The Clearing

50% of the front lawn was replaced with ecologically-sensitive plants.

The Clearing…

Wanting to drastically reduce their front lawn, the client was excited to expand on the existing garden with an ecologically-minded planting scheme that reflected the native ecosystem.

Located on the Mississippi River bluffs in Saint Paul, Minnesota, we knew that the bedrock could be high and the soil decently sandy due to the limestone geology. Using our classic cut-flip-cover-wait on the turf grass, we could keep soil and nutrients on site and help build a less sandy soil base.

We chose roughly 70% native, 20% nativar, with a few beloved garden-cultivated species that the clients wanted to include or keep.

Black wire rabbit fencing fades into the garden, helping protect this newly planted ecosystem without being overly noticeable. On this scale, fencing is the best option to keep your maintenance labor minimal! Once the garden is established, this fencing will come down, and be reused in another project.

Selected Photos:

Before – lots of grass and an existing simple garden.
During the cut-flip-cover phase!
After, freshly planted, adding on to the existing structure of the original garden. (Minus the diseased birch!)

Client:

Private Residential

Saint Paul, MN

Project Start:

May 2024

Project Duration:

Six Months – Two Part Install