Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional Landscape Robert Schutzki and Elise Tripp Department of Horticulture Michigan State University

Sustainable Approaches Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional to the Conventional

LandscapeLandscapeRobert Schutzki and Elise TrippRobert Schutzki and Elise Tripp

Department of HorticultureDepartment of Horticulture

Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University

Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional LandscapeLandscape

SustainabilitySustainability““Meeting the needs of Meeting the needs of today’s population without today’s population without diminishing the ability of diminishing the ability of future populations to meet future populations to meet their needs”.their needs”.

United Nations World Commission on Environment United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (1987)and Development (1987)


NeedsNeedsPoliticalPoliticalEconomicEconomicEcologicalEcologicalSocialSocial


NeedsNeedsAllocation and use of Allocation and use of natural resourcesnatural resources

Preservation of biological Preservation of biological systems function over systems function over timetime


SustainabilitySustainabilityResource Sufficiency Resource Sufficiency Functional IntegrityFunctional IntegrityNon-substantiveNon-substantive

Thompson (2006) Thompson (2006) Agricultural Sustainability: Agricultural Sustainability: What it is and what it is notWhat it is and what it is not

www.smep.msu.edu/documewww.smep.msu.edu/documents/sustainabilitynts/sustainability_Thompson.pdf _Thompson.pdf


Resource SufficiencyResource SufficiencyUtilization of ResourcesUtilization of ResourcesAvailable ResourcesAvailable ResourcesPredicted availability based on Predicted availability based on utilizationutilization

Nature or characteristic of the Nature or characteristic of the resourceresource

Renewal, Regenerative, Renewal, Regenerative, ReclaimableReclaimable


Functional IntegrityFunctional IntegritySelf-regenerating systemSelf-regenerating systemThe inability of a system to The inability of a system to reproduce itself is considered reproduce itself is considered unsustainableunsustainable


Non-substantiveNon-substantiveMoral judgment Moral judgment Value judgmentsValue judgmentsInterests and BiasesInterests and Biases


Triple Bottom Line – People, Triple Bottom Line – People, Planet and ProfitsPlanet and Profits

Organizational and Societal SuccessOrganizational and Societal SuccessFinancial Gain and StabilityFinancial Gain and StabilityEnvironmental and Social PerformanceEnvironmental and Social Performance

Elkington (1994), Cannibals with Elkington (1994), Cannibals with Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21stst Century BusinessCentury Business


Triple Bottom Line – People, Triple Bottom Line – People, Planet and ProfitsPlanet and Profits

Energy ConsumptionEnergy ConsumptionWaste GenerationWaste GenerationUse of ResourcesUse of Resources

Sustainable LandscapesSustainable Landscapes


What is a Sustainable What is a Sustainable Landscape?Landscape?


Sustainable LandscapesSustainable LandscapesPreservation, Conservation, Preservation, Conservation, Restoration Restoration

Protecting Natural SystemsProtecting Natural SystemsMaintaining Natural FunctionMaintaining Natural FunctionEnvironmental QualityEnvironmental Quality

Sustainable LandscapeSustainable Landscape

Energy ConsumptionEnergy ConsumptionWaste GenerationWaste GenerationUse of ResourcesUse of ResourcesSelf-regeneratingSelf-regeneratingEnvironmental Environmental ContributionContribution


U.S. Environmental Protection U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyAgency

U.S. Green Building CouncilU.S. Green Building CouncilBuildingGreen Inc.BuildingGreen Inc.



Sustainable Landscape DevelopmentSustainable Landscape DevelopmentLEED (Leadership in Energy and LEED (Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design) Certification, USGBCEnvironmental Design) Certification, USGBCSustainable Sites Initiative, ASLA & LBJ Sustainable Sites Initiative, ASLA & LBJ

Wildflower CenterWildflower CenterLAND Code (Land and Natural LAND Code (Land and Natural

Development), Balmori and Benoit, 2004Development), Balmori and Benoit, 2004Low Impact DevelopmentLow Impact DevelopmentSmart GrowthSmart Growth

Conventional Conventional LandscapesLandscapes

Conventional LandscapesConventional Landscapes




Landscape DevelopmentLandscape DevelopmentDesignDesignConstructionConstructionManagementManagement


Minimize resources required Minimize resources required to construct and maintain the to construct and maintain the landscapelandscape

Utilize resources efficientlyUtilize resources efficientlyUtilize renewal resourcesUtilize renewal resourcesMaximize internal cycling of Maximize internal cycling of energy and materialsenergy and materials


