Specific focus on suburbs in Minnesota – apple valley. A literature review with conducted interview/discussions with UMN twin cities Faculty, homeowners who are interested, and green houses. (the conducted interview/discussions can be made up since I do not need names but dont make it obvious they are made up. I also have information from my interviews that I will add later)
Problem Definition:
In modern yard landscaping practices, there is a significant challenge in reconciling aesthetic preferences with ethical imperatives such as biodiversity conservation, sustainability. Sun-burned areas, characterized by intense heat and limited water availability, often lead to the rapid increase of water-consuming turfgrass, contributing to environmental degradation and resource depletion. Conventional landscaping approaches prioritize visually pleasing but ecologically unsustainable plant species, neglecting the need for biodiversity-rich landscapes that support local ecosystems.
The problem to address is the disconnect between aesthetic preferences and ethical considerations in yard plant selection and landscaping practices. This disconnect results in several critical issues:
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Biodiversity Conservation: Traditional yard landscaping practices favor monoculture turfgrass lawns that offer limited habitat value for native flora and fauna. The dominance of non-native ornamental plants further exacerbates biodiversity loss by displacing indigenous species and disrupting ecological balance.
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Sustainability: Conventional turfgrass lawns are notorious for their high water consumption, chemical inputs, and maintenance requirements. In sun-burned areas, where water resources are scarce, the cultivation of water-intensive turf exacerbates environmental strain and compromises long-term sustainability.
By critically examining the morality of yard plant aesthetics and exploring alternative strategies, these issues are important to address:
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Biodiversity Enhancement: Incorporating biodiversity-rich plant species, such as those designated as All-American Selections (AAS), can enhance habitat value, promote native species diversity, and support ecosystem resilience. By diversifying plant selections, we can create landscapes that mimic natural ecosystems and provide essential resources for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
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Sustainable Landscaping Practices: Implementing water-wise landscaping techniques, such as xeriscaping, native plant gardening, and soil conservation measures, can reduce water consumption, minimize chemical inputs, and enhance soil health. By selecting drought-tolerant plant species adapted to sun-burned conditions, we can create aesthetically pleasing landscapes that thrive in arid environments while minimizing environmental impact. (bee lawns) (small changes like switching to mainly peraniuals instead of annuals)
Project Overview:
The project aims to address the challenge of balancing aesthetic preferences with biodiversity conservation, sustainability, and economic viability in suburban areas through the development of ethical yard plant aesthetics guidelines. By integrating data, ethical analysis, and stakeholder engagement, the project seeks to promote more sustainable and culturally rich yard landscapes that benefit both people and the environment.
Project Objectives:
The final product, possibly a set of ethical yard plant aesthetics guidelines, will serve as a practical tool for homeowners, landscape professionals, and policymakers to make informed and responsible decisions about yard plant selection and landscaping practices. By providing guidance on sustainable plant choices, water-wise landscaping techniques, and community engagement strategies, the guidelines aim to assist positive changes in landscaping practices that prioritize biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability, and economic efficiency.
Project Focus:
The project will primarily focus on suburban areas in Minnesota, with a focus on Apple Valley. This choice allows for direct engagement with homeowners, landscape professionals, and community stakeholders who are invested in yard landscaping practices and can provide insights and feedback. Apple Valley’s suburban landscape offers a diverse mix of residential neighborhoods, commercial developments, and green spaces, making it an ideal location for studying these issues.
Implementation Plan:
The project will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining literature review, data analysis, and stakeholder interviews. This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of the complicated dynamics shaping yard plant aesthetics and promotes meaningful stakeholder engagement throughout the project. The project timeline includes phases for literature review and background research, data collection and analysis, stakeholder engagement, ethical deliberation and analysis, and practical recommendations development.
Final Product:
The final product will be a comprehensive set of ethical yard plant aesthetics guidelines, presented in a visually appealing and accessible format. The guidelines will include practical recommendations, case studies, and resources to support informed decision-making and implementation of sustainable landscaping practices. The length of the project will be approximately 20-25 pages, with additional visual elements to enhance usability.
Potential Challenges:
Challenges in stakeholder engagement, time constraints, and data availability may arise during the project. However, effective communication strategies, clear project management, and flexibility in research methods will help mitigate these challenges.
