{"id":12374,"date":"2020-04-06T12:41:30","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T16:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=12374"},"modified":"2020-04-06T12:41:30","modified_gmt":"2020-04-06T16:41:30","slug":"latest-blue-economy-newsletter-explores-coastal-landscaping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/latest-blue-economy-newsletter-explores-coastal-landscaping\/","title":{"rendered":"Latest Blue Economy Newsletter Explores Coastal Landscaping"},"content":{"rendered":"

Above: This Elizabeth City yard includes a mix of native and nonnative species. Photo by Jane Harrison.<\/em><\/p>\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact:<\/em><\/strong>
\nJane Harrison, jane_harrison@ncsu.edu<\/a>, 919-513-0122<\/em><\/p>\n

The latest installment<\/a> of North Carolina Sea Grant\u2019s Blue Economy Information Series<\/a> explores the role that the landscaping industry could play in the state\u2019s blue economy, with a focus on Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Tips on environmentally conscious coastal landscaping are a key part of the piece.<\/p>\n

A blue economy results when economic activity is in balance with the long-term capacity of ocean and coastal ecosystems to support that activity and remain resilient and healthy, explains North Carolina Sea Grant coastal economist Jane Harrison, the series\u2019 author.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy committing to the blue economy, the coastal landscaping industry can be profitable while also enhancing the environment,\u201d she notes. \u201cLandscape designers and contractors, nursery managers, and home, or DIY, landscapers all have a role to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"First<\/a>
Click on the image for a PDF.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nature-enhancing landscaping is trending nationwide. From incorporating living shorelines to more native plants in yards, residents are becoming more aware of the ecological benefits of sustainable landscaping.<\/p>\n

In this edition of the newsletter, Harrison describes a survey she conducted in Elizabeth City that examined residents\u2019 landscaping practices and preferences.<\/p>\n

Specifically, the study considered what motivated people to care for their yard, why they chose certain plants, and what sorts of environmentally friendly activities they engaged in.<\/p>\n

The survey found that appearance to others is the top motivator for yard care, while maintenance needs most affect plant decisions. The most common environmental practice is limiting chemical use.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn interviewing Elizabeth City residents and touring their yards, I got an intimate sense of how they manage their properties,\u201d Harrison explains. \u201cSocial pressures are highly influential, and sustainable landscaping practices are more likely to be adopted if they align with neighborhood norms.\u201d<\/p>\n

The newsletter also includes sustainable coastal landscaping tips, such as the following:<\/p>\n