LOW IMPACT
LANDSCAPING in Lake Linganore
By : Erin Johnson , Friends of the Lake
Maryland House Bill 322 took effect in October 2021 . This new state law helps protect the environment by supporting property owners , within an HOA , who wish to use low-impact landscaping techniques designed to conserve water , lower maintenance costs , provide pollution prevention , and create habitat for wildlife .
These techniques include converting standard grass lawn to meadow , building rain gardens and dry ponds , swales , terracing and berms planted with native trees , shrubs and perennials . These landscaping practices also reduce the impact of stormwater on our lakes . Native plants efficiently maintain the ecosystem and provide food for pollinators and other creatures whereas non-native plants are not as effective and can actually cause harm .
You can find many examples of low impact landscaping throughout our community on both Lake Linganore Association ( LLA ) common areas as well as on private homeowner land .
This steep slope in Pinehurst is now an official pollinator garden and Monarch waystation . It ’ s full of bee and butterfly food that help support all pollinators . There is some weeding done for maintenance , but no fertilizer is added because when you plant the right plant in the right place , things manage just fine . No mulching is necessary because of the density of plant material .
This is the start of a lawn-to-meadow conversion in Pinehurst . The next stage is to add native shrubs and flowers . The owner commented that “ We have seen such an increase in life within our yard just from adding this small space . In addition , due to the deeper root structure of the native grasses , we have seen improvement in water management throughout our front yard .”
LakeTalk August 2022 27