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Wild frangipani tree Orange manjack tree Pink cedar tree Turpentine tree Teyer palm Sea grape tree Spider plant A low-maintenance natural landscape in a dry area. There are many low-maintenance native plants that you can add to your OASIS ... Experiment with what you find in nature. Learn to identify native plants and how to propagate them. Some good native plants available in nurseries are wild frangipani, orange manjack, pink cedar, sea grape, lignum vitae, turpentine tree, teyer palm, sabal palm, wild ferns, wild anthurium, and spider lily. Carefully choose the exotic (non- native) plants that you add to your OASIS... Introduce exotic plants that will not escape into the natural zone and crowd out native plants. You can also select certain exotics with showy flowers or foliage to add accents of color to your landscape. Good exotic plants for the OASIS in- clude hibiscus, bougainvillea, oleander, croton, heliconia, ginger, ixora, aralia, agave, and non- native palms. For more information on how to create an environmental landscape, call Cooperative Extension Service (340) 693-1080 or (340) 692-4080 This brochure is published by the University of the Virgin Islands, Cooperative Extension Service, Kwame Garcia, State Director. Contents of this publication constitute public property. No endorsement of products or firms is intended nor is criticism implied of those not mentioned. Issued by the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on non-discrimination regarding race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, and gender preference. Cooperative Extension Service University of the Virgin Islands #2 John Brewers Bay Charlotte Amalie, VI 00802-9990 (340) 693-1080 http://rps.uvi.edu/CES/ Printed on recycled paper V.I. Beauty Begins With Your Yard CREATE A LOW MAINTENANCE - LOW COST LANDSCAPE IN BALANCE WITH YOUR NATURAL SURROUNDINGS Mulch matting used with ground covers. A natural landscape in a moister zone accented with exotic ground covers. Save time, money and help preserve a healthy natural environment Minimize clearing with backhoes and bulldozers... Clear only building footprints – where house, cistern, septic system, and driveway will be. Heavy equipment can ruin the soil and kill plants that protect the top soil. Clearing pro- motes unwanted weed growth because of in- creased exposure to additional sunlight. Hard- to-control plants like guinea grass, vines, tan- tan, and casha can rapidly take over cleared areas. Hand-clearing will preserve existing vegetation while removing unwanted plants. Protect newly cleared land Plant ground covers to hold soil. Use mulches like shredded bark, wood chips or mulch mat- ting to protect soils from sun exposure and erosion. Use porous paving for driveways and walkways... Concrete strips (left), gravel, paving stones or modular blocks can be used for driveways and walkways. Paving stones, modular blocks, or board- walks make good walkways. Porous paving lets rain soak into the soil for plant use and reduces flooding. Use the native vegetation on your property in your landscape plan Divide your landscape into an OASIS area and a NATURAL ZONE.... OASIS The OASIS area is nearest the house, walkways and driveway. This is where you put plants that require routine maintenance like exotic plants, plants that need irrigation and fertilizer, vege- table gardens and potted plants. Maximize the productivity of your OASIS with box gardening to grow more food in a small amount of space using much less effort and water. Cultivating dwarf fruit trees also saves space and it is easier to maintain them. NATURAL ZONE The NATURAL ZONE, beyond the OASIS, is where native vegetation is preserved. It’s the low main- tenance zone where native plants thrive on rain- fall alone. This area doesn’t need expensive watering, fertilizing or routine pruning. Native vegetation borders serve as windbreaks (reducing wind speed by up to 50%), privacy barriers, noise buffers (cutting sound levels by almost half), dust filters (trapping Sahara dust carried by trade winds), wildlife habitats (cutting down on mosquitoes and other insect pests by wildlife), and cooling shade.