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For many ecosystems, periodic fire is part of the natural cycle that keeps the landscape healthy. Controlled fire is a tool that can allow restoration professionals to reintroduce an ecological process under carefully managed conditions.
Prairie restoration is the process of returning land to a native prairie ecosystem. This involves removing invasive species, preparing the site, planting native grasses and wildflowers, and providing ongoing stewardship.
Native plants provide subdivisions with the best low-maintenance landscaping options because they already adapted to the local temperature swings, rainfall patterns, and pests.
The dunes along Lake Michigan are often worn down over time. Healthy dunes protect shorelines, reduce erosion, and create a healthy habitat for the plants and animals that depend on them.
Stormwater Management Inspection Report violations and fines can be serious. Hiring a restoration company can help you fix any violations and keep you in compliance for the future.
Shoreline restoration offers a natural way to protect shoreline while creating more natural areas with native plantings. The root systems from native plants work to hold soil in place, while the plants themselves can help slow runoff.
The best time for buckthorn removal depends on site conditions, project goals and available resources. Fall and winter are often the best time based on these conditions.
Bioswales are natural channels surrounded by vegetation that are designed to capture, convey, and treat stormwater runoff. They are planted with carefully selected vegetation in a long, sloping depression in the landscape.
Ticks are a public health concern and thrive in the cover of Japanese barberry, an invasive species. Removing the invasive plant and using controlled fire on the region can help reduce the spread of Lyme disease.
Invasive species are non-native plants that spread rapidly and cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. They represent one of the biggest challenges in ecological restoration today.
Creating natural areas for birdwatching is a great way to foster an open and inviting natural area that the whole community can enjoy. These areas provide food, cover, and safe nesting sites for birds that pass through the region. This is something that is becoming harder for birds to find.
For thousands of years fire took on a more natural and necessary role in cleaning out debris to create a more vibrant ecosystem. As widespread fire suppression occurred, the natural fuel began to build up to the point where wildfires are a catastrophic event. Controlled burns can alleviate that risk and go back to the time where a low-intensity fire can help an ecosystem thrive.
Community pollinator gardens are an excellent way to educate people on the role of native plants and pollinators within nature, and promote ecological recovery. Local residents and organizations can come together to create a more vibrant feel.
Using native plants in ecological restoration, and the returning of an ecosystem to a self-sustaining state, gives it the best chance for long-term success. Native plants create the foundation for a resilient and biodiverse ecosystem.
Local communities and HOAs can embrace ecological restoration while enhancing the look of neighborhoods, subdivisions and entire communities. The use of native plants attracts pollinators, birds, and other wildlife to the area making it ideal for birdwatchers.
The butterfly population has reduced by 22% in the last 20 years. Restoring natural landscapes using native plants, and restricting herbicide and pesticide usage could help reverse this trend.
A turf to prairie conversion offers several benefits including less water usage, less maintenance, and more biodiversity. A prairie outperforms turf during a drought, and offers a resilient option designed to withstand weather swings.
Pollinators play a key role in the health of many native plants by encouraging reproductive success, accelerating habitat recovery, preventing soil erosion, and enhancing water retention. Key pollinators include bees, butterflies and moths, beetles, flies, and hummingbirds.
Ecological restoration as the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed. It’s a proactive and intentional effort to return ecosystems to a self-sustaining state.
Removing phragmites and Cattails from a pond or dune is essential to the health and restoration of the area. Native species are more suitable for erosion control and the local biodiversity, while enhancing the look of the pond or dune.
Herbicides, in some amount or form, are an essential part of habitat restoration. We can give preference to physical or mechanical methods, but sometimes a targeted herbicide application is the most efficient way to remove invasive species while minimizing harm to the larger area.
Clear natural areas in the winter to prepare the land for healthier, more sustainable growth in the upcoming year.
Every year, Pizzo & Associates team members complete in-depth training for prescribed fire (aka controlled burns). It doesn’t matter if team members are brand new or have been involved in multiple burn seasons. The safety of everyone involved including the properties we service, are of utmost importance.
