Abstract: Our goal with the Applecross site and the research conducted here was to demonstrate the

ecosystem services that can be provided through a naturalized residential landscape. It also serves to demonstrate that the general public can find this style of landscape just as, if not more, attractive than typical suburban landscape. The landscape was installed in the spring of 2012. After installation we maintained the landscape in such a way that the plants would establish themselves as fast as possible. During this period we observed storm water habits on the site and recorded these observations. We also observed plant health, growth and tolerance of location. We recorded plants that performed exceptionally well and poorly in order to make better recommendations in the future. Finally we come to relative conclusions for this growing season about how storm water was affected and plant performance.

Introduction: What has been deemed the Applecross site is the property of 301 N. Ashview Ln, Wimington DE, 19087. Applecross is a 1 acer residential lot with an approximately 6000 ft^2 home on it. The site is one part of a larger research project that encompasses the watershed in which it is found in. The goal of the overall study is to determine how all aspects of the environment are affected by the type of vegetation growing in that environment. The goals for Applecross are to reduce turf grass by a minimum of 50% and to increase plant species diversity by at least 100%. With the design and planting plan that was installed both of these were easily achieved. Once the landscape was installed in the early spring of 2012 we began observing storm water conditions as well as plant performance. Applecross also acts as a public outreach site for sustainable landscape practices. Our country is made up of mostly suburbia. Unfortunately many of these suburban landscapes are very prescriptive and sterile. The same plants are used at every house with little variation in design or quantity. The maintenance practices more often than not like the landscapes, unnatural. These suburban landscapes often have very few native plants and often times include invasive species. Nonnative and especially invasive plants have the ability diminish the native ecosystem by escaping from the landscape and disrupting the natural habitat. The stigma that native plantings are unattractive and messy is not true. Applecross has been designed and installed with these things in mind. The site will serve to inform people of the benefits that native plantings can have (ecosystem services) and the simultaneous beauty they can provide. Similarly our nation has an infatuation with turf grass. This culture sees grass as a go to solution to cover most of our properties. Many people spend large sums of time and money to keep it looking perfect. Our need for turf grass and the care of it is ubiquitous in our culture; however turf grass provides very little benefit to the ecosystem. If we looked at the quantity of chemicals that we apply to our laws ever year it would even be deemed detrimental to our

ecosystems. Thus reducing turf grass was one of the goals in this site and its use was purposeful, not used just as a filler. Objectives: Through the Applecross location we had multiple different objectives. We wanted to observe the benefit that this landscape was providing in terms of ecosystem services; ie Water retention, infiltration speed, wildlife habitat. We were also interested in looking at plant performance. We found that this could be beneficial for recommending appropriate plant choice in the future. Below are the overall objectives our study during the season of 2012: Establish and maintain the Applecross landscape Determine visually to what degree we have helped water retention and infiltration. Observe and record especially high or low performing plants Use the site as an example for people see the benefit and beauty

Methods: Each day on site at Applecross, approximately 4 days every week during growing season, observational data was taken upon arrival. Each days observations included recording any interesting or abnormal plant, wildlife and water. There were specific spots that we marked as problem areas for water runoff and infiltration; these were watched closely after a rain event. When observing the plants I took note of their location and how they were performing. I noted how well they seemed to establish and if they seemed to grow rapidly or slowly. I observed any browsing of the plants by wild life. I also took note of any wildlife on the site. My observations mostly focused on water, specifically run off and infiltration. Within the site I discovered and designated where there were problem areas after our installation. For the course of the growing season I monitored the rain fall amount on site using a rain gauge and cross referenced this with National Weather Service data about area rainfall. I also observed if there were any areas with high water run off during or after rain events. Additionally I visually observed stagnant water that remained on the site after rain events. These observations included relative size and depth.

Results & Discussion: After we planted the landscape I began getting a base for what happened on this site during a rain event. The main target areas were numbered one through five.

One Front right of the front yard, where most of the front yard drains too. It borders the driveway and has significant run off across the driveway. Two On the right side of the drive way near the garage. The steep grass slope and newly expanded landscape bed. The water sits in the grass and flows from location one across the driveway into the this area Three The back left of the property. To the area that is to the left of and includes the path to the rear of the property. This area had a down spout overflow cap within it and was where much of the left side of the property and back of the yard drained to. Four This area was in the front center of the house encompassing the end of the downspout and surrounding lawn and planting bed area. This area was fed by most of the front roof of the house and nearly boarders area 1 on its right. Five On the back of the house, the circular bed that is near the AC units and is home to the Paw Paw grove. This area has a down spout that moves a large area of roof to here.

