Changing Frederick’s ‘PlantScape’

ThorpeWood grant allows homebuyers more environmentally friendly lawns, landscapes

Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006

In just the past decade, homes have been made to be more stable, more attractive and easier to maintain. But the same cannot be said about the landscaping surrounding the ever-changing architecture.

Many lawns in Frederick County’s newest developments are decorated with the same shrubs and flowers; and most are non-native species that could potentially damage the environment.

A new grant awarded to ThorpeWood aims to change that.

ThorpeWood, an environmental education center in Thurmont, was honored with a grant from The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in August.

The $35,000 grant will aid in ThorpeWood’s efforts to offer new homebuyers the opportunity to purchase a lush yard filled with native plants such as black-eyed susans, red osier, eastern red cedar and grey twig dogwood trees.

Bill Prudden, project manager for ThorpeWood’s ‘‘Native PlantScaping” endeavor, said the program would occur in three phases, each with specific goals. Builders, homebuyers, and the grant will cover all of the expenses in the effort.

Phase one includes locating a minimum of three new-home developers to participate in the program. This means that the builders will agree to install a ‘‘Native PlantScaping” design around one of their model homes and offer it as an option to homebuyers.

This basic installation would cost the homeowner between $5,000 and $6,000.

ThorpeWood has partnered with the Frederick County Builders Association to complete this project. The association is now co-authoring a grant application at the federal level to expand the project.

Bryan Patchan, executive officer of the Frederick County Builders Association, said many homebuilders are ‘‘interested and intrigued” by the program.

According to Patchan, the program would allow homebuilders to test the reaction of potential homebuyers to native species planting. The general homebuyers’ reaction and willingness to spend money on native landscaping is something Patchan said he doesn’t know yet.

‘‘There’s no denying that the green movement is filtering down to more buyers and the public,” Patchan said. ‘‘How that translates into new housing with native landscaping is what we want to find out.”

Thorpewood plans to conduct focus groups to help determine the community’s demand and interest in native landscaping.

Many homebuyers in new subdivisions are presented with a standard landscaping package that is included in the home’s price, Patchan said. Thorpewood’s program for native landscaping is another option a homebuyer can select.

Prudden emphasized that installing ‘‘Native PlantScaping” would not only be aesthetically pleasing, but it would also help the environment.

‘‘The installation beautifies the exterior, maintenance will be lower, and it will benefit the Chesapeake Bay,” he said.

In addition to these benefits, yards would have less runoff during rainstorms, require less fertilizer and mowing, and there would be opportunities for small expansions.

This basic option would include an island to reduce turf and alter common geometry, larger border areas, and rain and butterfly gardens.

The yard would be certified as a ‘‘backyard habitat,” or as meeting the environmental standards set by the National Wildlife Foundation.

Prudden said this certification is meaningful for ThorpeWood’s project.

‘‘I think it means that we haven’t gone halfway,” he said.

A more elaborate installation would cost about $10,000 to $15,000 and cover a quarter of an acre.

‘‘This would include about 10 trees, 80 shrubs and 100 native grasses,” Prudden said.

This type of installation would meet the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council’s standards, which are rigorous and concentrate more on the Chesapeake area.

Prudden explained that a ‘‘Native PlantScaping” installation would make a yard stand out in a neighborhood.

‘‘It creates not just depth but height and texture,” he said.

Phase two of the project concentrates more on public awareness. ThorpeWood is currently looking for a corporation to donate unused property as a space for a model home. The home would be used for ‘‘Native PlantScaping” seminars and educational events.

Phase three of the project will work to add ‘‘Native PlantScaping” designs around public buildings.

‘‘We want to encourage schools, hospitals and libraries to put in small installations,” Prudden said.

Prudden hopes to have the project’s first installation started in the spring.

If all goes according to plan, another installation will occur about every three months.