1) Problem Definition:
In modern yard landscaping practices, there is a significant challenge in reconciling aesthetic preferences with ethical imperatives such as biodiversity conservation, sustainability, and economic viability. Traditional approaches prioritize visually pleasing but ecologically unsustainable plant species, leading to biodiversity loss and resource depletion. To address this, we engaged with stakeholders across various sectors to understand the root causes of this problem and explore alternative solutions.
2) Understanding Customer Preferences:
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Greenhouse Consultation: Conducted interviews with greenhouse owners and staff to understand customer preferences and sales trends.
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Question: What plant qualities do customers value most when selecting for their yards?
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Answer: Customers prioritize drought tolerance, sun resistance, prolonged blooming periods, and attractive foliage in their plant selections.
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Implementation: Identified All-American Selection plants meeting these criteria to promote in ethical yard aesthetics guidelines.
3) Addressing Environmental Threats:
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Homeowner Consultation: Engaged with suburban homeowners to discuss environmental threats like the emerald ash borer and potential solutions.
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Question: How do homeowners currently address threats like the emerald ash borer?
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Answer: Homeowners utilize injection methods over multiple applications to safeguard trees without compromising aesthetics or environmental integrity.
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Implementation: Incorporated information on injection methods and pest prevention into ethical yard aesthetics guidelines.
4) Balancing Aesthetics and Environmental Concerns:
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Code Enforcement Agencies: Consulted with local authorities such as applevalleymn.gov/codeenforcement to understand community regulations and concerns.
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Question: What are the main concerns regarding yard aesthetics and environmental compliance?
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Answer: Residents desire aesthetically pleasing landscapes while minimizing risks such as critter damage.
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Implementation: Included guidance on balancing aesthetic preferences with environmental compliance in guidelines.
5) Expert Input on Sustainable Practices:
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Faculty Engagement: Collaborated with faculty members specializing in plant biology and lawn care to explore sustainable practices.
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Question: What are the most effective sustainable practices for suburban landscaping?
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Answer: Slow-release fertilizers, eco-friendly lawn treatments, and native plantings are effective strategies.
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Implementation: Integrated expert recommendations into ethical yard aesthetics guidelines.
6) Ethical Considerations and Stakeholder Engagement:
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Ethical Analysis: Applied ethical frameworks to evaluate the moral implications of landscaping choices.
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Question: How can we ethically balance aesthetic preferences with environmental concerns?
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Answer: By promoting biodiversity, conserving resources, and considering long-term sustainability in landscaping decisions.
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Implementation: Developed ethical guidelines based on stakeholder input and ethical analysis.
7) Practical Recommendations and Conclusion:
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Guidelines Development: Developed actionable recommendations for promoting ethical yard aesthetics.
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Question: What practical steps can homeowners, landscape professionals, and policymakers take to promote ethical yard aesthetics?
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Answer: Implementing drought-tolerant, sun-resistant plants, incorporating sustainable practices, and engaging in community education efforts.
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Conclusion: The project concludes with practical recommendations for fostering ethical yard aesthetics, informed by stakeholder engagement and ethical analysis.
Apaolaza, Vanessa, et al. “Natural Plants in Hospitality Servicescapes: The Role of Perceived Aesthetic Value.” International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 32, no. 2, 2020.
Apaolaza et al. explore the perceived aesthetic value of natural plants in hospitality settings. This source is important for understanding the intersection of aesthetics and environmental considerations in hospitality servicescapes, showing insights into the significance of integrating natural elements for both aesthetic appeal and environmental consciousness.
Carlson, Allen. “Contemporary Environmental Aesthetics and the Requirements of Environmentalism.” Environmental Values, vol. 19, no. 3, 2010, pp. 289–314.
Carlson’s work investigates the relationship between contemporary environmental aesthetics and the ethical imperatives of environmentalism. By exploring the philosophical aspects of this connection, the source sheds light on how aesthetic considerations can be aligned with environmental ethics, providing a deeper understanding of this connection.
Davis, Amélie, and Jessica Stoyko. “Barriers to Native Plantings in Private Residential Yards.” Land, vol. 12, no. 1, 2023, pp. 114.
