/ Buffer Landscaping

Buffer Landscaping

Lakefront homeowners can have a beautiful lakefront while being lake friendly and environmentally sound! Buffer landscaping consists of vegetation planted near the lakeshore to reduce the amount of sediment, nutrients and pollutants entering the lake. 

SMLA has developed resources for homeowners interested in buffer gardening along their shoreline. 

Our Buffer Landscape Advisory Service Team (BLAST) is a team of volunteers, many of whom are Virginia Master Naturalists and Virginia Master Gardeners. BLAST members are available to visit your property to make recommendations on buffer landscape techniques. Request a visit by sending an email request to buffer@smlassociation.org.

Request a BLAST Visit

How to Get Started with a Buffer Landscape

Ready to create a buffer landscape on your property? 

  • Get a plat plan from your county GIS service or create your own drawing. Identify the 800’ contour line.
  • Assess your property. Include the degree of slope, amount of light, moisture and soil types on your property.
  • Decide on views. What views do you want to preserve?  Do you have areas where a buffer could increase privacy or reduce noise from recreational activities on the lake?
  • Draw the area to be landscaped. Include existing trees, shrubs and plants currently in the buffer area. Also  note all utilities, patios, paths, walls and hardscape.
  • Select a variety of trees, shrubs, ground covers, and flowering perennials. Add visual interest with a mixture of heights and colors. 
  • Choose as many native plants as possible. They do well in local soils and conditions, and they also attract wildlife.
  • Determine how much help you need for planning, planting, plant selection, and environmental impact knowledge. 

Recommended Plant List

The SMLA plant list includes recommended trees, shrubs, grasses and flowering perennials that do well in this region. 

Plants identified as “deer resistant” are just that – resistant. Deer are known to eat everything and anything if they are hungry. Consider also using deer repellent products. 

Information provided about sources of plant material is based on reviews by a randomly selected group of plant providers. Many nurseries and landscapers can special order items. Plants are also available from catalogs or on-line sources but residents are encouraged to obtain plant materials locally.

New cultivars/hybrids that improve selected features of plants are developed each year. Therefore, these lists change over time.

This list was reviewed for appropriateness to location and availability by a number of people. Many of our committee members are Master Gardeners from the Franklin County chapter and Master Naturalists from the Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes chapter. The primary credit for compilation of this list goes to De English, a Master Gardener and Master Naturalist, and Bill Pappa, a Master Gardener with a special interest in riparian buffers.

Special thanks go to Alex Niemiera, Associate Professor in Horticulture at Virginia Tech; Lynn Crump, Environmental Programs Planner at DCR; and Alice Baird, DCR Division of National Heritage for reviewing and making helpful suggestions.

Plant List (PDF)

Planting and Maintenance

  • Start small if you have limited time or budget. Plant as much buffer next to the water as possible and in subsequent years add more plantings to lengthen or widen your buffer landscape.
  • Space your plantings to allow plenty of room for growth to mature size. Crowded plantings look good at first but often do not survive over time.
  • Keep the buffer well watered and weeded for the first two years.  Avoid frequent shallow watering which encourages roots to stay on the surface.
    • Apply two to four inches of course composted mulch between plants to help keep weeds down and hold moisture.
    • Identify invasive species plants (weeds) and remove them as soon as you see them.
  • Don’t use fertilizer after your buffer landscape is established.

Guide to Buffer Landscaping

Information and practical instructions to help you create a buffer landscape on your waterfront property.

Resources

Buffer Landscaping Overview (PDF)

Attracting butterflies (PDF)

Attracting Pollinators (PDF)

Deer – A Garden Pest – Va Tech (PDF)

Deer Resistant Trees & Shrubs List (PDF)

Deer Resistant Plants – NC State University (PDF)

Feeding Wild Birds (PDF)

Habitat at Home (PDF)

Hummingbird Gardening (PDF)

Landscape for Life workbook – creating sustainable landscape (PDF)

Lawn Reduction (PDF)

Protecting your Waterfront Investment (PDF)

Rain Garden Technical Guide (PDF)

Top 10 Wildlife Plants (PDF)

Tree of Heaven Removal (PDF)

Websites and List of Landscapers (PDF)

Landscaping and Land Issues FAQ

What trees and shrubs are deer resistant?

We offer a list of plants to consider. The SMLA plant list (PDF) includes recommended trees, shrubs, grasses and flowering perennials that do well in this region.

Plants identified as “deer resistant” are just that – resistant. Deer are known to eat everything and anything if they are hungry. Consider also using deer repellent products.

Do deer eat dogwood trees?

Young dogwood trees could be nibbled by deer. To be safe, cage them for the first few years to give them a chance to get established and large enough that the deer can’t eat all the leaves. An online search will show many ways to make effective tree cages, many that use materials you may already have on hand.

Are magnolia trees deer resistant?

Magnolias are loved by young deer. Plant these trees inside of a fenced area if possible. Or, cage them for the first few years to give them a chance to get established and large enough that the deer can’t eat all the leaves. An online search will show many ways to make effective tree cages, many that use materials you may already have on hand.

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    from 9AM to 4PM

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