Latin for Gardeners: December 2021

December’s Native Maryland Plant

All of them!

Hello Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists and Master Watershed Stewards!

The pandemic has kept us apart, but I hope you’ve enjoyed spending time in your garden, getting online with friends, and reading some good books. I’ve learned a lot this year as a Tree Trooper for Anne Arundel County, watching some fantastic webinars, and reading Doug Tallamy’s latest book, ‘The Nature of Oaks’.  

For those of you who have been reading Latin for Gardeners it’s now time to test your knowledge of the scientific names of the eight native plants we’ve discussed this year.  It’s always best to use the Latin names of plants when you recommend them to friends and the public – there’s only one Latin name for a plant so it avoids confusion and ensures people select the right plant when shopping at nurseries.

The first group of photos shows the plants in their bloom period. The second group shows them in their winter dress. Can you still recognize them?  I’ve given you a few hints but don’t feel bad if you can’t place them all – Latin is not an easy language.  Good luck, or as they say in Latin, “Fortuna!”

Match the letter of each plant to the number of its photo in winter dress.

 ~ Alison Milligan – Mstr. Gardener/Mstr. Naturalist/Mstr. Watershed Steward

Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)

aligmilligan@gmail.com

Latin for Gardeners: November 2021

November’s Native Maryland Plant
Itea virginica L.
(eye-TEE-ah ver-JIN-ih-kah)
Common Name: Virginia Sweetspire

Most of Maryland’s native shrubs work hard during the seasons, many of them going almost unnoticed as they provide habitat, shade, and erosion control - and then there’s Itea virginica.  There are few shrubs that provide such year-round interest as this adaptable native plant that is most commonly sold as a cultivar.   

Itea’s leaves appear in early spring, followed by draping racemes of star-shaped flowers that bloom in June, attracting a diversity of pollinators. In fall the leaves turn a maroon or bright red that contrast well with the many fall yellows or evergreen plants in a landscape. Its flower heads dry on the shrub and persist through the fall and winter – continuing to provide textural interest. The attractive structure and the numerous height cultivars available make it suitable for a natural landscape or a more formal one. 

In my garden I use Itea spp. as mulch along a dry riverbed, under a Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), and as a tall hedge in the back of a moist shady area - the more sun it’s provided the more brilliant the fall color. Its dense, spreading habit provides significant weed suppression and erosion control and it’s very low maintenance.

As you’re out enjoying the cooler weather and walks in your community, look for Virginia Sweetspire, it’s a staple garden plant for many good reasons. If you haven’t planted one yet, maybe now is the time!

~ Alison Milligan – Mstr. Gardener/Mstr. Naturalist/Mstr. Watershed Steward

Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)

aligmilligan@gmail.com

Class 13's Impact

Each year, Steward Candidates complete a capstone project as part of the Certification Course. From creating activities to engage students in environmental literacy to planting hundreds of perennials in a conservation landscape, Class 13 Stewards made an impact on clean water throughout the county!

Allison Colden

Project: Invasive removal and conservation landscape planting
Location: Chesapeake Bay Foundation Headquarters ⬝ Severn River Watershed

Allison and her team of CBF staff and community volunteers removed invasive plants from an existing bioretention area on the property and installed a 1,550 square foot conservation landscape consisting of 180 perennials.

Linda Meyer

Project: Community engagement programming
Location: Gravely neighborhood (Davidsonville) ⬝ Severn River Watershed

Linda gathered environmental stewards of all ages for Water, Water, Water and Plants, Plants, Plants! Over the course of two evenings, her neighbors explored the impacts of stormwater and identified native and invasive plants. Through hands-on art and science activities, attendees were inspired to protect and restore the natural resources around them!

Diane Rey

Project: Launched a Green Team with ongoing educational outreach
Location: Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church (Cape St. Claire) ⬝ Severn River Watershed

Diane organized her congregation’s Green Team to encourage church members to adopt environmentally friendly habits. Through virtual and in person events, the team inspired over 50 congregants of all ages to to restore, honor, and protect the Chesapeake Bay.

Jenny Janis

Project: Conservation planting
Location: St. Luke’s Restoration of Nature (Annapolis) ⬝ Severn River Watershed

Jenny and her team of volunteers planted over 200 trees and shrubs in a conservation planting at St. Luke’s. The newly installed understory planting will prevent erosion along a sloped trail area while providing food and shelter for the critters who call the restoration home.

