Your shoreline was meant to be naturally beautiful.

Naturalized shorelines are cost-effective, ecologically responsible, stunning and they add value to your property. They’ll also provide welcome natural habitat for wildlife.

Below are a series of before and after photos that demonstrate the amazing transformation that occurs when shorelines are naturalized. Click each photo to see the results and read testimonials from property owners who are happy to have made the decision to naturalize.

A shoreline rich in vegetation has so many benefits, not the least of which are minimal maintenance, cost-effectiveness and the chance to design something unique. Also, a natural shoreline is the best defense against erosion, as the roots will help hold the soil in place and filter the runoff that flows into the lake.

If you have a grassy shoreline try not to mow it. Short grass acts as a hard surface that allows polluted rainwater to flow straight into the lake.

Why is a natural shoreline important?

Shoreline vegetation acts as a buffer to a host of natural and man-made pollutants. Losing this vegetation exposes shoreline property owners to:

  • The overabundance of algae on surface water
  • Loss of land due to erosion
  • Mess created by unwanted geese

These can negatively impact the aesthetic appeal and limit recreational opportunities. The ideal natural buffer width is at least 30 metres, but any buffer is better than no buffer!

Natural is Beautiful

They’re cost-effective, ecologically responsible and stunning. Your shoreline was meant to be naturally beautiful. Here are before-and-after photos and testimonials from actual shoreline property owners. They all naturalized their shorelines.

Here are before and after photos and testimonials from actual shoreline properties owners.  They all naturalized their shorelines.  Check out before and after photos:

Before: This property had some obvious erosion issues with exposed soil, a mowed lawn to the water’s edge and no natural buffer. Due to the lack of vegetation, the shoreline property owners decided they needed to naturalize their shoreline to prevent any further soil loss.
After: After naturalizing their shoreline with 112 plants 4 years ago, the plants have flourished. This is now a completely natural shoreline that has done tremendous work to reduce erosion, reduce excess nutrient run off, and provide vital habitat to both aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.
Before: When the Love Your Lake team assessed this property, they noted an obvious slope to the property that had some exposed soil (erosion) and an undercutting of the bank. These issues could be due to little to no vegetative buffer, lawn to the water’s edge and wave action from the lake. It was enough to recommend the planting of native shrubs and trees to mitigate soil loss and enhance water filtration.
After: The Natural Edge team came to the property and planted a variety of native plants including highbush cranberry, meadowsweet and pasture rose. In total 73 plants were planted. After four years, the plants are thriving, a strong root system is holding in soil and overhanging foliage is breaking up waves and lessening the impact on the soil.
A naturalized shoreline | © LoveYourLake.ca
Before: There was a buffer along this property, but most of it was aquatic plants with submerged root systems that did not properly filter water runoff. By planting native shrubs and trees within the soil along the shoreline, the owners could reduce the chances of erosion.
After: The increased buffer along this shoreline has been very successful. The native shrubs and trees have done a great job providing essential wildlife habitat, water filtration and erosion control.
Before: The shoreline of this property had a few trees and some ornamental plants. With a slope along the shore and little vegetation, this risk of erosion was high, there was little to no wildlife habitat and insufficient water filtration.
After: Four years later, the naturalization of the shoreline has taken very well. The shrubs have grown with spreading root systems that has helped with the stabilizing of shoreline soil. The increased vegetation along the shoreline has also helped to break up rainfall, reducing the impact on sensitive soils, and allowing runoff to absorb into the ground.

Learn more about the benefits of naturalizing your shoreline and tips on how to do it at LoveYourLake.ca