Shoreline Regeneration

The shoreline should include the three layers of vegetation: trees, the shrubs and the herbaceous plants to create an efficient filter for lakes and rivers.

How to regenerate the shorelines.

1) Define drainage, sunshine and type of soil

It is important to look at the kind of soil we have, some species do well in moist soil, some will die in dry soil. Some species will grow in compact soil but others need more loose earth to allow their root system to open in their new substrate.

2) Choose natives species (trees, shrubs, herbaceous)

Native species or extremely naturalized plants and shrubs will adapt well to almost all types of soil and require no fertilizers. They will refortify a natural lake or river edge and will not need to be nursed. Horticultural species don’t grow well on lake and river edges, so they won’t do a good job either.

3) Planting

You can plant directly on the existing vegetation, whether it is lawn or another ground cover. If the soil is composed of pure sand or gravel just throw a couple of shovelfuls of earth into the planting hole. Maintain a distance of one metre between shrubs. Add water before placing the plant in the hole and after filling it in. Make sure the soil is well watered in the two weeks following the planting.

4) Maintenance

If the transplanted shrubs are of small sizes, a simple regular weeding during the first year around the plant, will be enough to keep tall grass from ‘suffocating’ them. Shrubs can be trimmed in spring or fall if desired. Trimming will promote growth in clusters while maintaining them at a desired height.

The full results will show up in only a couple of years though trees, shrubs and perennials will take all the place we offer them.