Lynette DelPrete

Project: Conservation landscape planting
Location: Maryland City at Russett Public Library (Laurel) ⬝ Little Patuxent Watershed

Lynette and volunteers removed invasives and installed a conservation landscape at the library entrance. Nearly 120 native plants, including Black eyed Susan, smooth blue aster, butterfly weed, and beautyberry will support pollinators, reduce runoff, and promote sustainable landscapes to library visitors of all ages!

Lucy Heller

Project: Rain barrel and conservation landscape installation
Location: Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (Annapolis) ⬝ Severn River Watershed

Lucy worked with Alliance staff to install a rain barrel and went live on Facebook while doing it! In case you missed it, you can watch it here. Then, she engaged volunteers to plant over 100 native perennials and shrubs in a conservation landscape!

Phyllis Saroff

Project: Neighborhood tree planting
Location: Hillsmere Community (Annapolis) ⬝ Severn River Watershed

Annapolis’ Hillsmere neighborhood is home to 20 newly planted native trees, thanks to Phyllis and her volunteers! Located at a highly trafficked water access point, the trees will soak in stormwater runoff before it enters Duvall Creek.

Meg Kirkendall

Project: Virtual education programming and litter clean up
Location: Odenton Public Library (Odenton) ⬝ Severn River Watershed

Meg coordinated three virtual events on Earth Day, engaging community members of all ages in environmental programming. Attendees were introduced to a vulture and explored other wildlife in their backyards. Inspired by their discoveries, a crew of volunteers joined Meg to clean up trash around Odenton Public Library.

Kate Vogel

Project: Programming for Anne Arundel County Public Library
Location: Annapolis and Crofton Public Libraries ⬝ Severn River and Little Patuxent Watersheds

Kate designed and hosted an environmental literacy program called “What is a Watershed?” for students at two county libraries. Through hands-on activities, the students discovered what makes a watershed healthy and explored the differences between pervious and impervious surfaces. Inspired by their newfound knowledge, the students discussed how to reduce pollution in their own neighborhoods.

Kimberly Stringer

Project: Conservation landscape planting
Location: South Drive (Severna Park) ⬝ Magothy River Watershed

Kimberly planned and installed an expansion of an existing conservation landscape and raingarden in her Severna Park neighborhood. With the help of volunteers, the native plants installed will prevent flooding and standing water, while inspiring neighbors to introduce native plants in their own yards.

Mary Mulvihill

Project: Conservation landscape planting
Location: Beechwood Hill (Annapolis) ⬝ Severn and South River Watersheds

Mary and her community installed a conservation landscape at the community’s main entrance. The highly visible location demonstrates how native shrubs, grasses, and perennials can redress slope and soil erosion caused by stormwater runoff; replaces compacted turf grass to allow better stormwater infiltration; provides habitat; and beautifies property grounds.

Stacey Wildberger

Project: Conservation landscape planting
Location: Cape St. Claire (Annapolis) ⬝ Magothy River Watershed

Stacey and her army of volunteers planted nearly 400 native perennials and shrubs in the community’s “Serene Ravine.” Through her efforts, neighbors experience the increase in biodiversity in their neighborhood and are inspired to take action in their own yards.

Kristin Silva

Project: Community outreach programming
Location: Carrolton Manor (Severna Park) ⬝ Severn River Watershed

Kristin designed an outreach program to create awareness of the local environment and the ways her neighbors can make even small changes in their homes and gardens to improve water quality on the Severn River. Kristin’s first event focused on the community’s tree canopy and the impact of English ivy. Kristin continues to engage her neighbors in environmental action through programs on composting, rain barrels, stormwater runoff and native plants.

Stacy Allen

Project: Tree planting
Location: Holland Point ⬝ Herring Bay Watershed

Stacy took on a project in her community of Holland Point, in the southern most part of the County. She planted 20 trees across a community lot to increase the canopy cover and wildlife value of the area, recruiting an enthusiastic group of volunteers to help out on the Veteran’s Day planting event.

Diane Hill

Project: Tree planting
Location: Coventry 2 Community (Crofton) and Baldwin Hills Swim Club (Millersville)

Diane utilized her position as a leader on her community HOA to plant 14 trees in Coventry in Crofton and 2 trees at the Baldwin Hills Swim Club. She also worked with county officials to approve 18 additional trees that will be planted by a contractor in the same community, on an adjacent county owned floodplain.