This article explores the challenges hindering the adoption of native plantings in private residential yards. The authors discuss the reasons why homeowners may face difficulties in incorporating native plants into their yards. They examine factors such as lack of awareness, perceived inconvenience, or cultural preferences that favor non-native species.
Darmadi, Anak A. K., et al. “The Use of Garden Plants – A Form of Balinese Local Wisdom in the Conservation.” Journal of Environmental Management & Tourism, vol. 14, no. 1, 2023, pp. 16-22.
The authors delve into the role of garden plants in Balinese culture and how they contribute to conservation practices. They discuss the indigenous knowledge and practices surrounding the cultivation and use of these plants for environmental sustainability.
Giffin, Connor. “Fight for food begins in your yard: A ‘yarden’ can help promote biodiversity.” Courier – Journal, Jul 24, 2023.
The author discusses the concept of ‘yarden’, which refers to the practice of transforming traditional yards into productive spaces for growing food and fostering biodiversity. Giffin explores the benefits of ‘yarden’ in promoting sustainability and biodiversity conservation.
Khachatryan, Hayk, et al. “Landscape aesthetics and maintenance perceptions: Assessing the relationship between homeowners’ visual attention and Landscape Care Knowledge.” Land Use Policy, vol. 95, June 2020. This study explores homeowners’ perceptions of and visual attention to different landscape designs, particularly low-input landscapes. It investigates how landscape composition, consumer knowledge, and visual attention influence perceptions of visual appeal and maintenance requirements. The research highlights the importance of understanding consumer preferences and perceptions in developing policies to promote environmentally friendly landscape options. The findings suggest that incorporating both turfgrass and ornamental plants optimizes visual appeal, while emphasizing reduced maintenance requirements could encourage homeowner adoption of low-input landscapes.
Krishnaswami, Rebecca J., and Elizabeth Merton. “Neglected Yards and Community Landscaping.” Southeastern Geographer, vol. 55, no. 2, 2015, pp. 225-251.
The authors explore the reasons behind neglected yards, such as lack of resources or knowledge, and propose community-based solutions to improve these spaces through collaborative landscaping efforts.
Milburn, Scott, and et al. “Minnesota Native Plant Society.” Minnesota State Horticultural Society, northerngardener.org/resource/minnesota-native-plant-society/.
Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources BWSR, bwsr.state.mn.us/.
Morera, Maria C., Paul F. Monaghan, and Michael D. Dukes. “Determinants of Landscape Irrigation Water Use in Florida-Friendly Yards.” Environmental management, vol. 65, no. 1, 2020, pp. 19-31.
The authors examine various factors that impact water consumption in yards designed according to Florida-Friendly landscaping principles. This can include plant selection, irrigation system efficiency, homeowner behavior, and environmental conditions.
Pham, Michelle A., et al. “Sustainable landscaping programs in the United States and their potential to encourage conservation and support ecosystem services.” Urban Ecosystems, vol. 25, no. 5, 2022, pp. 1481-1490.
The authors evaluate various sustainable landscaping initiatives across the United States, analyzing their effectiveness in fostering conservation practices and enhancing ecosystem services. This includes case studies, program evaluations, and policy assessments.
Jung, Hyojae, and Chanjin Chung. “Consumers’ WTP for Sustainability Turfgrass Attributes with Consideration of Aesthetic Attributes and Water Conservation Policies.” Agriculture, vol. 14, no. 1, 2024, pp. 159.
The authors explore the factors influencing consumers’ willingness to pay for sustainable turfgrass, including aesthetic preferences and awareness of water conservation policies. They use economic models and survey data to analyze consumer behavior and preferences.
Xiong, Wei, et al. “Climate change challenges plant breeding.” Current Opinion in Plant Biology, vol. 70, Dec. 2022, p. 102308.
In this article, the authors provide an overview of the current state of plant biology in the face of evolving climatic conditions, emphasizing the urgent need for innovative approaches. This source helps shed light on the ethical considerations and responsible practices required to address these challenges. Xiong et al.’s work serves as a critical resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers navigating the intersection of climate change and sustainable plant breeding practices.