Minimize waste outputsMinimize waste outputsConstruct a dynamic Construct a dynamic biological systembiological system

Construct a “built” Construct a “built” ecosystem that provides ecosystem that provides natural functionsnatural functions

Sustainability in Sustainability in Conventional Landscapes Conventional Landscapes comes from:comes from:

PlantsPlantsSoilSoilWaterWaterAtmosphereAtmosphere


Plants:Plants: Every plant performs Every plant performs a function in the a function in the

landscapelandscape


Right Plant, Right PlaceRight Plant, Right PlaceFunction – User BenefitsFunction – User BenefitsAesthetics – Curb AppealAesthetics – Curb AppealSite Conditions – Site Conditions – Environmental InfluencesEnvironmental Influences

Management – Required Management – Required MaintenanceMaintenance


Site Appropriate Plant Site Appropriate Plant Selection (SAPS)Selection (SAPS)Definition: Selecting plant material Definition: Selecting plant material adaptedadapted to a site to perform to a site to perform natural natural functionsfunctions, resulting in , resulting in interactions interactions within a within a communitycommunity..


Goals of SAPS:Goals of SAPS: Establish/replace natural functionsEstablish/replace natural functions Minimize Minimize inputs and outputsinputs and outputs

– water water – fertilizer fertilizer – pesticides pesticides – labor labor

pruning pruning mowingmowing

Turfgrasses of Michigan: Characteristics and Adaptation

Turfgrass Turfgrass SpeciesSpecies

RecommendeRecommendedd

-----------------Relative -----------------Relative Tolerance-----------------Tolerance-----------------

Mowing Mowing HeightHeight

NitrogeNitrogenn

RegimeRegime

Irrigation Irrigation RequiremeRequireme

ntnt

Heat Heat ColdCold DroughtDrought ShadeShade WearWear (inches(inches))

Per Per yearyear

Kentucky Kentucky bluegrassbluegrass YesYes FairFair GoodGood MediumMedium PoorPoor MediumMedium 2 - 4 2 - 4

Medium to Medium to HighHigh

(2 to 4 lbs. (2 to 4 lbs. N)N)

YesYes

Tall FescueTall Fescue YesYes GoodGood PoorPoor ExcellenExcellentt

GoodGood GoodGood 2.5 - 42.5 - 4Low to Low to

MediumMedium

(1 to 2 lb.s (1 to 2 lb.s N)N)

SeldomSeldom

Perennial Perennial RyegrassRyegrass YesYes PoorPoor VeryVery

PoorPoor FairFair FairFair GoodGood 1.5 - 1.5 - 2.52.5



YesYes

Annual Annual RyegrassRyegrass Yes*Yes* VeryVery

PoorPoorVeryVeryPoorPoor

VeryVeryPoorPoor PoorPoor PoorPoor 1.5 - 21.5 - 2



YesYes

Fine FescuesFine FescuesSheep, Creeping Sheep, Creeping

Red, HardRed, Hard

YesYes FairFair MediumMedium GoodGood ExcellenExcellentt

PoorPoor 1.5 - 31.5 - 3LowLow

(< 2 lb.s N)(< 2 lb.s N) SeldomSeldom

ZoysiagrassZoysiagrass NoNo ExcellenExcellentt

MediumMedium ExcellenExcellentt

GoodGood ExcellenExcellentt

0.5 - 0.5 - 1.5 1.5

Low to Low to MediumMedium

(1 to 2 lb.s (1 to 2 lb.s N)N)

SeldomSeldom

BuffalograssBuffalograss NoNo ExcellenExcellentt

MediumMedium ExcellenExcellentt

VeryVeryPoorPoor FairFair 2 or >2 or >

LowLow

(< 2 lb.s N)(< 2 lb.s N) SeldomSeldom

BermudagrassBermudagrass NoNo ExcellenExcellentt

PoorPoor GoodGood PoorPoor ExcellenExcellentt

0.5 - 0.5 - 1.51.5

HighHigh

(6 lbs. N or (6 lbs. N or >)>)

YesYes

* Only as a temporary cover during establishment.


SoilsSoilsSoil QualitySoil Quality

Soil QualitySoil Quality

Soil functions to :Soil functions to :– Sustain plant growthSustain plant growth– Sustain environmental qualitySustain environmental quality– Provide for plant, animal, and human Provide for plant, animal, and human

health.health.

