Lake Friendly Landscaping: Planting Buffers

Learn how to improve or establish your buffer with specific plantings, landscaping techniques, and design tips to improve your lakefront property for water quality, wildlife habitat, increased property value, and people enjoyment!

Soil is the number one cause of lake pollution in the state of Maine and buffers are some of the best ways that landowners can be proactive in protecting the lake for years to come! Water traveling over the surface of roads and yards carries pollutants like phosphorus into Taylor Pond---which causes algal blooms and lowers water quality. Buffers filter and absorb water and nutrients, trap excess soil, provide wildlife habitat, and mimic natural systems to create a dynamic landscape to enjoy in all seasons.

Buffers are densely vegetated strips of land that run along the shoreline of a lake, pond, or stream. Buffers are planted with a diversity of woody shrubs, grasses and herbaceous perennials that help to slow and filter water down into the ground instead of running along the surface and bringing pollutants to the lake. There are many ways to diversify your landscape that doesnt obstruct your view, but actually enhances it.

We'll take a short walk around Taylor Pond Yacht Club to view a few natural buffers and then talk about ways to landscape your own buffers. We'll discuss importance and benefits of buffers (its more than just water quality!) and look at great plants to include in a buffer.

Whether you're interested in designing a new shorefront buffer planting or just want to learn more about plants and water quality, we encourage you to attend!

Funding for this workshop, in part, was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. The funding is administered by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection in partnership with EPA. EPA does not endorse any commercial products or services mentioned.

Host or Publisher Androscoggin Valley SWCD