N.B.: Although
the
How shoreline property owners can protect their investment
Q : What do most shoreline
property owners consider an ideal lot?
A
: A
green lawn sloping easily down to a lovely beach of fine sand at the edge of a
deep blue lake…
Q : What happens when natural
shoreline vegetation is removed to put in a beach, or is replaced by grass?
A :
Owners look on in horror as their beaches are washed away and
their land and investment, for that matter, are slowly eroded year by
year.
Q : How does this happen?
A :
First, water erosion quickly washes away beach sand, which offers
little resistance to waves and currents.
Then the land itself begins to disappear, since lawn grasses do not have
deep enough roots to combat erosion. And
so a nightmare ensues. Centimetres and
even tens of centimetres of land are eroded away each year, and this continues
until, in some cases, the size of shoreline properties is reduced by more than
half and buildings must be either relocated or abandoned. All because property owners would rather have
a nice treeless lawn. . .
Q : How to avoid property
erosion.
A :
Putting rocks in the water or building stone walls has been found
to slow erosion temporarily, but often causes erosion elsewhere. The Government of Quebec has been forced to
prohibit such backfilling and modification of lakeshores and stream banks. Under the
Q : Why is the establishment
of a “strip of shoreline vegetation” advocated?
A :
Naturally wooded lands along shorelines suffer little or no
erosion, whereas plots of land that are covered with turf to the water’s edge
often suffer a great deal of damage. The
type of planting therefore makes all the difference. Trees and shrubs, with their long roots, act
to stabilize shorelines. In addition,
the presence of a strip of natural shoreline vegetation helps to filter out
pollution from fertilizers, pesticides and sediment contained in surface runoffs. The water’s edge stays cleaner and is
therefore more suitable for swimming and fishing.
Q : How does one go about
establishing a strip of shoreline vegetation?
A :
A strip of vegetation, consisting mostly of trees and shrubs, is
reintroduced at damaged points along the shoreline. A width of at least 10 m is required for
gently sloping shorelines and 15 m for steep shorelines, which are more subject
to erosion. Leafy trees, shrubs and
conifers should be used for the most part, but grasses and herbaceous plants
also fit into the mix. And the good news
is that this strip of shoreline vegetation is highly effective. When shoreline property owners all join
together to establish such a strip, water quality can improve enough to make
swimming attractive again.
Q : When and how
to plant a strip of natural shoreline
vegetation.
A : The best time to plant a strip of
vegetation is in the fall, or in the spring after spring flooding
subsides. Planting should be staggered,
with shrubs spaced 1 m apart and trees spaced approximately 4 to 5 m apart.
Plants such as alders, dogwoods and willows, which can tolerate flooding,
should be planted at the water’s edge.
Trees should be planted in the last row, farthest away from the water. Each planting hole should be large enough to
accommodate spread roots and deep enough for the soil to be at the same level
as in the original pot. If the soil
quality is very poor, it can be enriched before it is replaced by mixing in a
one-third proportion of compost. In
general, however, the quality of the existing soil is more than good
enough. To finish planting, fill the
hole with soil, tamp it down to eliminate any air pockets, then water
well. In winter, place a protective
sleeve around the base of young trees to protect them from rodents. These sleeves can be removed as soon as the
trunks grow to more than 8 cm in diameter.
Mix the selected species to obtain a variety of different heights and
foliages. Varying the width of planted
strips is also suggested in order to create a more natural effect.
Q : What persistent
myths prevent many shoreline property owners from embracing the idea of removing
their “lawns that go right up to the edge of the lake?”
A
:
“I will lose my beautiful
view of the lake.”
The object of planting a vegetation strip is not to obstruct
panoramic views. Some sections can be
planted with relatively low shrubs only, with trees on either side. With proper planning, the view can actually
be improved, not lost.
“I like a nice green
lawn.”
You do not have to sacrifice your lawn, just make sure it does not
go all the way to the lake.
“Planting trees along the
shore is like feeding the beavers!”
Beavers prefer alders, poplars and willows. They do not like conifers all that much. It is possible, in areas where beavers are active,
to plant species to which beavers are not attracted. And even if there is a certain amount of
“beaver damage,” it should be only temporary and the strip of vegetation will
regenerate quickly without any assistance.
“Removing sod and planting
trees and shrubs is too much work.”
It is not necessary to remove the existing sod. Just make holes to plant the trees and
shrubs, then stop mowing: the lawn will grow out, a variety of tall grasses
will appear and indigenous plants will emerge, recreating a very natural
looking environment.
“Concrete and stone are more durable than a plant border.”
If anything, the reverse is true.
It is difficult to build artificial walls properly along the
waterfront. Apart from the fact that
they tend to collapse after only a few years, they sometimes actually cause
currents that increase erosion. In any
case, it is now illegal to build these types of structures without a special
permit.
“Applying for a permit is
too complicated.”
No permit is required to plant trees and shrubs at the water’s
edge. Permits are only required for
construction.
Q : How to
maintain this strip of vegetation.
A : The maintenance of a strip of natural
shoreline vegetation could not be simpler.
Basically, plants should be watered regularly in the first year to help
give them a solid head start. In later
years, plants should be allowed to adapt on their own to their
environment. It is even recommended that
any trees and shrubs that do not survive be left in place because they provide
shelter and food for several species of birds and animals. In addition to protecting your investment,
you will enable future generations to enjoy your corner of paradise.
Q : What to
plant.
A :
Trees
White birch (Betula papyrifera)
Yellow birch (Betula lutea)
White oak (Quercus alba)
Red oak (Quercus rubra)
White spruce (Picea glauca)
Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)
Red maple (Acer rubrum)
Red ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
Tamarack (Larix laricina)
American elm (Ulmus
Balsam poplar (Populus
balsamifera)**
Trembling aspen (Populus
tremuloides)**
American mountain ash (Sorbus
Eastern white cedar (Thuya
occidentalis)
Shrubs
Speckled alder (Alnus incana
rugosa)**
Red-osier dogwood (Cornus
stolonifera)*
Bush honeysuckle (Diervilla
lonicera)
Sweet gale (Myrica gale)*
Beaked hazelnut (Corylus
cornuta)
Ninebark (Physocarpus
opulifolius)
Rugosa rose (
Sandbar willow (Salix interior)
* **
Pussy willow (Salix discolor)
* **
Large-leaved meadowsweet (Spirea
latifolia)
American elder (Sambucus canadensis)
* Plants that tolerate
flooding and can therefore be used along shorelines.
** Plants preferred by
beavers.