Q:  How long does it take to plan and install a naturalization project?

A:  The suggestion is to allow between two and three years for an effective planning process.  Schools that rush things tend to run into problems (see ‘Typical timeline’ for more information).

Q:  How much do they cost?

A:  Schools have spent anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over a hundred thousand dollars.  Keep in mind that these are total budgets amounts that don’t reflect donations or gifts-in-kind.  Also recognize that it is the hard landscaping elements (i.e. amphitheatres, raised beds, pathways, retaining walls) that are the most expensive.

Q:  Who pays for them?

A:  In most cases, the school and parent group is responsible for raising the funds required.  For information specific to your area, refer to the Map.

Q:  Who looks after them?

A:  It varies between the different school boards.  In Calgary the responsibility falls to the school community (teachers, students, parents, community members) while in Rocky View the maintenance staff will care for the project.  For information specific to your area, refer to the Map.

Q:  Should we install an irrigation system?

A:  This is a controversial issue, with many sides.  Some will argue that they need irrigation to ensure the survival of the plants they have just installed without relying on volunteers.  If this is the case and you are questioning the availability of volunteer labour, your group should question whether you have enough support for the project.  As well, naturalization projects that use native plants should only need to be watered for the first one to three years, so an irrigation system would become redundant.  Some schools have chosen the cheaper route of installing drop hoses, or located a hose-bid closer enough to the site to make watering easy.

Q:  Are naturalization projects targets for vandalism?

A:  Naturalization projects would not be targeted more than other elements on a school ground.  We have learned, however, that project sites should not be located behind the school where they are not visible to the street or to neighbours.  It’s best to locate the project where troublemakers are least likely to gather. Also consider setting up motion-sensor lights to discourage unwanted activities.

Q: Can we use non-native plants in our garden? What are the repercussions?

A:  It is up to the school to decide how ‘pure’ they want their project to be.  As soon as non-native plants are introduced, the focus switches away from naturalization towards beautification.  This being said, some schools have created separate beds to accommodate plants for curriculum activities or those donated by neighbours. Some schools choose to use cultivars of native plants that are appropriate in some situations. Whether or not the plants are native, all plants should be researched to determine if their growth requirements and habits are appropriate to the site (i.e. many non-natives are very aggressive). 

Q:  What types of outdoor signage are suggested?

A:  A variety of materials can be used for signage in the naturalized area.  Some schools have suggested the following: 

 For plant labels some suggestions are small plastic ground spikes , small metal horticultural tags , wooden stakes and plastic branch wraps . Along with these suggestions it was also noted that little kids and some wildlife seem to love pulling out the labels.  Some suggestions that have not been tried are ceramic stepping stones or cement rocks with plant names.

 Also consider having your students creating a detailed map of your naturalized area complete with plant names. The map can be displayed in your classroom or near the entrance to your naturalized space.

Q:  Where can we find mulch?

A: Mulch is used to prevent weeds from establishing and protects plant roots from temperature variation. A 3'' to 4'' layer of mulch will eliminate grass and retain water, which reduces the need for watering. Mulch can be acquired for free from tree companies. Try contacting local tree service companies to see if they are prunning in your area. Questions to ask are if they are diseased trees they are chipping, and what size the wood chips will be. Larger sized chips slide more and take longer to decompose. Alpine and cedar mulch is available with cedar being more expensive. A variety of Top Spray can also be used as ground cover, visit www.topspray.com for more details and associated costs. EccoChips, which are recycled wood and mulch products are also available in a variety of colours, see www.eccowaste.com for details.

Q:  What can we use for edging?

A: Black plastic is the  most inexpensive type of edging (20 feet, $13.26 per length), but is is not very effective as grass tends to grow over it.  Expocrete (metal edging) is also inexpensive (16 feet, $47.74 per length) and not very effective for the same reason.  Concrete curbing works very well, but has the least natural look and is more expensive.  Brick edging works well, but grass tends to grow between the bricks and must be maintained.   Manual maintenance with a half-moon edger you can maintain your edging manually. Try filling the edge with gravel to help maintain the border.  During the design process, attempt to minimize the amount of area where planting beds and grass are adjacent. This will decrease the need for edging.

Q: How do we discourage vandalism?

A:  Ideally, the issue of vandalism should be taken into consideration during the planning and design steps of the naturalization process.

During the planning stages:

Try utilizing the concepts of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) for the design of your project. Please see the Calgary Police website www.calgarypolice.ca (see Crime Prevention Unit) for more information on CPTED. Make yourself aware of any current vandalism concerns on school property and within the surrounding neighbourhood, and indicate these on your site survey. The best way to minimize vandalism of your project is to involve as many people as possible from the wider community as well as your immediate school community in the planning and implementation of the project. By building ownership within the student body, vandalism caused by older children will decrease over time, as students from your school that "grew up with the project" move on to junior or senior high school.

Following installation:

Ask neighbours to keep an eye on the garden over evenings, weekends, and holidays. Consider posting a sign providing contact information in case of an emergency and provide close neighbours the same information. This gives the message that the site is significant. Try discouraging vandalism by:

 Vandalism is a crime that must be reported to the police, so be sure to contact the appropriate authorities. Clean up immediately and try to repair the damage as soon as possible, as a site with one spray painted rock will likely attract the efforts of other vandals. Show the vandals that you will remove their graffiti, replant plants, clean signs, and replace structures. Counsel and continue to educate the students as it can be devastating to be a victim of crime.

If you have any additional questions please Contact us.