EcoLogic Horticulture Ltd. Native Plant Products with Nathan Gill

This week on Down the Garden Path podcast, Joanne Shaw speaks with Nathan Gill of EcoLogic Horticulture Ltd. about native plants used for urban naturalization.

About Nathan Gill

Nathan Gill owns EcoLogic Horticulture Ltd., a nursery operating on 25 acres east of Calgary. The nursery focuses on producing horticulture products to accelerate ecological restoration and urban naturalization. Drawing on his 15 years of experience in the construction sector, Nathan brings a unique perspective to his horticultural work, blending environmental stewardship with practical, construction-based knowledge to provide site-appropriate plant material at scale for restoration and green roof projects. Nathan is also a passionate home vegetable gardener and wild seed collector.

Here are some of the topics covered in this episode:

• Native plants used for urban naturalization
• Many municipalities are switching over their seed blends and public space requirements to incorporate Native Plants.
• EcoLogic Horticulture has developed some unique formats to support this transition:
  • NaturesTurf™
  • EcoPatch
  • SedumTurf
  • ThymeTurf
  • DirtBags
• The importance of engaging nurseries early in the project planning process to ensure the desired plant material can be grown in time.
• The need to educate designers and government agencies about the availability of native species and the best methods for their propagation and use in restoration projects.
• Nature'sTurf™ Growth and Challenges
  • The growth and development of Nature'sTurf™ over the last 8 years
  • The challenges of growing native plants, which usually have deep root systems, and the importance of maintaining the right amount of water
  • The increased use of Nature'sTurf™ due to the growing interest from municipalities in naturalizing boulevards and large areas
  • While more costly to produce, Nature'sTurf™ could significantly reduce maintenance costs in the long run
• Perennial Gardens
  • The challenges of replacing a lawn with sedum turf, a popular alternative in the Alberta area
  • Homeowners should consider creating perennial beds within their lawn area before making a drastic change
  • The initial higher maintenance compared to a lawn but the eventual benefits of a well-designed native garden
  • How a well-maintained mulched perennial area could be less work than a lawn, but requires more initial effort to establish