October is Riparian Buffer Month

What exactly is a riparian buffer?

It is a simple concept – a vegetated area adjacent to a body of water such as a stream, river, marsh, and shoreline.

In other words, groupings of trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials growing between the water’s edge and any alternative land use such as buildings and roads.

A buffer is one of the key features in the landscaping of a waterfront property.

Why is a buffer so significant? A riparian buffer provides multiple levels of protection to your property. The roots of plants, preferably natives, will stabilize the soil on a slope and prevent possible bank collapse. In addition, the plants’ roots take up ground water and upland runoff from storms. When it rains, a large amount of water may fall on your roof. That water must go somewhere, and it will follow the slope of the land towards the shoreline. Water will carry bare soil (sediment) into local streams and the Chesapeake Bay, degrading water quality. Rain absorbed by the soil may saturate the land and cause trees and shrubs to be vulnerable to wind. A strong wind and soggy soil are a dangerous combination. The roots of buffer plantings take up much of that moisture, helping to dry out the land and protecting other vegetation in your landscaping.

The benefits of the buffer do not stop there. Susan Lindsey, chair of the Northern Neck Master Gardener’s Shoreline Evaluation Program, points out “The plants in the buffer can filter pollutants and toxins. They provide food and habitat for wildlife and provide summer shade and windbreaks in winter that reduce energy costs. And they may increase the value of your property through better landscaping – more efficient and more attractive.”

A riparian buffer is not hard to establish. Indeed, nature may have already provided one in the shrubs and ground cover growing on a bank. “The simplest way to create a new buffer is to change your mowing habits” states Lindsey. “Do not mow to the edge! Leave an unmowed area between the shore and the upland – as wide as possible, but anything is better than nothing.” In addition, you can plant more shrubs in this unmowed area or create a beautiful wildflower meadow by just scattering seeds. Plant clumps of deep-rooted native grasses at the top of a bank, limb up any taller trees to maintain the view and let in sunlight, and minimize lawn areas by mulching around planting beds. These few strategies will produce lasting benefits for your property and the environment we all share and enjoy. Fall is a great season to start plantings that celebrate Riparian Buffer Month.