Be a Salmon-Friendly Gardener
Adapted from How to be a Salmon Friendly Gardener brochure developed by the City of Seattle
Our landscaping practices are an important part of the changes around Puget Sound that threaten salmon with extinction The way we garden can make a real difference in providing our salmon with a healthy place to come home.
Whether your garden is two feet or two miles from the nearest stream, lake, or Puget Sound, it affects salmon. Everything that runs off your property into storm drains eventually washes through salmon habitat. Excess storm water running off pavement or compacted soil harms salmon habitat. Residues of fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals may harm young salmon. And inefficient irrigation wastes water, leaving less in rivers for salmon to swim and spawn. Better garden design and care can preserve habitat, reduce runoff, keep harmful chemicals out of the water and conserve water. Every time we plant, mow, fertilize, water, or control pests in our gardens we can choose methods that aid salmon recovery.
Salmon friendly gardens work with natural processes to grow healthy plants with minimal irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticides. In addition to keeping the water clean and protecting habitat salmon friendly gardens can save you time and money. Here are some ways to make your garden salmon friendly:
- Build healthy soil with compost
- Choose the right plant for the right place
- Use water wisely
- Use natural fertilizers and pest controls
- Direct rain water appropriately
- Protect shoreline habitat
Here are some suggestions for native plants which are low-maintenance and will provide food, cover, and nesting habitat many wildlife species:
Red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea): multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with red branches. In late summer to early fall has yellowish-white flowers are followed by small blue berries. An effective winter accent which grows in moist environments with full to partial sun, and can be used to stabilize slopes.
Red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum): deciduous shrub that grows in moist or dry sites, full sun to partial shade, attracts hummingbirds in spring with its showy pink flowers.
False Lily-of-the-valley (Maianthemum dilatatum): also called May Lily, Two-leaf False Solomon's Seal. A deciduous, attractive groundcover with tiny white flowers above two shiny heart-shaped leaves. Grows in partial to full shade, in moist or dry areas.