Jeanne Martin

Project: Invasive removal and conservation landscape planting
Location: Cape St. Claire (Annapolis) ⬝ Magothy River Watershed

Jeanne and her community removed almost 1100 square feet of invasive species at their community boat launch in Cape St. Claire. She then organized a tree planting of 20 native trees and over 800 native sedges to stabilize the bank along the boat launch’s parking lot. 

Jim MacNicholl

Project: Community tree planting
Location: Community Library (Crofton) ⬝ Little Patuxent Watershed

Jim partnered with the Crofton Library Branch to organize and implement a community led planting event. Over 40 volunteers learned about the benefits of native trees, then planted 20 on the grounds of the library.

Nancy Evans

Project: Invasive removal and native plant installation
Location: St. Anne’s Cemetery (Annapolis) ⬝ Severn River Watershed

Nancy teamed up with a congregational group to remove almost 4500 square feet of invasive species at the historic St. Anne’s Cemetery in Annapolis. She then worked to install almost 200 native plants that will become a centerpiece for the cemetery’s new columbarium.

Marie Del Bianco

Project: Invasive removal and native plant installation
Location: Loch Haven (Edgewater) ⬝ South River Watershed

Marie engaged her community of Loch Haven in Edgewater to remove over 2000 square feet of invasive species from a community shoreline. She then worked to install over 400 native plants to stabilize the area.

Elizabeth Ley

Project: English Ivy removal
Location: Witherinsea (Riva) ⬝ South River Watershed

Liz engaged her community of Withernsea in a canopy crusade! Her capstone saved community trees from English ivy through rings of life. She is also planning on planting resilient native trees through the Replant Anne Arundel Program.

Steve McKerrow

Project: Education programming
Location: Temple Beth Shalom (Arnold) ⬝ Severn River Watershed

Steve McKerrow has worked on invasive removal projects at his congregation, Temple Beth Shalom, and in his community, Admiral Heights. Steve recently became the co-leader of the Temple’s Green Team, and looks forward to initiating projects and developing educational programs for TBS in 2022.

Lauren Toomey

Project: Pollinator Pathway
Location: Across Anne Arundel County

Lauren worked to set up a Maryland Chapter of the Pollinator Pathway. She has engaged numerous partners to join the effort, presented at a wide range of venues to get the word out, and created materials and templates to help others establish pathways in their communities!

Jim Palumbo

Project: Outreach Campaign
Location: Near Annapolis SPCA ⬝ Severn River Watershed

Working with Watershed Steward Betsy Love, Jim has been planning an outreach campaign for a major restoration project that will be installed near the Annapolis SPCA, where he has volunteered for many years.  He expects to launch his grassroots campaign in 2022!

Emma Devries

Project: Education Programming
Location: Around Anne Arundel County

Emma created an educational program for the Anne Arundel Bee Keeper’s Association, “Pollinator Gardens: Regenerative Design and Maintenance Strategies.” In 2022, she will reach additional audiences, and make the slides available for other Stewards doing outreach about native plants.

Cindy & Bill Garmoe

Project: Conservation Landscape Planting
Location: Annapolis Landing (Riva) ⬝ South River Watershed

Bill and Cindy installed a 300 square foot conservation landscape to intercept overland flow at their community’s marina in Annapolis Landing. Their native perennials and shrubs will clean stormwater before it enters Beard’s Creek!

Coming Soon

Jillian Seagraves & Melissa Richardson

Jillian and Melissa are partnering to engage the community of Tanyard Shores in Glen Burnie, where they will install a rainscaping project!

Elmer Dengler

Elmer will be working to engage a nursing home in Crofton. He will install a conservation landscape to create a relaxing space for residents to appreciate the beauty and importance of natives!

Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener!

If you are anything like me, my social media has been targeting ads for fall lawn fertilizing. Apparently, certain algorithms haven’t figured out that I am not a fan of lawns. I realized there are probably a lot of folks in Anne Arundel County, and around the Bay watershed, who are inundated with this kind of marketing. With that in mind, I wanted to remind folks of some best practices around lawn fertilization that can go a long way this fall and throughout the year.

Impact of fertilizer on the Chesapeake Bay

There is a direct correlation between over use of lawn products and the health of the Chesapeake Bay. In cases where there is overuse, during the next rainstorm, those chemicals and nutrients wash off, into our waterways and cause a dense growth of algae. Once the excess nutrients are consumed, algae and plant life run out of food and die. The decomposition of the plants pulls oxygen out of the water, killing aquatic life.

