“Hey everyone, I’m working on transforming a 146 x 87 ft space in planting zone 7b into a community garden, and I’d love your advice!
I’m trying to figure out the best layout—how should I organize planting areas, pathways, and other features like seating or composting? Also, what are some great plants for this zone that are both practical (like food crops) and visually appealing?
I’d really appreciate any tips or suggestions you have! Thanks in advance!”
by Jeandereaux
4 Comments
growing zone is not enough, we need the city. it looks like baltimore?
I would start with trees . Native trees outcompete most other native plants. Native oak trees outcompete ALL other plants by supporting over 500+ different species of butterflies and moths.
Think of creating three layers of trees, like you would in a natural setting: overstory, middle story and understory. Always plan and plant tallest plants first.
Read books by Douglas Tallamy and Heather Holm.
Most ecological organizations require you to provide food for wildlife year-round, so plan on planting ” Keystone plants” . What those are for your area may differ, but I’m positive at least one oak tree would be a Keystone native plant for your area. In addition, ” soft landings are vital underneath trees.
Soft landings are plantings of native plants under trees that provide shelter and habitat for pollinators and other insects:
What they are
Soft landings are permanent plantings of native plants under trees that provide shelter and habitat for pollinators and other insects. They also include leaf litter, duff, and plant debris.
Why they are important
Soft landings are important because they:
Provide shelter and habitat for pollinators
Help to build complex food webs
Help to build healthy, pliable soil for burrowing insects
Who created the concept
The concept of soft landings was created by Leslie Pilgrim, a conservation gardener and the executive director of Neighborhood Greening.
What trees are ideal for soft landings
Soft landings are ideal for all native trees, but are especially critical for certain trees, such as oak and black cherry.
What plants to use
For a tidier look, you can stick to plants that grow no taller than 24 inches tall, 18 inches is preferable.
I’m the administrator of Pittsbugh’s largest native plant group ( Pittsburgh Area Native Plant Group); we have almost 1,000 members in 3 years. We will have our annual Native seed swap and wintersowing classes this Saturday. It’s an inexpensive way to get native plants.
Go ahead and clip and treat that Ivy growing on those trees if you haven’t thought of it.
Need to know way way more to have even basic recommendations on a layout or plants: where is the access (looks like it doesn’t front a street, but is on the interior of a block?), where are utilities (power, water), what plants already exist there (most notably those few trees), who will be the users (kids, neighbors, elderly?), what are your primary objectives (food, aesthetics, native ecology?), what kind of resources do you have to execute a plan (budget, labor, expertise)? I’m looking around Baltimore on google earth and I’m fascinated by these seemingly common areas within blocks. It seems like many of them are similarly neglected but some are more intentionally kept up or well-utilized, do you know how those came to be? Also, who actually owns this land?
This is exactly the kind of thing that I and I’m sure a bunch of other people on here would actually love to help design, but need a lot more context to actually be helpful.