This is the first in a series of 3 blog posts to help you plant native trees and shrubs in a riparian buffer (the land that borders streams and other waterways). While we will focus on planting in a riparian buffer, most of the tips provided in these posts also apply to planting trees or shrubs in other locations on your property. Read our post on why these riparian buffers are so important.

First, choose a location along your stream where a riparian buffer area is lacking or could be enhanced and measure the square footage of the area you intend to plant. If your project involves planting where no buffer exists, measure outward from where the bank drops off to the stream, and while there is no specific ideal buffer width, the wider the buffer area, the greater the environmental benefits. We suggest a minimum of a 25’ buffer width.

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Once you know the size of the area you will be planting, you can work with a landscape professional or reputable nursery that specializes in native plants to estimate how many trees and shrubs should be ordered. Typically, plants are spaced 12-15 feet apart.

Prior to planting, you should prepare the project area by mowing it to facilitate digging the holes.

To get an up-close look at a riparian buffer area and gain some practical planting experience, join us for a one or more of our native tree planting days – October 4, 5, and 6 – at Ashbridge Preserve. Click here to learn more and sign up to volunteer!

The areas surrounding streams, known as riparian buffers, are critical to the protection and health of these precious water resources. Intact riparian zones include vegetative buffers consisting of native trees and shrubs and  perform a variety of important functions such as stabilizing stream banks from erosion, shading stream waters to keep them cool and providing organic materials for insects, fish, and other wildlife. Over time, however, the development of our open spaces for housing, industry and conventional agriculture has led to a decline in the health of our streams, including significant reductions to the critically important riparian buffer zones surrounding them.

Depending on a property’s particular land use history, areas surrounding streams can look quite different. Some streams may still be protected by intact, dense forests while others may be lined with grassy banks and perhaps only a few trees and shrubs, if any. Given this variety, management strategies may range from preserving the existing woodland along a stream to the restoration and expansion of the buffer zones with additional plantings and the cessation of mowing along the stream banks.

Over the years, the Trust has partnered with numerous local landowners, schools, and other conservation organizations to improve our community’s riparian zones, adding hundreds of trees and shrubs along the banks of Crum and Ridley Creeks and their tributaries. When it comes to planning and executing a riparian buffer enhancement or restoration project, one key element is the selection of a variety of native tree and shrub species to increase the ecological diversity of the riparian area.

In 3 upcoming blog posts will provide information about enhancing riparian areas through the addition of native trees and shrubs, including tips for planning, implementing and maintaining riparian zones.

If you would like to learn more about planting in a riparian buffer zone and gain some practical planting experience, join us for one or more native tree planting days – October 4, 5, and 6 – at Ashbridge Preserve. Click here to learn more these upcoming planting events and sign up to volunteer!