Principles for a Sustainable Landscape
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Transcript of Principles for a Sustainable Landscape
Principles for a Sustainable Landscape
Water-Efficient Landscaping is a Major Component of
Sustainable Landscaping which:
“meets the needs of today’s population without diminishing the ability of future
populations to meet their needs.”
Sustainable Landscapes– Incorporate plants suited for
the climate– Conserve water– Nurture and protect soil– Prevent/reduce
pest problems– Conserve energy/reduce
Pollution– Encourage wildlife
Why Garden Sustainably?
SaveMoney
Improve Garden Health
ProtectWater Quality and
Wildlife
Sustainable Landscaping……
Leaves a greener footprint for our children’s children
Sustainable Landscapes• Incorporate plants suitable for
climate/location• Conserve water• Nurture and protect soil• Prevent/reduce pest problems• Conserve energy/Reduce pollution• Encourage wildlife
Select plants recommended for your
Sunset Zone
And Microclimate(shade, etc.)
Microclimates Impact Plant Health and Water Use
Water Needs increase in Heat Islands
• Landscape plants in heat islands require up to 50% more water than the same species in park settings
Sustainable LandscapesConserve Water Through:
1. Hydrozoning 2. Scheduling irrigations based on plant needs
3. Making sure sprinklers/drip systems work properly
4. Using mulch and soil amendments effectively
Hydrozone : Place plants with similar water needs together and irrigate them accordingly
Drip Irrigate Trees, Shrubs, and
Gardens to Reduce Soil Evaporation
and to Apply Water Directly into
Root Zones
Warm-Season Lawns (Bermuda) Use Less Water than Cool-season Lawns (Tall Fescue)
Lawn Watering Guide for Californiahttp://ucanr.org/freepubs/docs/8044.pdf
To prevent water waste and brown spots in turf and groundcovers, repair leaks, low
heads, broken sprinklers, unmatched sprinklers and pressure and spacing problems
If you Keep your Lawn, Grasscycle!
• Saves time/money• Adds organic matter
to lawn• Recycles nutrients• Reduces greenwaste
in landfills
UC Verde(below)
CALLIANDRA CALIFORNICABAJA FAIRY DUSTER
Mature plants reach a size of 4 to 6 feet tall and wide. Baja red fairy duster does well in full sunor part shade, and is tolerant
St. Elmo’s Fire (Russelia)- 3’ by 4’- Fast growing- Desert hardy
CA Natives for Lawn Replacement• Ceanothus maritimus
– Tolerates clay soil– Blue flowers– Low-growing, spreading
It’s More Than Just Cactus!
Parkinsonia hybrid ‘Desert Museum’DESERT MUSEUM PALO VERDEHybrid with a thornless sturdy structure and strong vertical form. Mature size: 25 feet to 30 feet with 20-foot spread. Spring flowers.
Ebanopsis ebano (Texas Ebony)
Dense, dark green leaves and spiny twigs; great
security barrier. Desirable tree for a small garden. Slow growth to
20 to 30 feet with a spread of 15 to 20 feet
Fragrant, cream-colored flowers in late spring
Leather Leaf Acacia(Acacia craspedocarpa)
Desert WhitecapEvergreen perennial with
large 4-inch white flowers. Blooms on and off but most prolific in
spring. Plants form rounded clumps 1 to 1-
1/2’ feet high and 3’ wide.
Desert Trees and Shrubs for Windbreaks
Acacia aneura, Mulga AcaciaBrachychiton populneus, Bottle TreeCeratonia siliqua, CarobCupressus arizonica, Arizona CypressCupressus glabra 'Gareei', Rough Bark Cypress Eucalyptus microtheca, Coolibah TreeEucalyptus spathulata, Swamp MaleePinus eldarica, Afghan PinePinus pinea, Italian Stone PineRhus lancea, African Sumac
Water cycling may be necessary to avoid run-off. Divide the total amount of water required per day into 2-4 cycles. Apply water as close to initial event as possible before soil dries out.
Irrigate Deeply and Infrequently and Monitor Soil Moisture
Soil sampling tubeSoil probe
Other Methods to Conserve Water in the Landscape
Minimize the use of water to clean sidewalks and driveways
Remove weeds that compete with landscape plants for water
Improve Water-Holding
Capacity and/or Drainage with
Compost Mixed Evenly into Soil
(6” – 1’)
Don’t Let Water Get Away!Permeable surfaces Infiltration Basins
Water Collection
Apply Mulch Around Plants
Mulch Conserves Water and Beautifies Landscapes
Avoid Over-fertilizing
• Creates flushes of weak growth
• Increases water requirement
Avoid Soil Compaction
• Keep construction activities several feet from landscape plantings
• Incorporate organic soil amendments (except for tree planting sites)
Soil Compaction
• Wastes water
• Decreases aeration/drainage/root growth
• Can result in fungal diseases
• Can result in plant declineand death
Irrigate Sloped Landscapes Slowly and Deeply to Prevent Runoff
• Prevents loss of valuable soil
• Prevents Pollution of Ground and Surface Waters
Principles of Sustainable Landscaping
• Climatically/microclimatically Selected Plants• Water Efficient/Hydrozoned• Pollution Friendly (water quality, noise, dust)
• Employs Integrated Pest Management• Reduces, Recycles, and Reuses Greenwaste
It’s Recycling…
Naturally
What is compost?