Each of these areas were chosen to be specifically analyzed to see if our amendments to the landscape would improve their conditions over the growing season. In the early stages of the summer much of our mulch was running off throughout the landscape. It would fill the bed edges and run into the grass. It was the worst in area one where the mulch ran onto the driveway even with small rain events. In addition the left side of the property led to a large quantity of run off toward area three. These areas where mulch was deposited needed to be fixed regularly after a rain event. I also took notice of a large amount of water being stagnant on the site, sometimes up to two days after a rain event. Each of the areas held a large amount of water in the beginning of the growing season. Bed edges held water and many of the areas had large puddles sometimes six or more feet in diameter and approximately of an inch deep. Even after there was no puddle the ground was still visibly saturated when pressure was applied. As the summer continued there was more time between rain events and some of the plants required supplemental watering. I believe that this also affected my storm water observations. The ground became very hard and dry where it didnt receive any consistent water. Thus when it rained there was less infiltration and heaver run off than would be expected. During the middle of the summer we experienced a large amount of hot weather with little rain. Much of my storm water results were similar to the earlier part of the growing season, when there had been no establishment. The left side moving back toward area three especially suffered during this period. There were high quantities of run off down the left side of the property toward area three. The run off caused channels in the dirt and much and deposited it in area three where the water collected. Here it remained stagnant; similarly as in the early stages after installation. Additionally in the meadow behind area 2 there was a large amount of run off that caused large channels in the sawdust mix. Water flowing through the meadow primarily came from area one, ran through two where it collected water and momentum through the dry ground and turf grass.

As the summer came to a close the weather became more regular and the plants developed further. I saw a visual decrease in run off and a reduction in the size quantity of stagnant water. I also observed that the stagnant water did not persist as long as it did earlier in the season. With the growth of plants all areas benefited from decreased run off. In particular area one; it had significantly decreased run off across the drive way. Where there would previously be mulch on and across the drive way there no longer was. Another area where plant growth particularly helped storm water run off was in the meadow. Where I previously described the sawdust mixture getting rutted out by run off the tall grasses and other vegetation held the soil in place and slowed the water tremendously. Next, in area three where there was long periods of stagnant water and saturation of the soil. I now saw the water dissipate quicker and the soil remaining moist but not saturated. During this time I was also monitoring any specific plant growth information. I compiled basic lists of the very high performing and the very low performing plants. I also compiled any relevant data about plants that perished or did not appear healthy and my conjecture on why that may have occurred. High Performers Herbaceous - Carex amphibola planted most in area 2 along bed edge - Ceratostigma plumbaginoides survived with only slight burns through the hottest and driest weather and grew vigorously - Panicum virgatum 'Northwind' although it was planted as a small plug it grew swiftly and stayed upright and compact - Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' - Solidago 'Fireworks' took a little to get established but grew vigorously and flowered well Woody - Hypericum 'Hidcote' established quickly and flourished throughout the season - Ilex verticilla 'Winter Red' survived well through the high heat and lack of water Low Performers Herbaceous - Heuchera macroriza 'Autumn Bride' they were subjected to high heat/sun and deer browsing and despite larger size did not help them very much - Heuchera villosa'Bronze Wave' these were planted as small plugs and were subjected to high heat / sun and deer browsing - Carex laxiculmis 'Blue Bunny' this in comparison to the other Carex performed very poorly. It did not grow well in normal or wet growing areas - Aster divaricatus was subject to large amounts of deer browsing and did not establish well Woody - Fothergilla gardenii 'Blue Shadow' many of these died very early on. They either came damaged or did not take well to transplanting

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee' Deer browsed consistently in many areas of the landscape Clethra alnifolia 'Sixteen Candles' many of these became very weak in the high heat and low water. Some were lost during this time some to poor planting

Most of the plants performed up to standard and although they did not grow extremely fast they did not perish either. Applecross backs up to a forest with a stream and thus as easily accessed by wildlife. Some plants like the Asters and the Heuchera were affected by the browsing. Other plants that experienced browsing were, Hydrangea quercifolia and Viburnum acerifolium. We used some sprays to try to deter the wild life but there was little effect. All plants not listed or otherwise noted performed to standards, not exceptionally or poorly.

Conclusions: After only one growing season I can use what I have observed to make some general conclusions. The most glaring this that the increase in planted area and plant quantity has helped to reduce rain water movement within and off of the site. It has also helped to speed infiltration. I can inference that multiple factors like roots creating more soil pores, increased evapotranspiration and slowed the water movement helped with infiltration. What was previously turf grass a surprisingly impermeably ground cover is now established plants of many sizes and types. The decrease in turf grass has given areas for water on the site to infiltrate where it otherwise wouldnt have been able to. We also were able to give one tour over this first summer and this proved to us that we had begun to achieve our other goal of public outreach. We educated people about the garden and the participants showed an overwhelming positive response about the look and feel of the new landscape. Not only did our design and installation at Applecross serve the environment, but it served the people who interacted with the space well. Applecross shows that a sustainable landscape can still retain a beautiful look that many people desire. The next step is to work on educating all of suburbia about these benefits and changing societys outlook on their home landscapes.