Replanting Guidelines from The City of Bellingham

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So, you have removed the blackberries or other noxious weeds that have been behind your residence. The next step is to replant the area with native plants, which can lead to some questions. What native plants are allowed? How much do you replant? Are other steps required?   

The silver lining about proper replanting is that there are over two hundred plants considered "native" by the City of Bellingham that you can use to spruce up the area. Here is a link to a list of native plants from the City of Bellingham that may be replanted in the cleared area.  

The density of replanting varies depending if the area is already vegetated with native plants.  In that situation, the Planning Department recommends filling in with natives to achieve the three canopy layers:

• Ground Cover, 
• Shrub
• Trees  

For areas that are completely devoid of plants, the standard is: 

• 5-foot center for ground cover 
• 8-foot centers for shrubs 
• 10- to 15-foot centers for trees

Mulch or bark is required in the cleared area. The purpose of mulch is to prevent erosion, keep moisture in the soil, help keep invasive plants out, and to provide some nutrients to the soil.  

The term mulch can refer to many different products. Here is a link to a list of providers of low-phosphorus mulch the City requires in the Lake Whatcom watershed.  

You'll find there is a wide range of products with different looks, functions, and costs.  

Keep in mind, mulch does NOT include beauty bark or colored bark. A favored approach is to use wood chips from tree limbs that have been chipped.     

As for other things to keep in mind...native plants in the conservation easement area do require some maintenance.  The plants grow and spread, which means they need to be pruned at the conservation easement edge.  Also, birds and other wildlife are particularly vulnerable in the springtime breeding and nesting season, so please be mindful of that with regard to loud activities and pets.