One of the joys but often challenges of our neighborhood is the abundance of wildlife. They can be fascinating to watch, however they can also wreck havoc on our yards.
The plants that animals eat will vary between seasons and is influenced by the density of their population, the availability of native forage and weather conditions. At the end of particularly dry or cold winters and during hot and dry summers, animals will eat just about anything.**
One way to avoid the frustration and heartache of having your newly planted landscape nibbled on or worse is to ensure that wildlife isn’t attracted to the plants you’ve chosen.
Click to view full list
A landscaping company has published this extensive list of plants that many animals, particularly deer and elk, will avoid as well as ones that will attract birds, butterflies and other less destructive critters.*
Keeping larger wildlife like deer and especially elk out of your yard can make our neighborhood safer as well.
Many nurseries and garden shops have “elk and deer resistant” sections. A little planning and prevention can go a long way toward an affordable and beautiful yard that you can enjoy for years to come!
* NOTE: Some of the plants listed may or may not be available locally, plus some may not be desirable for other reasons. It’s highly recommended that you talk about it with a local garden shop or landscaper before planting.
* *With thanks to Evergreen Landscape & Design, Evergreen, CO.
Scotch Broom is an invasive species that was eradicated (as much as possible) within the Shamrock Pines HOA. Unfortunately there is still plenty of it in the surrounding areas which allows seedlings to return.
Removing scotch broom from our development was a costly but necessary expense. We have asked our HOA’s landscaper to remove any his crew finds in the public areas. If you find scotch broom on your property please use these recommended control methods as soon as possible.
Basically it should not be dug out, but cut just below ground level and the materials taken away before it goes to seed. Its yellow flowers are easy to spot and appear as a ground cover initially. Of course it’s much easier to remove when it is small.
As you can see in areas outside of our development, if Scotch Broom is left to grow it will invade and overtake your landscape very quickly.
The following is a reprint of an article on the topic posted by our friends at the North Coast Land Conservancy:
It’s hard not to notice all of the Scotch broom invading the north coast this time of year when the yellow flowers conspicuously dot the landscape.
We now refer to the month of May as Broom Buster month, and during this time we are working (extra!) hard to cut back the Scotch broom on NCLC properties. Do you have Scotch broom on your own property? Are you wondering about ways to get rid of the broom in your back yard?
Small infestations can be effectively treated with basic hand tools (and a lot of dedication). Scotch broom plants produce prolific seeds that are extremely long-lived, so if you have mature plants in your yard you are certain to have a good crop of seeds waiting eagerly for some bare soil and disturbance. For this reason, using a weed wrench to pull-out mature plants or a shovel to dig out large plants, can actually do more harm than good. The one big plant you kill by ripping it out of the soil, makes great habitat for 50 young broomlings to take its place. A more effective (and easier) way to get rid of a mature Scotch broom plant is to simply cut it (with loppers, hand saw, or chain saw depending on size) below the photosynthetic stem (where the stem is at or below ground level, and brown not green). If you cut it too high on the stem, the plant will continue to photosynthesize and will just resprout from the existing stem. If you cut the stem down low enough, however, the plant will not resprout and the ground will remain undisturbed.
For more information on Scotch broom control in the Pacific Northwest, click here.
To see what activities we have planned in May this year during Broom Buster Month, check out the Stewardship Events section of our website.
Thank you for helping us get rid of Scotch broom on the Oregon Coast!
The City of Gearhart has issued a new brochure about various and often dangerous invasive plants and weeds that can damage our neighborhood and gardens.
The information offers guidance with respect to removing these types of plants and how to keep them from propagating.
As homeowners we are responsible for keeping noxious plants and weeds out of our yards. While doing so we must ensure that no harm comes to the natural habitat around our properties including the waterways, etc., so the use of chemicals is restricted and not recommended.
Every now and then someone expresses curiosity about the land that borders the rear of their property…
Who do these areas belong to? What am I allowed to do back there? Are there restrictions? What about thinning or removing trees and shrubs?
Formally these areas are listed as tracts “A”, “B”, “D” and “E” on county records. Tracts “A” and “B” are common areas owned by Shamrock Pines HOA, Inc. Tracts “D” and “E” are owned by the North Coast Land Conservancy. All four tracts are separate and apart from each homeowner’s property.
Click to view full-sized image
Per Section 2.14 of the Shamrock Pines HOA Declaration of Deed Restrictions (CC&Rs) these areas are considered “dedicated riparian buffer and wetlands” and are to remain in a natural state. This not only ensures the beauty of the waterways, but the health and welfare of the plants, animals and birds that call it home.
Click here to read more about tracts “D” and “E” which are under the supervision of the North Coast Land Conservancy as part of the Neacoxie Wildlife Corridor and the Shamrock Pines Wetlands.
These “riparian zones” are also under the jurisdiction of the City of Gearhart. Click here to read the City’s recent post including restrictions and maintenance requirements.
Be Proactive
Keep in mind that plant roots help avoid erosion along creek banks so care must be taken when removing noxious weeds and vegetation (allowed by the City). Trees are key to the eco-system and should never be thinned or cut without prior approval from the HOA and the City of Gearhart. Folks that have weathered winter storms can attest to their value as windbreaks as well!
So before taking any action in your backyard, per section 8.3.4 of our Bylaws, be sure to check where your property line meets the tract area, then complete and submit an Approval Request.
As we all know, these areas are home to dozens of migratory and year-round songbirds. Waterfowl dominate the open water and riparian area. Beaver can be seen navigating the creeks as well. It’s nature at its best and one of the “crown jewels” of Shamrock Pines. So enjoy this unique slice of nature’s beauty in our neighborhood!
