Landscape Restoration in Action: Salvaging an Abandoned Backyard

Landscape Restoration in Action: Salvaging an Abandoned Backyard

Can a neglected landscape be salvaged? When Our Land Organics was called onto the scene, the backyard of this historic Clifton Gaslight residence had been abandoned. The client thought there was potential buried underneath all the overgrowth, and they hoped to gain more access to the underutilized yard. They asked Our Land Organics to reimagine the backyard as a place of respite that nourishes both wildlife and humans—a chance to escape the urban hubbub, to watch pollinators dance and berries ripen. Here’s how we did it.

Plant This, Not That: Native Plant Alternatives to English Ivy

Plant This, Not That: Native Plant Alternatives to English Ivy

Well-chosen groundcovers can dramatically reduce the number of weeds in a landscape by functioning as a living mulch, and many native groundcovers provide a range of aesthetic and ecological benefits. But invasive groundcovers often cause more harm than good. Case in point: English ivy. Read on to learn more about the pitfalls of English ivy plus suggestions for native groundcovers to plant instead.