Soft Landings
What is a soft landing?
A soft landing is a mixed planting of native herbaceous plants growing beneath a native tree. The phrase, coined by Heather Holm and Leslie Pilgrim, also refers to the leaf litter and plant debris that accumulates beneath trees and shrubs. (Read an interview with Holm and Pilgrim in Gardenista here.)
Why should I create one in my yard?
Soft landings provide vital habitat and shelter for overwintering insects like fireflies, bumblebees, butterflies, and moths. They also sequester carbon, feed the soil, and are so much more beautiful than a mound of boring—and expensive—mulch.
How do I create one?
To create a soft landing, carefully plant shallow-rooted native plants under your tree’s dripline—the area extending down from the tips of its branches. Be careful not to disturb the tree’s roots when planting. If you’re planning a soft landing beneath a mature tree, first smother the planting site in the fall with cardboard covered with leaves and sticks. In the spring, carefully plant small plugs of shallow-rooted plants, starting around no less than 18-inches from your tree’s trunk.
In the autumn, leave the leaves and any other plant debris that collect beneath trees and shrubs. They are the places some insects overwinter. “After feeding on native tree foliage, many moth and butterfly caterpillars complete they’re next lifecycle stage (pupae) in the leaf litter or in the soil below the tree,” writes Holm on her site. According to a recent study, when you remove the leaves, you’re reducing the butterfly and moth emergence by 45%! The leaves and will eventually decompose, feeding the soil.
What plants should I use?
Some soft landing planting recommendations for the Northeast:
- Bloodroot (Sanguanria canadensis)
- Native Carex species
- False Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum)
- Pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia)
- Violets (Viola sororia or V. candensis)
- Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
- Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
- Wild ginger (Asarum canadense)
See more here.
