Planting Recommendations

Authors: David Tilley - Anita Alexander - Alice Chang - Casey Price - Alexandra Welch - Brian Wells - Scott Tjaden

Green facades are self-sufficient vertical gardens that are attached to a structure built along a building’s exterior. The facades differ from other green walls in that the plants are rooted in soil adjacent to the building rather than fastened to the wall itself. The plants receive water and nutrients from ground soil or hanging planter boxes. The concept of the green facade dates back to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in 600 BC. Green facades have many uses and are considered an ecological technology. Once established, green facades need little maintenance and can grow as tall and as wide as its supporting trellis system will allow, depending on the plant species used.

Authors: Robert L. Tjaden - Gary Felton

Hybrid poplar trees 2-6 years old were grown on a gravel mine spoil in southern Maryland that had biosolids applied using deer row application. The trees were harvested and processed to determine their biomass on a dry weight basis. The data was analyzed and regression analysis was used to create equations that could predict biomass from tree diameter at breast height. The equations developed would allow less intensive data collection and growth assessment of other stands of poplars.