Prairie Privacy
So long honeysuckle, hello prairie. Initially, this property had a hedgerow of invasive bush honeysuckle that was likely planted when the home was built mid-century. The honeysuckle provided privacy for this West Des Moines backyard but was contributing to the spread of honeysuckle, an invasive species that has wreaked havoc on our native ecosystems. After removing and stump-grinding the honeysuckle, we came in and replaced it with a row of tall growing ‘Northwind’ Switchgrass. We usually stay away from using cultivars of native species, but the height and predictability of the cultivar made it an excellent choice in this scenario. The Switchgrass should grow very dense and reach heights of 5 feet or more, providing plenty of privacy. In the front side yard, Sweet Joe-Pye Weed was used for privacy, as it prefers drier, shadier conditions and can reach heights of 4-7 feet, and has a dense growth habit. Of course no planting would be complete without a diverse mix of native grasses and wildflowers, this one has 32 different species! The client benefitted from the City of West Des Moines’ cost-share program for native landscaping, paying for nearly half of the project.
Ancient honeysuckle bushes provided privacy and shade for the home, but their invasiveness meant they had to go.
Immediately after planting, in a couple years the planting will fill out and restore privacy and habitat to the home.
A view of the honeysuckle in the backyard prior to removal
Backyard after planting, the switchgrass will form a dense wall of vegetation that will provide privacy throughout the winter and cover for wildlife
A full row of Switchgrass is planted along the fence with repeating waves of grass that reach out into the yard, providing depth and variability in the planting
The front side yard, a seemingly blank row along the house is actually Pennsylvania Sedge which will serve as a walking path for access to the downspout and A/C
