Demonstration Project - Planting a Meadow Buffer Near a Salt Marsh

See the transformation of this lawn to a low-maintenance meadow buffer.

In May of 2024, this lawn area along a salt marsh in Marblehead was converted to a meadow buffer of native shrubs, grasses, and perennials to protect marsh water quality, provide storm protection to the property, and improve wildlife habitat. The goal of the project—a collaboration between the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and Goldthwait Reservation, Inc.—was to demonstrate this coastal landscaping approach for other homeowners and showcase how a relatively low-maintenance meadow buffer can be both beautiful and functional.

The following photographs document the project through two growing seasons. Approximately 2,000 square feet of lawn were converted. Most of the hard work was done in year one, including designing the landscape plan (see Sample Landscape Plan for a Meadow Buffer to Salt Marsh), buying the plants, clearing the site, digging holes, planting (350 plugs, 20 shrubs, and a handful of groundcovers), applying compost, installing drip-tubing, and watering. By year two—aside from occasional weeding—all that was left to do was to watch the plants grow, evolve, and become more self-sustaining. Overall, this buffer has required minimal effort, especially compared to the adjacent lawn (which struggles during the hot, dry summers). As the plant communities shift and evolve through natural progression and succession, the meadow buffer will continue to provide many more benefits than a lawn.

For further details on the value of this landscaping approach and tips on how to design and install a buffer, see: Landscaping Near a Salt Marsh: Planting a Meadow Buffer. In addition, CZM’s StormSmart Properties fact sheets provide a range of options for homeowners to effectively reduce erosion and storm damage while minimizing impacts to shoreline systems, and the Coastal Landscaping in Massachusetts website offers additional landscaping ideas for controlling coastal erosion, preventing storm damage, and enhancing wildlife habitat.

NOTE: Salt marshes are a highly protected resource area under the Wetlands Protection Act and should not be altered in any way. Though native plantings in the upland buffer are beneficial, contact your local Conservation Commission to determine if a permit is necessary. Please see Coastal Landscaping - Do You Need a Permit? for more information. Also be sure to check with the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program [NHESP] or their most recent Priority Habitat and Estimated Habitat Maps, which are available online, to determine if the site is in or near mapped endangered or threatened species habitat.

NOTE: Always maintain a no-disturb zone of about 3-4 feet between a meadow buffer and the salt marsh edge, leaving the existing vegetation (such as grass) unmowed. This transition area allows access to the meadow plantings (without having to step in the marsh) and helps prevent any exposed soils in newly planted meadow areas from being washed into the marsh. The no-disturb zone can also provide a transition area for sun-loving salt marsh grasses to grow and thrive without shade or competition. Just upland of the no-disturb zone, plant native grasses and perennials—and only plant shrubs in the more sheltered areas of the buffer farther landward and upland. See the Profile of a Meadow Buffer for an illustration and details on recommended plant types for these different zones.

Purchasing the Native Plants - April 22-25, 2024

The plants in the above photos were purchased through Native Plant Trust and New England Wetland Plants and represent a mix of native shrubs, perennials, and grasses. A few plant species on the original planting plan were unavailable and replaced with other native equivalents. The final plant selection included 50 each of little bluestem, switchgrass, tufted hairgrass, blue vervain, and New England aster, along with 100 swamp and butterfly milkweeds, three common mountain mint, two wild strawberry, three winterberry, six each of bayberry, red twig dogwood, and Virginia rose, and a wildflower seed mix. Small plugs, which are typically less expensive to purchase and require less initial water and care, were used.

Arranging the Potted Plants - May 7, 2024

The potted plants were placed on the site to get a good idea of spacing and to show view corridors when plants mature. Before laying the plants out, a local landscaping company removed the existing lawn grass and cleared the area—leaving the 3- to 4-foot no-disturb zone in place.

Digging Holes and Planting - May 7-8, 2024

Digging holes was difficult in the rocky and sandy soil, and the shrubs, potted perennials, and plugs of perennials and grasses were installed over two days. Wire cages were placed around the two strawberry plants to protect them from rabbits.

