Transition Areas
November Permaculture Insight: Use Edges and Value the Marginal
Eco-Restore’s Guide to Maximizing Your Garden’s Productivity in the PNW
In the Pacific Northwest, where our diverse ecosystems thrive in the balance of land and water, the principle “Use Edges and Value the Marginal” takes on a special meaning. Edge habitats—where two different environments meet—are often the most dynamic, resilient, and productive parts of any landscape. Think about places like marshes, tide pools, or the transition zones between a forest and a meadow. These edges teem with life, offering rich biodiversity and numerous opportunities for growth and abundance.
Why Edges Matter in Your Garden
In permaculture, we use the concept of ecotones—the transitional areas between two different ecosystems. These edge zones support a greater variety of plants, animals, and microorganisms because they combine elements of both environments. For example, a pond edge, where water meets land, is much more productive than either the pond or the land alone.
By applying this principle in your garden, you can create areas where plants and beneficial species thrive. Whether you're working with a small urban yard or a larger landscape, there are many ways to take advantage of edges and increase the yield and diversity of your garden.
Ways to Incorporate Edges into Your PNW Garden
Pond or Wetland Design: If you're considering adding a pond or wetland feature, extend the edges. Instead of a simple round shape, add curves and indentations to maximize the edge area, attracting wildlife and increasing plant diversity.
Alley Cropping: Create productive edges between garden beds and rows by planting different species that complement each other. In alley cropping, you'll grow strips of crops between rows of trees or shrubs, providing shelter, nutrients, and diversity in a small space.
Shelterbelts or Hedgerows: Late fall is an excellent time to plant windbreaks, which are perfect examples of using edges in the landscape. Planting hardy native shrubs and trees along property lines or garden edges will provide protection from winter winds while creating a rich habitat for beneficial insects and birds. You can also lay down the foundation for future microclimates, making your garden more resilient to the elements, by planning hedgerows that act as shelter for early-season crops in spring.
Mulching in Edge Spaces: Even in a compact garden, you can use this principle. November is the perfect time to mulch the edges of garden beds, pathways, and perennial plantings. Mulching helps improve soil health, retain moisture, and suppress weeds in these transition zones. By adding organic mulch along the edges, you're not only protecting the soil through winter but also encouraging life in these zones where soil activity remains high.
Building Swales or Rain Gardens: As the rainy season sets in, you can assess water movement in your garden to identify areas where you might need swales or rain gardens. These are designed to slow down water flow, spread it across the landscape, and capture it at the edges. Installing or shaping these edges now ensures they're ready for planting in the spring, helping to enhance soil fertility in those marginal zones where water collects.
The Hidden Value of Marginal Spaces
Beyond physical edges, "marginal" spaces in the garden also hold incredible potential. These are the areas that often get overlooked, like a shady corner under a tree or the strip of land between a fence and a walkway. By selecting plants that are well-suited to these conditions—shade-tolerant herbs or native grasses, for example—you can transform neglected spots into productive parts of your garden.
Why Contact Eco-Restore?
Applying this permaculture principle to your garden can be complex, especially when considering soil conditions, water flow, and species interactions. That’s where we come in! At Eco-Restore, we specialize in using small and slow solutions, helping you design and implement strategies to use the edges and marginal areas in your landscape. Whether you need assistance with pond design, planning a shelterbelt, or finding ways to make use of those hard-to-cultivate spaces, our team is here to help you unlock the full potential of your garden.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discover how we can bring the power of permaculture to your PNW garden.
