The Appalachian mountains are breathtaking – but they sure do give landscapers some challenges! These are the West Virginia landscaping trends you need to know!
Due to the sloped terrain in many neighborhoods and a relative lack of urbanized areas, nature-focused landscaping is coming to the forefront in West Virginia to promote outdoor economic development.
The Wild Yards Program
West Virginia’s Wild Yards Program is a state-sponsored initiative run by the Wildlife Diversity Program. The program cites the National Wildlife Federation as a key source, which reports that homes installing wildlife-friendly designs can see significant increases in property value and a noticeable reduction on many utility bills.
The NWF also reports that lawns are rapidly falling out of favor in West Virginia and the rest of the country, with traditional grass yards ranked as the least-appealing option compared to houses with landscaped areas for gardens and wildlife.
Recommendations for the Wild Yards program depend on the unique characteristics of each house, but broadly include planting evergreen trees on north and west areas to block snow, hardwoods on south sides to provide shade during summer, and installation of nest boxes and feeders to attract birds and bats.
The Wild Yards Program recommends planting native species, allowing some types of weeds, and limiting the use of products like pesticides and herbicides in favor of natural solutions like insect-repelling plants. Wildlife can also help control some problems, with birds and bats being especially useful at preventing insects from getting too much of a foothold.
Green Space Development
Turning roofs into green space is an ongoing project at West Virginia University, where students and faculty have been working on them since 2007. West Virginia’s often-sloped terrain means that roofs are some of the flattest areas available, making them more practical for growing certain plants and habitats.
Green space development involving roofs is especially practical in areas prone to stormwater runoff, where the University notes that plants can capture and hold the water. At larger scales, this can provide a meaningful reduction in the amount of runoff lower areas experience.
West Virginia has a long history with coal, but landscapers are also looking at installing solar panels and landscape lighting as part of landscaping. Small solar panels are often enough to run fountains and other motorized parts of landscaping, while creatively shaping hills can allow for solar panels on one side and a garden on the other.
This mix of practical and aesthetic considerations works particularly well in West Virginia, where natural slopes offer many advantages for installing solar panels.
Premium Plants Take Root
Specialty plant lines are also becoming more popular in West Virginia with the growth of Greenbrier Nurseries. This nursery is known best for its Hort Couture line, which breeds high-quality plants together to find new and unique leaf and color combinations. Hort Couture is sold around the nation, but it’s still easiest to get around West Virginia.
Gardening areas trend small in West Virginia, although landscaping can flatten areas and make them suitable for more types of gardens. Premium plants offer more options for getting additional color and support in limited spaces. They’re also using Gravel for Landscaping to enhance curb appeal. Most importantly, don’t forget about having regular landscape maintenance services. Lastly, you may add a security fence around your garden or the whole property. The services of a trenching company may be needed to prepare your garden for the installation of your fence.
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