Restoration Project, Guelph

Design Process

This site is located within driving distance to Guelph, ON. It is a 6 acre lot that has been undergoing major restoration for the last 10 years. I have been fortunate enough to be able to work on property for 2 of those years. There are constantly new beds that are being designed on site and there is a 1 acre tall grass meadow that has been being restored for the last 7 years. Some of the species planted in this space are Black-eyed susan, Echinacea spp., Oak spp., Tamarack, White Pine, Spruce spp., Staghorn Sumac, and Lilac spp. The population of birds has grown and at one point there was a family of foxes living on site due to the diversity and refuge it provides.

Below is a garden bed design for this coming season, 2021. Focus was to emphasize native species in the region. Below the design you can see an image of how we prepped the bed. Following the removal of sod we placed a layer of mulch and left it to overwinter. Soil organic matter will be better this season and ready to be planted.