How does one go about establishing a strip of shoreline vegetation?
A strip of vegetation, consisting mostly of trees and shrubs, is reintroduced at damaged points along the shoreline. A width of at least 10 m is required for gently sloping shorelines and 15 m for steep shorelines, which are more subject to erosion. Leafy trees, shrubs and conifers should be used for the most part, but grasses and herbaceous plants also fit into the mix. And the good news is that this strip of shoreline vegetation is highly effective. When shoreline property owners all join together to establish such a strip, water quality can improve enough to make swimming attractive again. Q : When and how to plant a strip of natural shoreline vegetation. A : The best time to plant a strip of vegetation is in the fall, or in the spring after spring flooding subsides. Planting should be staggered, with shrubs spaced 1 m apart and trees spaced approximately 4 to 5 m apart. Plants such as alders, dogwoods and willows, which can tolerate flooding, should be planted at the waters edge. T
