As the [population] grows, communities use more resourcesandgenerate morewaste. Environmental agencies are lookingclosely at urban landscapes forsolutions tolong-term pollutionproblems. Consequently, legal restrictions arebeing placed onlandscape design and maintenance practices. Role of Landscape Managers Landscape contractors and site managers can efficientlymanageresources so as toreduce waste and prevent pollution.Withforethought, they can design andmaintainsustainablelandscapes that are cost-effective and environmentally sound. What Are Sustainable Landscapes? Sustainable landscapes are managed with practices thatconserve limited, valuablenatural resources, reduce waste,andprevent pollution of the air, water, and soil.Thegoal istoprovide as much value as possible with the leastenvironmentalimpact. What Are the Benefits of Sustainable Landscaping? Traditionallandscaping often requires a great deal of water,energy, labor, andotherresource — in which caseenvironmental and economic costs might outweighthenaturalbenefits of urban landscapes. By contrast,sustainablelandscapes (a)rely onhealthier, longer-lived plants that (b) require little or no chemical pesticideand fertilizeruse, (c)dramatically reduce water use, and (d) cut back on wastegeneration anddisposal. Sustainable landscapes also need lessmaintenance anddo not pollute groundwater. Using Sustainable Practices Sustainable landscapes need not be hot, dry gardens of cactusand gravel. Theycaninclude beautiful flowers and otherplants,shrubs, and trees that reducemaintenancecosts whileprotecting the environment. Using sustainable landscapemaintenancepractices makes good business sense. They decrease (a) resourcedepletion, (b)waste generation, and (c)pollution problems, at the same time rehabilitating thelandscape in a picturesque and cost-effective manner. Build Healthy Soils Healthy soils are essential in urban landscapes. Organic matteradditions (compostorhumus) can transform poor soils into afertile growth medium that supportshealthyplant growthwhilereducing water and fertilization requirements. Healthydisease-andpest-resistant plants improve landscape appearance andincreaseproperty values. Use Mulch Use shredded or chipped plant materials with the necessarywood content as amulchcover over the soil in planting bedsand other bare areas in the landscape.Mulch will (a) insulate plant roots, (b) prevent weed growth and waterloss, and (c) controlerosion, dust, and mud. Mulchdecomposition conditions the soil and addsnutrients. Irrigate Efficiently Don't waste water! Overwatered plants may grow too fast.Therunoff contributestoground-water pollution. Use water-efficient irrigation systems, such as drip orlow-outputsprinklerheads, that deliver a precise volume of water toplant rootzones.Develop watering schedules based onhistorical or actualweather data. Usesoil probesto monitorsoil moisture beforewatering. Limit Fertilization Use precisely the right amount of fertilizer at the right time. Ifyou fertilizecorrectly,plants won't grow too fast and willinstead be healthy and disease- andpest-resistant.Fertilizeaccording to the needs of the individual plant. Use slow-releaseor organicformulas based on nutrient needs verifiedby soiltesting. Thiswill reduce growthspurts that increasethe needfor pruning and mowing. Grasscycle Turf Areas Use mulching mowers that leave grass clippings on the lawn asyou mow. Theydecompose quickly and release valuablenutrients back into the soil. You'll use lesswater and fertilizer,reduce maintenance costs, and create no waste. If you'vebeenmowing often enough, the clippings will be short andwon't cover the grass. Prune Selectively Excessive and haphazard pruning of shrubs and trees iswastefuland unhealthy.Pruning should be used only tomaintain naturalgrowth patterns. Hedging,topping,andshearing of landscapeplants into formal shapes only encourageexcessive newgrowth.Using natural pruning techniques at theproper season willpromote healthierplants and also reduce“suckering” andstabilize growth. Reuse Organic Materials On-Site A chipper at the landscape site can mulch prunings andclippingsfrom woodyshrubsand trees, and you can then applythe mulchon the landscape. Trimmingsandclippings fromlawns, trees,and shrubs from large landscape sites canbecomefeedstock foron-site composting operations, reducingthe need for outsidesoilamendments. Recycle Organic Materials Off-Site If lawn clippings, shrub and tree trimmings, or prunings mustberemoved fromlandscape sites, take them to a localcompostingfacility or green waste processorforrecycling.When buyingmulches and composts, look for products withthehighestrecycled green-waste content to support andsustain long-termmarketdemand. Practice Pollution Prevention Landscape managers: Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) sothat you'll rely lesson chemical pesticides and herbicides,which can eventually make their way off-siteand contributetononpoint source pollution (pollution not traceable to asinglelocation). As much as possible, use nonmotorized equipment toreduceemissions andnoise pollution. Retrofit Inefficient Landscapes As established landscape sites age or grow beyond theirintended use, you'll needtoredesign them so as to integrateresource efficiency, site function, andaesthetics.Reduce turfareas and establish new landscape plantings of low-maintenanceanddrought-tolerant plants. Retrofit irrigationsystems. Enrich depleted soils to save waterand promotehealthy plant growth. Amend Contract Specifications A good landscape-maintenance program requires a contractthatprovides for andpromotes sustainable practices. Sitemanagersand contractors should develop anduse sustainablelandscapemaintenance contract specifications that areresource-efficient.They should include good culturalpractices, water management, greenwastemanagement, andpreventivemaintenance management clauses. Think Recycle/Buy Recycled Recycling materials from the construction, installation, orupkeep of landscapesites willreduce waste. Wood wasteconverts to mulch. Plastic pots can berecycled forlandscapeuse. Buying recycled- content landscaping products, such asplastic edgingor lumber, conserves natural resources and strengthens markets forthese recyclablematerials. 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" |
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Please call us at 520-730-6153 for a free on-site consultation or e-mail |
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