Plants are a key part of LID/GSI bioretention systems. They provide functional value and multiple environmental, social, and community benefits. LID systems are touted as a visual amenity to communities through lush plantings and immersive landscapes. Achieving and maintaining LID as a community amenity takes work and practitioners have found it is more difficult than initially thought to bring the lush landscape to life. Plants need water and good soil conditions, competition with weeds needs to be controlled, and maintenance crews need to know what they are maintaining.
This workshop will give practical tips on how to create and maintain a planted landscape to survive and thrive. What are the best plant selections, what establishment regime is needed, and how little maintenance can be done? This interactive workshop will bring together landscape professionals and municipal program managers to give you the time tested and latest techniques to create bioretention landscapes to survive and thrive. Bring your planting challenges and share with the group while the experts provide strategies and solutions. Practical solutions will be discussed that you can incorporate into your planting designs and program.

Planting Strategies to Survive and Thrive: Keeping the Bio in Bioretention

The International Low Impact Development Conference highlights interdisciplinary practice, research, and implementation of Low Impact Development (LID), Green Infrastructure (GI), Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and Water Sensitive Urban Designs (WSUD). The focus will be on using our past and present understanding of LID to tune management programs, design practice, and operation and maintenance into the future.

Paper Proceedings: https://ascelibrary.org/doi/book/10.1061/9780784483114