VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS LUNCH AND LEARN

SEPTEMBER 24, 2013PART 1

Green Landscaping

Mary and Paul Meredith

This is not a Green Landscape

“Classic” Yard – grass and meatballs

Not this – yes, it’s native but not here

R. austrinum

Does it have to be this?

Green Landscape Concept

Reduces negative impacts of development on land, water, air, and energy use

Focuses on environmentally friendly designsPreserves scarce natural resources Reduces waste Reduces or mitigates pollution 

Green Is

A sustainable alternative method of landscaping

Focusing on esthetic quality of your acreage, home landscape, or patio (wherever you live)

Avoiding using the hazardous chemicals and harmful techniques associated with some traditional landscaping practices

Providing innovative directions for shaping your location

Has been proven to save energy and money spent on heating and cooling the inside of your home

Sustainability Means Stewardship

Improved air and water quality

Lowered urban heat-island effects

Increased soil-health

Increased evapotranspiration

Increased vegitative cover

Reduced runoff

Increased infiltration

Improved soil condition

Green – Doesn’t fight climate or nature

Takes into account the micro ecology you live in Seasonal temperatures Rainfall and its distribution Solar exposure Winds Soils and drainage Slope

Uses eco-friendly materialsMatches your ecology to your plant

selections Makes use of native plantsMitigates daytime heat and wind via shade,

wind-breaks and foliage evapotranspiration

Good Options in Hardscape

Recycled plastic landscape timbers and decking

Only ACQ-treated lumber, landscape ties, fence posts – CCA arsenic toxicity (see handout)

Recycled glass mulches to control weeds in small areas

Walkways from glass, crushed stone, pavers, recycled concrete

Fly-ash substituted for 50% of concrete if poured is necessary, as in mobility issues for elderly

Eco-Friendly Materials in Your Hardscape

Eco mistakes Creosote-laden railroad ties – toxic (see

handout) CCA treated lumber and timbers – toxic (see

handout) Drab poured concrete walkways –

“ungreen” (see handout)Hidden uh-ohs that you may not see

Dyed mulch - rapid replacement due to fading

Rubber mulch - see handout Not knowing the local source for materials

like manure - see handout

Ten Keys to Sustainability

1. Start with a good design that conserves water and uses proper plant placement

2. Amend soil so plants have a healthy start

3. Mulch, mulch, mulch Conserves moisture Prevents weeds Buffers against temperature changes Organic materials can break down to

contribute organic matter to the soil esthetically pleasing (Unifies the landscape) Abundant materials available

Ten Keys to Sustainability

4. Limit turf areas

Ten Keys to Sustainability

5. Water efficiently

6. Use proper maintenance practices

7. Make proper plant selections

TypeSize at maturityLocationShape (especially shade trees)

Ten Keys to Sustainability – Use Natives

8. Natives – Are esthetically pleasingUse proper care and controlUse proper pruning

9. Natives – Are naturally weather-/drought-tolerantWith proper selectionCorrect culture

10. Natives - Are naturally resistant to pests and diseasesMinimize pesticide useNatural predators come “installed”