Land Stewardship

We must be good stewards of our environment. Land stewardship is the practice of carefully managing how we use the land to ensure natural systems are maintained or enhanced for future generations.

Horticulture

Horticulture is the study and cultivation of plants, which includes home landscaping and gardening. Enhancing green spaces and natural landscapes and growing our own fruits and vegetables are of great value to our quality of life and to the health of our planet, as long as it is done sustainably. Responsible horticulturists and gardeners use water conservatively, pick plant species that are regionally appropriate, minimize the use of chemicals, and avoid planting invasive species (non-native species that tend to spread and take over an area).

Check out Plant Places to find out the best ornamental plants for your region and learn more about home landscaping at Plant Facts.

Gardening at the Zoo

As visitors enter the Zoo they are in the Botanical Garden, a living museum accredited by the American Association of Museums of over 3,000 varieties of plants from around the world. Our naturalistic-style landscapes and demonstration garden areas represent the complexity and diversity of nature, its beauty, and its excitement and highlights the vital relationships of plants, animals, and people. Learn more.

The Benefits of Trees

The tallest and oldest living things on Earth are trees. These leafy-crowned, woody pillars of strength provide many valuable, green services that help sustain a healthy planet. Trees...

Absorb ozone and other airborne pollutants, giving off oxygen in return.
Take up water through their roots, reducing the amount of rain water that runs directly into streams and drains.
Take in and store carbon dioxide, curbing climate change.
Cut energy costs by naturally cooling homes with shade and insulating homes from the wind.
Increase property values by creating a pleasant and serene green scene.
Provide shelter and food for wildlife.
Ease stress and help us relax, among other healthy, feel-good benefits.

Go Green Challenge: Value Your Tree

According to the National Tree Benefit Calculator, a large red oak at the Zoo is worth more than $150 per year in terms of the green benefits it provides, which include intercepting 15,000 gallons of rain water runoff and reducing atmospheric carbon by 1,580 pounds. Calculate the environmental and economic value of a tree in your front yard at www.treebenefits.com/calculator.

Gardening for Wildlife

Give the animals and plants in your neighborhood a helping hand by going green in your backyard.

Backyard Buffet - Grow native flowers, shrubs, and trees that provide animals with pollen, berries, and seeds. When natural food sources are scarce, put up feeders for birds, squirrels, and butterflies.

Clean Water - Offer a source of fresh, clean water for drinking and bathing. Create a pond or set up a bird or butterfly bath, making sure to change out the water frequently.

A Safe Haven - Make sure your yard has plenty of hiding spots and covered shelter. Use trees, bushes, brush piles, and bird houses. Keep your housecats indoors to protect wild critters from these non-native predators.

Reduce Water Use - Grow native plants, such as purple coneflower and spicebush, which are adapted to the climate to minimize the need to water them. Capture rain water in a rain barrel to use for necessary irrigation.

Remove Invasive Plants - Replace non-native plants, such as Japanese honeysuckle and garlic mustard, which threaten to take over and push out local plants. Find out more from the Ohio Invasive Plant Council.

Eliminate Lawn - Lawn provides little benefit to wildlife and negatively impacts the environment when fertilizers, herbicides, and gas-powered mowers are used to maintain them. Plant trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and groundcover instead.

Non-toxic Pesticides - Instead of using toxic chemicals, protect your plants from bugs with natural repellants such as garlic, onion, and marigolds.

Natural Fertilizer - Use organic mulch and compost to nurture plant growth instead of commercial fertilizers that introduce chemicals.

Go Green Challenge: Certify Your Yard

Join thousands of homeowners across the country to certify your yard as wildlife-friendly through the National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program at www.nwf.org.