Coastal Landscapes Initiative<\/a>, or the N.C. Coastal Federation\u2019s Living Shoreline Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn an early effort to probe those landscaping decisions, a student\/faculty team from the NC State University Department of Landscape Architecture set out to evaluate what residents in two tidal creek communities in and near Swansboro think about their yards. North Carolina Sea Grant provided a minigrant to support our research, which was led by Andrew Fox, co-director of the Coastal Dynamics Design Lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The study began with a mail survey to gather information on how residents who live along tidal creeks perceive landscaping in their front yard, back yard and along the waterfront. For each area, we showed participants four black and white images featuring differing amounts of vegetation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, in one image of a front yard, a grassy lawn, or turf, dominated. In another image, trees, bushes and flowering perennials were abundant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We slightly altered the images so that participants would focus more on texture, shape and layout rather than specific types of plant. We then asked them to rate which images they liked best for each of the three areas of the yard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The survey also included a section with photographs discreetly divided into native and non-native plants commonly found in the region. We asked residents to check off which species were in their yards, which ones they desired, and whether they could tell the difference between the two groups of photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This exercise gave us a sense of existing plantings in the communities, and helped us characterize interest in commonly available species and in native landscape species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, we asked how satisfied people were with their yards, and to what lengths they would go to improve them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Survey Highlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n We received responses from 40 percent of survey recipients \u2014 an exceptional level of participation \u2014 and uncovered some important findings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As it turned out, people\u2019s landscaping preferences for back and front yards were virtually the same. On a four-point scale from \u201cmostly turf\u201d to \u201cmostly shrubs and flowers,\u201d the large majority chose the middle-ground, preferring at least some turf, mixed with shrubs and flowers. Interestingly, residents\u2019 waterfront preferences varied, with an even spread across the four choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSurvey participants noted plants they had in their yards and others that they wanted. Credit: Andrew Fox and Adam Walters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe type of waterfront landscape that residents preferred likely depends on their priorities. For instance, many waterfront property owners value an unobstructed view, provided by low vegetation, such as turf. On the other hand, turf increases exposure to wind and sun, and exacerbates rapid stormwater drainage into the creeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alternatives to turf that maintain eye-level views do exist, but they\u2019re not a part of the current supply and maintenance regime along North Carolina\u2019s coast. For example, xeriscaping \u2014 a landscaping technique popular in the West that requires little water \u2014 and native perennials and grasses provide low-maintenance and high- function options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notably, our survey found that a landscape\u2019s most important attribute wasn\u2019t appearance or ease of maintenance \u2014 as is the case in much of the United States \u2014 but rather its role in flood and hurricane protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also found that tidal creek residents are open to updating their yards. Indeed, most residents reported a dissatisfaction with their current conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They welcomed landscaping assistance, and were willing to invest $500 to $1,000, on average, for improvements. While that investment won\u2019t go far with a professional landscaper, we found that residents typically do their own upkeep, and report minimal use of fertilizers and pesticides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our survey results highlight a critical need for educational programs that raise community awareness of attractive, affordable and adaptable plants suitable for coastal landscaping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, landscape design templates could be developed for coastal North Carolina to highlight native plants and the benefits they provide. Such homeowner guides also could address installation and maintenance techniques that could prove useful for those living along tidal creeks, as well as other coastal residents. The new Coastal Landscapes Initiative aims to improve consumer awareness while also working to ensure that supply matches demand. It\u2019s just one goal among many that are designed to improve coastal community resilience, environmental sustainability and natural beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check for resources online from NC State\u2019s Coastal Dynamics Design Lab<\/a>. Click here<\/a> for more on the Coastal Landscapes Initiative. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"North Carolina is home to more than 12,000 miles of shoreline in the transition between salt and fresh waters. These areas include large estuaries like the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds, as well as hundreds of tidal creeks. Our four southernmost coastal counties \u2014 Onslow, Pender, New Hanover and Brunswick \u2014 contain at least 73 tidal creeks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":9913,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"views\/single-immersive.blade.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ncst_custom_author":"Adam Walters","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-immersive-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"backgroundColor\":\"custombg_one\",\"caption\":\"A team from the NC State Department of Landscape Architecture surveyed two tidal creek communities in Onslow and Carteret counties to betted understand their landscaping priorities. Photo by Adam Walters\",\"displayCategoryID\":661,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[660,598,661],"tags":[],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[662],"class_list":["post-9786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-660","category-coastal-landscapes-and-plant-life","category-spring-2018"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":661,"name":"Spring 2018","slug":"spring-2018","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":662,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":660,"count":8,"filter":"raw"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Waterfront Design Decisions: Residents Along Tidal Creeks Consider Options for Landscaping - Coastwatch<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n