Natural Area Restoration Services for Prairies and Other Native Landscapes in North Shore, Illinois
We believe in the ecological benefits of natural area restoration. To prove that we are serious about restoring and managing natural areas, we keep a staff of about 35 employees who are devoted to approximately 100 restoration projects in a year. Our many years of experience in the industry and our advanced education in natural resource fields makes us your local experts for prairie, wetlands, and other natural area restorations in North Shore, Illinois.
McGinty Bros. offers its native habitat restoration and management to many types of properties, including:
- privately-owned land
- corporate property
- county forest property
- conservation districts
- park districts
- governmental agencies
We also offer our services as a resource for other landscape designers and consultants.
Natural area restoration is a bit like reverse landscaping. We return your land to what it might have been like before it was settled in the 1800s. Whether it was prairie, wetland, forest, or field, we return it to its previous natural glory. To accomplish this feat, our professional team employs the following effective methods:
- pre-installation herbicide applications
- soil preparation
- seeding using a variety of different methods (such as hydroseeding, drill seeding, and broadcast seeding)
- herbaceous plug planting
- shrub and tree planting
- selective herbicide applications
- prescribed burning
Land Restoration Reclaims Your Property's Ecological Value
Imagine your wide, open areas as a beautiful prairie, the tall grasses waving in the breeze. Imagine the abandoned property down the street as a marsh, teeming with wildlife. Picture your neighborhood as a forest, heavily wooded and thriving. When North Shore and the rest of our service area became settled, the land was used for other purposes. It became the foundation for farms, homes, roads, and cities. Prairie grass was cut, soil was turned over, marshes were drained, and trees were chopped down. Our land has gone through abuse and degradation.
The McGinty Bros. natural restoration team finds clues as to what your property was long ago, and then we renew your land to its former ecological value. To do this, we must control and remove the invasive species of plants that have taken over your land. Our licensed herbicide applicators safely and wisely treat your property, so native species can grow back. Our equipment is suitable for large areas of land as well as small areas. Contact us to begin managing your natural areas.
Native Landscaping Services Available to North Shore Residential and Commercial Properties
It'd be unrealistic to expect all of North Shore to return to its native habitat. After all, you still need a place to live and work. That's why we recommend doing whatever is possible to improve your local ecology, even if that means dedicating a small portion of your yard to native plants.
Wildlife-Friendly Native Gardens are an Economical Solution
A native rain garden is a low-cost, low-maintenance way to show that you care about natural area restoration. Native gardens are planted with vegetation that grew naturally in your area, which means they don't need special attention to thrive. Native species of birds, insects, and animals will flock to your rain garden because they love native habitats, too. Plus, your rain garden will act as a natural drain for stormwater on your property, reducing the amount of standing water and mosquitoes.
Bio-Swales Give Stormwater Runoff a Natural Place to Drain
If stormwater runoff is a big problem on your property, give us a call, and we'll plant a bio-swale. A bio-swale is an all-natural gutter, great for parking lots and roadways. The native plants in a bio-swale can survive heavy rains and seasons of no rain.
Prescribed Burning Services for the Promotion of Native Vegetation
Controlled fires that are monitored by the burn experts on our team can do a lot of good for your natural area. A prescribed burn controls weedy plant species, manages built-up vegetation, and promotes the growth of native plants. It improves the overall health of your land, especially when the burning happens at strategic times to target certain weeds. Our burn crew includes a burn boss and other members who are currently licensed with S-130/S-190 Basic Wildland Fire Training from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. We let our passion for native habitats burn deeply in North Shore and surrounding areas.
Effective and Ecologically Safe Erosion Control Solutions for Your Natural Areas
Maintaining the condition of your soil is an important aspect of natural area restoration. There are so many ways soil can erode or sediment can pile up where it doesn't belong. We have the solutions that keep it under control. Our vast experience with erosion control includes a-jacks and rip rap installations used on shore armament projects. We also have used riffle construction. For a less invasive approach, we may recommend one of the following methods:
- brush mats
- coir fiber rolls
- deep-rooted native vegetation
- live stakes
- vegetated geo-grids
Let us get a better handle on your soil erosion or sediment problem. We have expert solutions that really work and are good for the environment.
How Can We Help You Restore Your Natural Areas?
Our experienced natural area restoration team takes the complications out of your restorations. Invite us over to your property, and we'll give your natural areas a free, no-obligation evaluation. McGinty Bros. is your local landscaping company with a special interest in restoring North Shore land to its native habitat. We have the right tools and resources to make it happen, and then we help manage it, so it stays healthy and natural throughout the years.
