Links and Additional Resources on Coastal Landscaping

This page provides links to additional information on coastal landscaping, organized into the following categories:

• Plant Identification and Descriptions
• Plant Maintenance and Care
• Invasive Species
• Threatened or Endangered Species Habitat
• Wetlands Protection Act and Regulations

Plant Identification and Descriptions

• PLANTS Database of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides plant descriptions, characteristics and classification, distribution, and images.
• Salicicola provides an online vascular plant gallery where you can view nearly 13,000 photos of 1,188 species that are found in eastern Massachusetts. The website also offers information on invasive plants, articles about trees, shrubs, and plants in the area, and plant checklists for many parks, reservations, and other natural areas within the region.
• University of Connecticut (UConn) Plant Database of Trees, Shrubs, and Vines provides specifics on plant attributes—such as habitat, form, seasonal characteristics, culture, and landscape uses—accompanied by images.
• American Beauties (in collaboration with the National Wildlife Federation's Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program) provides a list of native plants species, descriptions, and landscape plans for four theme gardens (bird garden, butterfly garden, dry sun, and moist sun) that are beautiful and good for wildlife. The website also provides information on where to purchase native plants in your area.
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Plant Database provides a search engine that links to and describes 7,220 native plants in North America. The website also includes an image gallery, recommended species for specific regions, step-by-step guides for various planting activities, and even an "Ask Mr. Smarty Plants" forum for finding information to landscaping questions.
• The Vascular Plants of Massachusetts: A County Checklist available through the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program provides current nomenclature and distribution for 3293 native and introduced vascular plants found currently or historically in the various counties of the Commonwealth and indications of whether a species is considered native or introduced in the county.

Plant Maintenance and Care

• Coastal Dune Protection and Restoration—Using 'Cape' American Beachgrass and Fencing (PDF, 3.2 MB), a bulletin of the Woods Hole Sea Grant and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Program, addresses the restoration of a dune through case studies, tips, and other considerations, including preserving shorebird habitat and understanding the permit process.
• Greenscapes Program of the Massachusetts Bays Estuary Association provides information about lawn care, alternatives to pesticides and herbicides, composting, water conservation, soil testing, and much more.
• Landscape, Nursery, and Urban Forestry Program of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Extension Program provides a series of fact sheets, publications, and services. The factsheets include detailed information on topics ranging from landscape culture and maintenance, to insects and diseases, to particular information on certain plant species. A factsheet on rain gardens is also included.
• Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) provides consumer information on local nurseries, nursery stock, garden and lawn products, as well as a listing of professional landscape and lawn-care contractors.
• New England Wildflower Society (NEWS) offers information on native plants, invasive species, conservation and research, plant courses, events, and other links.
• American Beachgrass Planting Guide of the New York Sea Grant Extension Program provides a summary of tips for planting American beachgrass in beaches and dunes.
• Ecological Landscaping Association (ELA) provides educational material, conference and event information, and other links for landscape professionals, homeowners, and community groups to promote the design, installation, and maintenance of landscapes that are guided by a knowledge of and respect for natural ecosystems.

Invasive Species

• Evaluation of Non-Native Plant Species for Invasiveness in Massachusetts of the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group provides findings from plant evaluations of 85 species and includes an annotated list of Invasive, Likely Invasive, and Potentially Invasive species in Massachusetts.
• Invasive Plant Atlas of New England provides a comprehensive web-accessible database of invasive and potentially invasive plants in New England.
• Electronic Field Guide to the Invasive Plants of Nantucket provides a database of more than 75 terrestrial alien plant species that occur on Nantucket, and describes the impact these non-native species have on the ecosystems.

Threatened or Endangered Species Habitat

• Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife provides Priority Habitat and Estimated Habitat Maps to help determine if a proposed project is in or near mapped endangered species habitat.
• Guidelines for Barrier Beach Management of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management provides information on beach and dune planting and restoration activities in threatened or endangered species habitat.

Wetland Protection Act and Regulations

• Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection provides downloadable copies of the Wetlands Protection Act and Regulations.

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