decline of aquatic ecosystems due to agricultural use of surrounding lands.

KEY BENEFITS

Newly installed plants and trees next to a creek
  • Helps to reduce erosion, stabilize stream banks, while filtering sediments and pollution.

  • Provide shade essential to moderating water temperatures. 

  • Provide habitat for invertebrates, fish, and other wildlife 

  • Creates natural water storage/ helps reduce flooding 

  • Creates wildlife and pollinator travel areas

Our Approach Is Better!

Find Out Why

Conventional Buffer vs. Multifunctional Riparian Buffer

Conventional buffers provide the basic benefits such as filtration of runoff, stabilization of stream and creek banks, erosion reduction, etc.. Multifunctional buffers are designed to give the landowner more functional use of the buffer. By including native fruits, nuts, and some non-invasive domestic fruit crops, this creates a more multifunctional / recreational aspect in addition to the ecological benefits of a riparian buffer.

With this concept, the buffer is separated into zones.

Zone 1:
Unmanaged
Forest

Approximately 15 feet from the stream edge is the unmanaged forest, planted with native riparian species. This section of the buffer consists of native species that thrive in wet soil conditions. 

Some examples of these species may include river birch, sycamore, swamp white oak, red osier dogwood, and black willow.

Zone 2:
Managed Fruit and Nut Trees and Shrubs

The permanent vegetation in Zone 2 helps to absorb and store nutrients, slow down flood waters, and break down pesticides that may have been applied to land uphill.

Some examples of plants that are suitable in zone 2 are elderberry, serviceberry, chokeberry, raspberry, highbush blueberry, persimmon, pawpaw, black walnut, and american hazelnut.

Zone 3:
Managed Woody Florals and Forbs

Zone 3 can extend to 50+ feet from the end of Zone 2. This section is the first line of defense to intercept sediment and nutrient runoffs from farms, developments, lawns, etc.. Plantings in this zone have a lot of variety. They can be edible, used as biofuel, or have aesthetic qualities, and are not necessarily required to be native (as long as they are not invasive).

Some examples of these plants include dogwood, pussywillow, quince, witch hazel, hydrangea, perennial wildflowers, and warm and cool season grasses.

A graphical view of forest products
Case Study PDF

Conventional Buffer vs. Backyard Buffer

Large scale riparian buffers

These are areas adjacent to waterways, typically including a combination of trees, shrubs, and/or other perennial plants. These buffer zones are managed differently than the surrounded landscape, with the goal to provide a host of conservation benefits.

Backyard buffers

Backyard buffers provide many of the same benefits as the large buffers, but on a smaller scale. The benefits of these buffers are mainly targeted towards the homeowners. This helps to protect the nearby aquatic environments, and provide pollinator friendly native grasses and perennials. There are also many native trees and shrubs, which provide fruits, nuts, aesthetics, and function to the backyard. This type of “homeowner conservation” often results in higher property values, helping to protect and preserve these natural buffer zones.

Why is our approach more successful for project establishment?

We use large container stock (#3 container)

Why? The reasons include, but are not limited to:

  • Starting with a larger product means working with established root systems. This is generally more productive than working with stakes and shelters.
  • Larger container stock is typically more tolerant of wildlife and resistant to flood damage. - Utilizing larger container stock means “instant gratification” for land/homeowners, requiring less maintenance and establishing more quickly.
  • The buffer will be functional sooner, and with less upkeep/maintenance than a typical shelter site.
  • While the initial investment may be higher, long-term costs are significantly lower than beginning with smaller stock and shelters.

Better Results. Faster!

Contact Us
#3 Container Stock

#3 Container Stock

Fast & Strong Tree Growth

Fast & Strong Tree Growth

A green arrow pointing to the right

WE HAVE MORE REASONS TO GO THE CONSERVATION ROUTE. WE'D LOVE TO SHOW HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

CALL
MESSAGE
EMAIL

WE HAVE MORE REASONS
TO GO THE CONSERVATION
ROUTE. WE'D LOVE TO SHOW
HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

CALL
MESSAGE
EMAIL
Secret Link
Native Creations Logo

Let's Talk

Send us a message to get started on your next project!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*

Commercial Services

Please leave some information below so that we can get in touch with you.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name(Required)
How would you prefer to be contacted?(Required)