EcoSense Landscaping: What is sustainable landscaping?

As the [population] grows, communities use more resources

and

generate more

waste. Environmental

agencies are looking

closely at urban landscapes for

solutions to

long-term pollution

problems.

Consequently, legal restrictions are

being placed on

landscape design and maintenance practices.

Role of Landscape Managers

Landscape contractors and site managers can efficiently

manage

resources so as to

reduce waste and

prevent pollution.

With

forethought, they can design and

maintain

sustainable

landscapes that are

cost-effective and environmentally sound.

What Are Sustainable Landscapes?

Sustainable landscapes are managed with practices that

conserve limited, valuable

natural resources,

reduce waste,

and

prevent pollution of the air, water, and soil.

The

goal is

provide as much value as

possible with the least

environmental

impact.

What Are the Benefits of Sustainable Landscaping?

Traditional

landscaping often requires a great deal of water,

energy, labor, and

other

resource — in

which case

environmental and economic costs might outweigh

the

natural

benefits of urban

landscapes. By contrast,

sustainable

landscapes (a)

rely on

healthier, longer-lived plants that (b)

require little or no chemical pesticide

and fertilizer

use, (c)

dramatically reduce water use, and (d) cut

back on waste

generation and

disposal. Sustainable landscapes also need less

maintenance and

do not

pollute ground

water.

Using Sustainable Practices

Sustainable landscapes need not be hot, dry gardens of cactus

and gravel. They

can

include beautiful

flowers and other

plants,

shrubs, and trees that reduce

maintenance

costs while

protecting the

environment. Using sustainable landscape

maintenance

practices makes good business sense. They

decrease (a) resource

depletion, (b)

waste generation, and (c)

pollution problems, at the same time

rehabilitating the

landscape in a picturesque and cost-effective manner.

Build Healthy Soils

Healthy soils are essential in urban landscapes. Organic matter

additions (compost

humus) can

transform poor soils into a

fertile growth medium that supports

healthy

plant growth

while

reducing

water and fertilization requirements. Healthy

disease-

and

pest-resistant plants improve landscape

appearance and

increase

property values.

Use Mulch

Use shredded or chipped plant materials with the necessary

wood content as a

mulch

cover over the

soil in planting beds

and other bare areas in the landscape.

Mulch will

(a) insulate plant roots, (b) prevent weed growth and water

loss, and (c) control

erosion, dust, and

mud. Mulch

decomposition conditions the soil and adds

nutrients.

Irrigate Efficiently

Don't waste water! Overwatered plants may grow too fast.

The

runoff contributes

ground-water

pollution. Use water-

efficient irrigation systems, such as drip or

low-

output

sprinkler

heads, that

deliver a precise volume of water to

plant root

zones.

Develop watering schedules based on

historical

or actual

weather data. Use

soil probes

to monitor

soil moisture before

watering.

Limit Fertilization

Use precisely the right amount of fertilizer at the right time.

you fertilize

correctly,

plants won't

grow too fast and will

instead be healthy and disease- and

pest-resistant.

Fertilize

according to the

needs of the individual plant. Use slow-

release

or organic

formulas based on nutrient needs verified

soil

testing. This

will reduce growth

spurts that increase

the need

for pruning and mowing.

Grasscycle Turf Areas

Use mulching mowers that leave grass clippings on the lawn as

you mow. They

decompose quickly and

release valuable

nutrients back into the soil. You'll use less

water and fertilizer,

reduce maintenance

costs, and create no waste. If you've

been

mowing often enough, the clippings will be short and

won't

cover the grass.

Prune Selectively

Excessive and haphazard pruning of shrubs and trees is

wasteful

and unhealthy.

Pruning should be

used only to

maintain natural

growth patterns. Hedging,

topping,

and

shearing of landscape

plants into

formal shapes only encourage

excessive new

growth.

Using natural pruning techniques at the

proper

season will

promote healthier

plants and also reduce

“suckering” and

stabilize growth.

Reuse Organic Materials On-Site

A chipper at the landscape site can mulch prunings and

clippings

from woody

shrubs

and trees, and you

can then apply

the mulch

on the landscape. Trimmings

and

clippings from

lawns, trees,

and shrubs from

large landscape sites can

become

feedstock for

on-site composting operations, reducing

the need for

outside

soil

amendments.

Recycle Organic Materials Off-Site

If lawn clippings, shrub and tree trimmings, or prunings must

removed from

landscape sites, take

them to a local

composting

facility or green waste processor

for

recycling.

When buying

mulches and

composts, look for products with

the

highest

recycled green-waste content to support and

sustain

long-term

market

demand.

Practice Pollution Prevention

Landscape managers: Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) so

that you'll rely less

on chemical

pesticides and herbicides,

which can eventually make their way off-

site

and contribute

nonpoint

source pollution (pollution not traceable to a

single

location). As much as possible, use nonmotorized

equipment to

reduce

emissions and

noise pollution.

Retrofit Inefficient Landscapes

As established landscape sites age or grow beyond their

intended use, you'll need

redesign them so

as to integrate

resource efficiency, site function, and

aesthetics.

Reduce turf

areas and establish new

landscape plantings of low-

maintenance

and

drought-tolerant plants. Retrofit irrigation

systems. Enrich

depleted soils to save water

and promote

healthy plant growth.

Amend Contract Specifications

A good landscape-maintenance program requires a contract

that

provides for and

promotes sustainable

practices. Site

managers

and contractors should develop and

use sustainable

landscape

maintenance

contract specifications that are

resource-

efficient.

They should include good cultural

practices, water

management, green

waste

management, and

preventive

maintenance management clauses.

Think Recycle/Buy Recycled

Recycling materials from the construction, installation, or

upkeep of landscape

sites will

reduce waste.

Wood waste

converts to mulch. Plastic pots can be

recycled for

landscape

use. Buying recycled-

content landscaping products, such as

plastic edging

or lumber, conserves natural resources and

strengthens markets for

these recyclable

materials.

Source

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/landscaping

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Sustainable-
landscaped
summer
garden

Rain-
harvesting
barrel

Garden compost
ingredients

Efficient
irrigation

Expert
pruning

Mexican
bush sage

Sweet
acacia in
bloom

"Devil's
Bouquet"

Cherry red sage
Photo: George Delange

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ustainable-landscaping basics

hy sustainable landscaping?

Please call us at 520-730-6153 for a free on-site consultation
or e-mail

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