Is fertilizing necessary?

A soil test can be a great place to start. This resource from the University of Maryland Extension Office details how to sample the soil beneath your lawn and send it to regional soil testing labs. This service costs between $9-$20 and tests for soil pH (acidity/alkalinity), calcium, phosphate, potassium, and magnesium levels. Keep in mind that these tests don’t measure for nitrogen, as nitrogen moves through the soil and quickly changes forms. For lawns, it is best to run this test every 3-4 years in the fall to see how your soil is progressing. 

Once you have your soil test, give the soil what it needs and no more. Water-soluble fertilizers come in many different varieties and compositions, so match the needs of your lawn. Lawn maintenance fertilizers have zero phosphorus in them and contain at least 20% slow-release nitrogen. Specialty products containing phosphorus are still available and may be used when a soil test indicates the need for phosphorus. For the typically homeowner, applying a slow release fertilizer is best. 

The best time to fertilize cool-season grasses like tall fescue is during the “SON” months, September, October, and November. Keep in mind, in Maryland, fertilizers legally cannot be applied after November 15th. Warm-season grasses like zoysia should be fertilized in the late spring into summer. UMD Extension has a great lawn fertilizer schedule with recommended times which you can see here. 

Fertilizer best practices

Do not fertilize:

• If heavy rain is predicted or the ground is frozen

• Hard surfaces such as sidewalks or driveways

• Within 10 to 15 feet of waterways

• Between November 16 and March 1

Maryland's lawn fertilizer law helps protect the Chesapeake Bay.

Maryland passed the Maryland Lawn Fertilizer law in 2011 to help curtail overuse of fertilizers. Lawn fertilizer now accounts for approximately 44 percent of the fertilizer sold in Maryland. Knowing what improper use can do, it makes sense that it is regulated to protect our waterways. This law applies to commercial lawn businesses AND homeowners. A major takeaway is when it is legal to fertilize. Your last lawn fertilizer application for the season should be made no later than November 15th in the fall. A spring application cannot be applied until after March 1st. You can read more about this law here. 

Alternatives to fertilizing

• Overseed and aerate your lawns, especially in situations where turf is less dense. Aeration relieves soil compaction around turf’s roots and allows for better absorption of water and nutrients. Like any other plant, choosing the right plant (in this case grass) for your home’s situation is key. Here is a link to the UMD Extension’s recommendations on choosing the appropriate type of grass seed for your home. 

  • Sourcing this seed is similar to other landscape plants. Grass seed labeled as 'Maryland Certified Seed' (tested for germination and purity by the Maryland Department of Agriculture) is available in select locations such as garden centers, turf supply stores, specialty seed suppliers, or farm supply stores and typically contains UMD recommended cultivars. If MD Certified Seed cannot be located, look carefully on seed tags for the type of grass, variety, percentage of weed seeds, and percentage of noxious weeds.  

• Consider native alternatives to traditional turf grasses, especially if your home has extreme conditions. Consider low-growing native alternatives like Carex pennsylvanica for shady, dry areas or Bouteloua dactyloides (Buffalograss) for full sun.

• Mow it high. Taller grasses help prevent weeds and lead to stronger, deeper root systems which helps reduce runoff and stay greener during drier spells. A height of 2 ½ to 3 inches is ideal. 

• Water thoughtfully, if at all. Overwatering grass can lead to disease. Remember that cool-season grasses are meant to go dormant in the summertime, leading to their blades turning brown. This time of year, it is more than likely unnecessary to water your lawns, unless you are overseeding and trying to get it to germinate. In that case, follow the directions on your grass seed bag and be as frugal as you can. 

• Convert your lawn to something a little more natural and forgo the fertilizers altogether! Converting lawns to conservation landscapes filled with native plants leads to lower costs and lower maintenance when compared to typical lawn care. It also aids the local ecology and reduces stormwater. Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener!

Additional resources

• Soil testing information from the Maryland Department of Agriculture

• Soil Testing and Soil Testing Labs from the University of Maryland Extension Office

• Lawn fertilizer schedule chart from the University of Maryland Extension Office

• Maryland’s Fertilizer Lawn Law from Maryland Department of Agriculture

Written by Josh Clark, WSA Restoration Coordinator, MLA, CBLP-D, CBLP-I