Grass clippings
Food scraps
Leaves
An organic soil conditioner created by decomposing organic matter under controlled conditions until it is stable enough to improve soils without harming plants or transmitting disease.
Compost
The CA Waste Management Act (Assembly Bill 929)
• Divert 25% of organic matter destined for landfills by 1995
• Divert 50% by 2000
• Limited landfill space should be reserved for materials that cannot be recycled or composted
• Garbage handling is the 4th largest expense for many cities.
• Composted greenwaste benefits landscape plants and the environment
Annual California Waste Disposal, Diversion and Generation
Composting Yard Wastes
• In CA, yard wastes are the largest component of municipal waste
• Grass clippings comprise approximately half of the yard trimmings deposited in state landfills.
• An average California turf area produces 300 to 400 pounds of grass clippings per 1,000 square feet annually (up to 8 tons per acre).
High Quality Soils• Good Physical Properties (structure and
texture)
• Adequate Nutrients (N, P, K, etc.)
• Healthy Biota (beneficial microbes that decompose organic matter and cycle nutrients and mycorrhizae)
• Adequate Organic Matter
Soil Textures
Soil Textures (Types)
Compost • Improves soil tilth• Improves water and nutrient holding capacity • Improves drainage in heavy soils• Prevents/reduces erosion• Improves soil aeration• May decrease chemical fertilizer requirement• Remediates chemically damaged soils• Increases number and range of microbes• Filters storm water runoff
Compost is Not a Fertilizer
• Nitrogen and phosphorus are mostly in organic forms– Released slowly to plants– Not readily leached from the
topsoil
• Compost contains many trace nutrients that are essential for plant growth
Creating Quality Compost
• Compost is generated when organic matter is consumed and decomposed by microbes under favorable conditions
– Nutrient balance– Moisture– Temperature– Aeration
When is Compost Mature?
• Dark brown• Crumbly, loose, and humus-like• Earthy smell• Contains no readily recognizable feedstock• The pile has shrunk to about 1/3 of its original volume
Stability and Maturity of Finished Compost
Bag test: sealing compost in a plastic bag for several
days should produce no foul odor
Germination test: radish or fast germinating seeds
Compost Quality, Testing, and Use Standards
• End uses (eg: soil amendment, mulch) depend on compost physical, chemical, and biological qualities
• Selecting the right product very important for success
• Fortunately, standards have been developed to guarantee product consistency
US Composting Council Quality Assurance
• During the 1990’s labs used different testing procedures and tests that were not comparable among labs
• Standardized testing procedures developed in 2000
Three Components:
• TMECC: Test Methods for the Evaluation of Composting and Compost
• STA: Seal of Testing Assurance Program
• CAP: Compost Analysis Proficiency Program
Three Components:
• TMECC: Test Methods for the Evaluation of Composting and Compost
• STA: Seal of Testing Assurance Program
• CAP: Compost Analysis Proficiency Program
ACP Compost Use Index
• Collaboration of the Association of Compost Producers and University of California for indexing composts based on their suitability for various uses
• Includes 14 test parameters
Preferred Ranges• pH: 6.5 – 7.5 when used as a soil amendment
• Soluble Salts: Expressed as electrical conductivity (EC) in decisiemens per meter. EC values for composts and soils are not directly comparable. Many plants are damaged by soil ECs of greater than 2.0 dS/m.
• Trace Elements/Micronutrients: zinc, manganese, iron VS arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, etc.
•
Compost Uses inthe Landscape
• Soil Amendment
• Mulch
• Turf topdressing
• Erosion Control Agent
• Water Quality Enhancer
Soil Amendment
• Most common landscape use
• Turf, groundcovers, shrubs, annual and perennial beds
• Not recommended for tree planting sites
Composted Greenwaste used
as a Bermudagrass Soil
Amendment
Figure 1. Composted greenwaste prior to amending into native sandy loam soil at University of California, Riverside.
Avoid root bound trees!
Soil Compaction
Amending Soil With Compost• Amend entire planting site or bed when possible,
adding at least 30% compost to original soil
• Or, dig hole at least 3 times the size of root ball
• Thoroughly mix compost at least 6 inches deep
• Plant at original depth (not too deep)
• Irrigate immediately and deeply
Compost Criteria for Use as Soil Amendment
• 95% should clear a 5/8” screen and at least 70% should clear a 3/8” screen
• Organic Matter content: 30 – 65%
• C:N ratio: 20:1 or lower
• pH: 6.0 – 8.5
• Soluble Salts: sodium less than 25% of total
Criteria (Con’d)
• Moisture content: 30 – 60%
• Contaminants: (glass, plastic, metal) less than .5% by weight
• Maturity: Dark color and no offensive odor
Thank You!
Janet Hartin951.313.2023
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