Inland Lakeshore Habitat Kit

Inland lakeshores can be challenging environments. Water levels fluctuate from season to season and year to year, requiring plants who can tolerate various lengths of root submersion or drought. Depending on how steep the bank is, the shoreline area can change rapidly from an aquatic zone which is regularly submerged, to a transition zone that has frequent moist soil, to an upland zone that can have more moderate or even dry soil. If you are new to your site, take a moment to look at the lay of your land and imagine how the water will seep after snow melt, and what areas will be dry in the heat of July.
 
A common concern along lakeshores is erosion. Boat wakes, ice, and other forces can be hard on lakeshore soils. Turf grass has a very short root system and is ill-equipped to hold against erosion or survive changing water levels. There are dozens of plants, however, that are perfectly adapted to the conditions on Michigan inland lakeshores. They have strong roots that may dig deep or weave a tangle of resilient root fibers, and they have evolved strategies to withstand periods of both submersion and drought. Many of the best erosion control plants are strong native shrubs. Native grasses and sedges can provide the green serenity associated with lakeshore living, while native flowers bring a parade of seasonal colors. To get the full benefit from your planting in wither, be sure to leave stems standing through the winter to break the wind, hold against ice, provide food and cover for birds, and shelter insects needed by next spring's fledglings and fish.
 
Your kit will contain a selection of the lakeshore plants listed below, and may include other plants appropriate for inland lakeshores when we have them in stock. We keep the per-plant costs low on garden kits by reserving the right to substitute plants based on current inventory. Your kit will contain approximately 12 species appropriate for U.P. inland lakeshores, with 1 to 5 plants of each species. If you need specific plants for your habitat goals, consider supplementing your kit with quarts. For Great Lakes lakeshores, please see our Great Lakes Lakeshore Kit. 
 
All of the included plants are appropriate for the transition zone with frequent moist soil and occasional flooding. Your kit will include one or more shrub seedlings for erosion protection, a couple of aquatic species that can live in shallow water full-time, and a variety of grasses, sedges, and flowers to create a diverse planting with all-season texture and color. Iris, Monkey Flower, and Bulrush are the most water tolerant. Plant them at the water's edge and let them spread to a depth that is appropriate.
 
Our lakeshore edge species:
Aquatic Zone: can grow into the water, break up waves, shelter fish, and stabilize silt.
Wild Blue Iris, dramatic spring blooms
Monkey Flower, orchid-shaped summer blooms
Three-square Bulrush, best for dragonflies
Shrubs: tough roots and stems armor your shoreline while providing food and shelter for birds.
Red Osier Dogwood, white flowers and bird berries
Meadowsweet, frothy white summer flowers
Steeplebush, pink summer flowers
Ninebark, white spring flowers, pink seed clusters
Black Elderberry, white summer flowers and purple berries
The green team: level two armor for shorelines with dense roots and massed vegetation, essential for dragonflies and birds, attractive leaves and interesting seeds.
Mosquito Bulrush
Fox, Porcupine, Early Fen, and/or Shining Bur Sedge
Switchgrass
Flower power: a succession of blooms to add color while supporting bees, butterflies, and other lakeshore life.
Joe Pye Weed and/or New England Aster; masses of pink or purple blooms, butterfly magnets
Purplestem or Shining Aster; essential pollinator plants with purple or lavender flowers
Flattop Aster, Turtlehead, and/or Boneset; mid to late season white flowers
Cutleaf Coneflower and/or Dogtooth Daisy; bright yellow blooms
Rose or Common Milkweed; Monarch butterfly host plants & pink flowers
Blue Lobelia and/or Cardinal Flower; blue or red hummingbird favorites
Blue Vervain and/or Culver's Root; spires of blue or white butterfly favorites
Bog, Riddel's, Grassleaf, and/or Ohio Goldenrod; mid to late season yellow pollinator flowers,
Philadelphia Fleabane, Indian Tobacco, and/or Mad Dog Skullcap; native bee favorites, and why be ordinary? 
 
Also recommended for lakeshore habitats but not included because they sometimes need some extra room are Paleleaf Sunflower, False Dragonhead, Spiderwort, and Jewelweed. For a touch of the exotic, consider adding Rose Mallow Hibiscus, Ironweed, Buttonbush, or Mountain Mint, all native to downstate but typically do fine planted up here.  If you are looking for a vine that will climb or scramble, consider adding Riverbank Grape or Virgin's Bower.
 
This economical kit includes 38 plugs that fill 40 square feet at 1 foot spacing - a 4'x10' bed with a bit of a border; or up to 86 square feet at 1.5 sq. ft. spacing - a 6'x14' bed. Comes with a tip sheet. Each plant is individually tagged for identification and all tags include height so you can alter the layout to suit your space.
Note that your kit will differ from the pictures shown in both species and size of the plants, depending on seasonal inventory and plant growth. 
 
Erosion Control expansion comes with an extra gallon pot of one of our shrubs (specify your preference in a note at checkout or email) for holding soil together at the water's edge. Availability dependant on inventory at the time of your order.