Installing Drip Tubing - May 10, 2024

A few days later, temporary drip tubing was carefully laid out between plants to provide a consistent and efficient supply of water for the first growing season. A neighbor generously allowed the hoses to be hooked up to their water spicket and provided water for the plants through July. Tip: Be sure to run drip tubing so it flows downhill to allow gravity to assist with the water pressure, especially for the farthest reaches of the tubing. A few relocations were necessary here to get it right!

Applying Compost - May 31, 2024

To help the plants get established in the nutrient-poor soils, a handful of compost was placed around each plant (left photo). The compost was applied during a rain-free week to avoid the possibility of it getting washed out. Crabgrass (right) temporarily filled in the area around the plants, which provided a nice “cover crop” and reduced potential sediment runoff into the marsh.

Progress in Plant Growth - July 23, 2024

During July of the first summer, the bayberry shrubs (left) took off and established themselves quickly. The Virginia rose, red-twig dogwood, and winterberry shrubs had slower starts but hung in there (right).

More Plant Growth in High Summer - August 19, 2024

By mid-August, perennials, such as blue vervain (left) and mountain mint (right), began to mature and flower and pollinating insects made an appearance.

Continued Growth Come Autumn - October 2, 2024

In the fall, goldenrod (which may have grown from the wildflower seed mix or other seedbank) produced late-season flowers (left) and the red-twig dogwood foliage turned a beautiful deep red (right).

Buffer in Year Two - July 11, 2025

This photo shows the meadow buffer from the adjacent lawn in early July of year two. The lawn grasses were noticeably dry, scorched, and unattractive, while the buffer remained lush and green during the many dry spells of summer. No supplemental water was supplied to the buffer plantings in year two, while the lawn was watered and still remained brown.

This view from the side shows how the plants filled in and provided a substantially healthier and more attractive buffer than the lawn grasses.

Plant Growth Progress - July 11, 2025

Switchgrass and milkweed (left), along with little bluestem, mountain mint, and bayberry (right), became well established by mid-July. 

Boneset, which was in the wildflower seed mix planted in year one, made an appearance (left), and bright-orange butterfly milkweed (right) showed off early in the summer.

Progress Continues - July 30, 2025

Colorful swamp milkweed (left) and blue vervain (right) proliferated later in July.

The area closest to the marsh substantially filled in with dense plants (left), while higher up in the buffer, the warm-season little bluestem became more established and finally made its mark.

Pulling Weeds and Seeing Benefits - August 19, 2025

This low-maintenance buffer still required some maintenance. A few hours were spent in mid-August pulling out some ragweed (left) and other undesirable species before they became a problem. The effort paid off when butterflies and other pollinators were seen flitting around and sourcing nectar from butterfly milkweed (right) and other perennials.

Growth of Grasses - September 2, 2025

Though the plugs of tufted hairgrass (left) were the first grasses to appear in the late spring (since they are a cool-season grass that thrive in cooler temperatures), they remained small and did not seem to be fully established even by September. Conversely, switchgrass (right), which is a warm-season grass, began to thrive in the heat of mid-summer and filled in nicely by September.

Established Buffer by Summer’s End - September 2, 2025

These photos show the buffer in late summer of year two. Note: New England asters did not appear this year, likely due to their being favored by rabbits. To improve the odds for this late-season pollinator favorite, plant asters within clumps of mountain mint. Similarly, wild strawberry disappeared over the growing season due to rabbit pressure, but the strong roots and runners of this plant may help it resume growth next spring.

In the coming years, the meadow buffer will continue to be monitored for growth, succession, progression, and lessons. Stay tuned for updates and further inspiration!

Additional Information

See the following pages for more about coastal plants and landscaping:

• Landscaping Near a Salt Marsh: Planting a Meadow Buffer and the Sample Landscape Plan for a Meadow Buffer to Salt Marsh provide more on planting a meadow buffer, including recommended plants.
• The CZM Coastal Landscaping website has extensive information about planting on the coast.
• CZM’s StormSmart Properties fact sheets include a range of options to effectively reduce erosion and storm damage while minimizing impacts to shoreline systems on coastal properties.
• The Goldthwait Reservation website gives details on the Goldthwait salt marsh, land trust, and planting project.