The terms “Soil Quality” and “Soil The terms “Soil Quality” and “Soil Health” describe the soil’s ability to Health” describe the soil’s ability to perform the above functions.perform the above functions.

Assessment of Soil QualityAssessment of Soil Quality

Not one measurable parameter.Not one measurable parameter. Soil Quality Indicators:Soil Quality Indicators:

– Physical propertiesPhysical propertiesSoil TextureSoil TextureBulk Density – weight per unit volumeBulk Density – weight per unit volumeRooting/soil depthRooting/soil depthWater infiltration/conductivityWater infiltration/conductivityWater Holding CapacityWater Holding CapacityStructure/Aggregate StabilityStructure/Aggregate Stability

Soil Quality IndicatorsSoil Quality Indicators

Soil Chemical PropertiesSoil Chemical Properties– pHpH– Electrical Conductivity (EC)Electrical Conductivity (EC)– Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)– Soil Organic Matter (SOM)Soil Organic Matter (SOM)– Mineralizable NMineralizable N– Exchangeable Cations (nutrients)Exchangeable Cations (nutrients)

Soil Quality IndicatorsSoil Quality Indicators

Soil Biological PropertiesSoil Biological Properties– Organic NitrogenOrganic Nitrogen– Organic CarbonOrganic Carbon– Microbial BiomassMicrobial Biomass– MacroorganismsMacroorganisms


WaterWaterWater QuantityWater QuantityWater QualityWater QualitySoil ConservationSoil ConservationPlant ManagementPlant Management

Movement Toward Water Movement Toward Water ConservationConservation

Reduction of potable Reduction of potable water for irrigation usewater for irrigation use

Demand for increased Demand for increased irrigation system irrigation system efficiencyefficiency

The cost of waterThe cost of water– Infrastructure limitationsInfrastructure limitations– Rising water / sewer Rising water / sewer

costscosts– Increasing residential Increasing residential

and commercial and commercial developmentdevelopment

Environmentally Sustainable Environmentally Sustainable LandscapesLandscapes

Demand more from the Demand more from the irrigation designer irrigation designer

Requires use of Requires use of efficient products and efficient products and proper installation.proper installation.

Shifting role of Shifting role of irrigation contractor to irrigation contractor to water managerwater manager

Requires better Requires better educated individuals.educated individuals.

U. S. EPA WaterSenseU. S. EPA WaterSensewww.epa.gov/watersensewww.epa.gov/watersense

Certification programs for irrigation professionals

Design (IA’s CID program has been approved)

Installation (IA’s CIC program has been approved)

Auditing

Labeling of irrigation products (coming soon)

Irrigation Controllers

Drip irrigation

Advancements in Irrigation Advancements in Irrigation EfficiencyEfficiency

Saving Water in the LandscapeSaving Water in the Landscape


AtmosphereAtmosphereCarbon Sequestration Carbon Sequestration Heat IslandHeat IslandPollutionPollution


Trees absorb carbon dioxide that Trees absorb carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming along contributes to global warming along with other gases that add to urban with other gases that add to urban pollution.pollution.

The American Forest organization The American Forest organization determined that tree cover in San determined that tree cover in San Antonio, Texas is saving $70 million Antonio, Texas is saving $70 million a year in ecological services. a year in ecological services.


U. S. Department of Energy U. S. Department of Energy estimated that three properly estimated that three properly placed trees can save between placed trees can save between $100 and $250 in annual heating $100 and $250 in annual heating and cooling costs. and cooling costs.

Trees shading an outdoor air Trees shading an outdoor air conditioning unit can increase its conditioning unit can increase its efficiency by 10%. efficiency by 10%.


One tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon One tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, dioxide from the atmosphere annually, equaling 11,000 miles of car emissions. equaling 11,000 miles of car emissions.

One acre of trees has the ability to remove One acre of trees has the ability to remove 13 tons of particles and gases annually.13 tons of particles and gases annually.

Appropriate tree placement can reduce Appropriate tree placement can reduce household energy consumption for heating household energy consumption for heating and cooling up to 25%. and cooling up to 25%.


Bring together the various disciplines Bring together the various disciplines and professionals in landscape and professionals in landscape developmentdevelopment

Employ sound science, current Employ sound science, current technology, and best management technology, and best management practicespractices

Conventional Conventional LandscapesLandscapes

Documents

Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional Landscape Robert Schutzki and Elise Tripp Department of Horticulture Michigan State University