Prevent Disturbances

In natural shoreland management, we use the term disturbance to refer to an element that alters or disrupts the ecosystem. For example, mowing and competition from lawn grasses inhibit native plants from extending their territory. Eliminating the competition can allow native plants to reestablish gradually in the lawn area. This technique can be thought of as "No mow, let it grow".

That can mean good news for some owners. They may not have to do any planting in their upland areas. The determining factor will be whether native plants are located in the seedbank or adjacent to the area where they want them to spread.

Wave action is another disturbance that can be temporarily lessened to restore the aquatic and some transitional vegetation on your shoreline. Once aquatic plants have been removed, it may be difficult for them to become re-established because of wind or boat-induced waves. Wave action may also inhibit growth of the transitional plants as water pounds against the shoreline edge.