Audubon at Home Invites Applications for Small Grants to Beautify Neighborhood Entrances with Native Landscaping

We are very pleased to announce that ASNV’s Audubon at Home Program, in partnership with the Plant NOVA Natives campaign, has been awarded a grant of $15,000 from the Environmental Education and Stewardship Grants Program of the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation to demonstrate the concept that native plants, so critical to wildlife habitat, can fit nicely into a suburban aesthetic, including formal or semi-formal settings. 

There are native plants suited to every taste and setting, including a highly visible location that receives little maintenance, like a neighborhood entranceway. For the purposes of this grant, the expectation is that the landscape designer will recommend native plants that will maintain their beauty with no more work than is currently being devoted to that location. In most cases this will mean relying heavily on shrubs and small trees and avoiding plants that flop over.

The Audubon at Home program invites homeowners’ and civic associations to apply for funds to beautify their neighborhood entrances using low maintenance native plants.   Six grants of $2,350 apiece will be given to cover costs of a landscape designer to create a design with native plants, prepare the site including removing any invasive plants present (such as Burning bush, English ivy, Periwinkle, etc.), purchase, and install the plants.   The terms of the grant will require $2350 in matching funds or sweat equity from the applicant.  If the required match would present too much of a challenge to your community, please contact us to discuss. 

Funds will be granted contingent on the community association conducting educational outreach to their residents on the value of native plants.  Completed installations will receive a high-quality sign that says, “Native plants support birds and other wildlife.”  Be sure that your organization has control to place this sign on the entranceway property. Community associations are expected to commit to maintaining the plantings for five years.  

Requirements for the grant:

Only native plants are to be used in the entrance planting.  Native plants are adapted to our Northern Virginia soils and climate, and if the right plant is selected for the right spot, require only minimal maintenance to thrive.    Native plants provide benefits to wildlife that cannot be matched by non-native plants, and their use in private properties--even neighborhood entranceways--help create habitat and support birds and wildlife.

Invasive plants must be removed. The site must be cleared of exotic invasive plants and invasive cultivated nursery plants, such as Japanese Barberry, Liriope, etc.  before installation of the new plants.  Invasive plants spread into and overwhelm natural areas as well as neighbors’ yards and displace valuable natives.  You can read more about their harmful effects here (see pp. 6-13).  Lists of plants that are invasive in Virginia may be found here. Existing non-native, non-invasive shrubs or trees in the planting area may remain, subject to your design choices with your landscape designer. 

Do not use chemical fertilizer, pesticides or herbicides. Chemicals endanger pollinators and other wildlife. Because native plants and our local insects evolved to co-exist there is rarely need for intervention. Plant selection should exclude native plants susceptible to invasive insect infestation from pests like emerald ash borer.  

Commit to maintaining the planting for at least 5 years.  The association is required to maintain the planting for at least 5 years, and a maintenance plan must be submitted after funds are provided but before plants are installed. (Usually a landscape designer will provide a maintenance plan as part of the design.)  Following a fall planting, the plants may require periodic watering to get established. Once established, native plants, if properly chosen, only need supplemental water in times of unusual drought.  

Provide matching funds of at least $2350. The grant provides $2350 per awardee. Matching funding is required consisting of at least an additional $2350 or the equivalent value in labor hours (up to 50 person hours at $24 per person per hour) and the value of discounts or donations of native plants.  

Conduct educational outreach. The neighborhood association is required to conduct educational outreach to its residents on the value and efficacy of native plants in urban/suburban settings. This outreach may include articles in a newsletter, emails or other community media, association reports, or an insert in new resident communications.

Contract with a native landscape designer for your design. Our commitment is to demonstrate that native plants can be used to create attractive and functional low-maintenance landscape plantings in formal or semi-formal settings.   A professional landscape designer who specializes in native plants is best able to produce a successful design and manage an efficient installation for long term success. Find a list of qualified native plant landscape designers here.  Funds may also cover installation if you choose.

After your community association’s Board has approved the project, please submit your application by May 31, 2021. Recipients will be announced in June in time for you to plan for a fall 2021 planting.

Audubon at Home is here to assist. If you have questions, please contact us. If you would like to schedule a free site visit and consultation on possible native plantings for your neighborhood entranceway from an Audubon at Home Ambassador, please request a visit.