February, 2013
Sustainable Design Resources: The “Why”, “What” and “How”―Apply Brains First, Fertilizer Only As Indicated
from Virginia Rockwell‘s lecture CVNLA Winter Symposium – February 14th, 2013 – Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

July, 2012
Gentle Gardener Green Design named as Landscape Designer for the Richmond Symphony Orchestra League Designer House

April 23, 2012
Daily Progress
Daily Progress Staff Reports

Virginia R. Rockwell, owner and principal designer of Gentle Gardener Green Design, recently was recognized as a certified nutrient management planner for turf and landscape by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Division of Stormwater Management. The certification recognizes Rockwell’s expertise in composing and executing nutrient plans that support Virginia’s efforts to reduce runoff from residential gardens, lawns, athletic fields, golf courses and university, town, city, state and federally owned land.

MAY 2012
Fighting Invasive Plants?
The Virginia Invasive Plant Workshop, Monday May 21st

BARBOURSVILLE, VA -Rockwell attains certification credential for stream-friendly landscape planning

Virginia R. Rockwell, owner and principal designer of Gentle Gardener Green Design, has been designated a certified Nutrient Management Planner for turf and landscape by The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Division of Stormwater Management. The certification demonstrates a planner’s expertise to competently compose and execute nutrient plans in line with Virginia’s efforts to reduce fertilizer runoff from residential gardens, lawns, athletic fields, golf courses, commercial landscapes and university, town, city, federal and Commonwealth-owned lands.

A written plan for maintaining turf and landscape sustainably over three years is a new service now available to clients of the established Barboursville firm’s certified landscape designers and horticulturists. Gentle Gardener has long advocated responsible land stewardship practices including the use of proper and organic amendments, accurate rate calculations and precise application timing.

“The idea is to apply brains first, then apply fertilizer as needed. These practices improve effects on waterways, soil, plants, animals and people,” said Rockwell. She explained runoff nitrogen and phosphorous in streams can be curtailed. Virginians can spend less by applying only what is truly needed, and improve the health of ecosystems and economies downstream. “Nutrient management planning makes good economic sense. We all depend on clean water for life and livelihoods,” she added.



The goal for Virginia counties and cities whose streams drain into the Chesapeake Bay, as per the March 2012 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan, is to rapidly increase the acreage of turf and landscape managed with Nutrient Management Plans written by Rockwell and her fellow certified nutrient management planners to more than a half million acres.

Natives and edibles greener than grass