Welcome to the Coral Learning Garden

Nature is astounding. Plants, with only the water and food that shows up; with no tending, fertilizer, or pesticides flourish. Multiple dynamic systems support one another, balanced and beautiful. Abundance erupts across the land with careless grace, providing habitat for plants and organisms alike. In fact we find that layers of fungus just under the soil can transport nutrients and moisture to plants that need it... While nature represents a north star to keep in mind, once we have stuck our hand into a landscape – compacted the soil, introduced inappropriate plants, trained them to expect the same water our lawn needs, etc. recovering this natural state is an ideal extremely difficult to attain. So, welcome to [slide]

More Sustainable Landscaping What is it? Appropriate to your situation Healthy Soil Water used wisely Right plants in the right spots Minimize waste Nature in balance

More Sustainable Landscaping Why do it? Improve health of garden, family and community Save money (energy, water, trash, chemicals) Protect water, soil, and wildlife Learn about the dynamic systems that are our world

More Sustainable Landscaping How to do it... Evaluate your situation Determine what you want Learn about options Develop a plan and a schedule Start rolling it out

Evaluate your Situation Sun, shade, slope, rainfall, cold air Current hardscape and trees Irrigation system Soil: type, drainage, test if for edibles Time and money Equinox – sun rises and sets in east... Soil Type: drainage test you dig a hole, 1' x 1' x 1', and fill it with water. If the soil drains in 30 min or less, the soil has good drainage. If it takes between 30 min - 2 hours, you have medium drainage. If it takes more than 2 hours, it is bad drainage

Determine what you want Appearance, as you approach, from inside, etc. Uses: Play, dining, cooking, relaxation Shade Edibles

Recap Your plan will be more of a process You have a diagram of property and house You have current and planned hardscape and trees identified You have identified areas to do what you want to do You have other zones determined by irrigation and sun – edible, fruit trees, drought tolerant

Consider your options Understand and nurture the soil Use Water Wisely Planting Plans – What to put in those zones Minimize waste Provide Habitat

Understand & Nurture the Soil Best food for most plants is its own decaying leaves Composting – do it fast Worm Composting – do it easy Compost tea – leverage your compost Microorganisms: Provide lots of small fish Soil: type, drainage, test if for edibles .

Worms Rock Easy Clean Best product Reduce waste

Coral – day 1

Bring in the pros 8/27/08

Compost Tea Time

Add a little compost

Rototill?

Solarize 8/29

Removing lawns, preparing beds Sod cutters Sheet mulch Solarize

Muir High Sod removal

Cover and cover...

Clear and cover w/ manure

Wet and cover

Mulch, cover edges and wait

Use Water Wisely Plants need water to the bottom of their root zone Hydrozone: water for the plant that needs the most Understand irrigation system – avoid runoff Capture, Slow and Spread water Modify Irrigation – drip off heads or hose bibs Mulch, mulch, mulch

Plantings The Hardest Part – you need to plan for how landscape will look in five years – mature sizes Mediterranean zone plants go dormant in summer!!! - don't mix Map to current irrigation zones if possible The list of natives – and get a pro to help Sunset Western Garden Book - Pasadena is in zone 20 Landscape Plants for California Gardens by Bob Perry www.landdesignpublishing.com/ - get pdf's of first 3 sections Washington Park @ El Molino

Sustainable Landscape Practices that Reduce Waste Planting to reduce heat in summer and shade air conditioner Reducing waste and recycling materials Keeping greenwaste on site Nurturing healthy soils while reducing fertilizer use Conserving water and topsoil Using IPM to minimize chemical use Reducing runoff

Ten tips to landscaping for wildlife Limit the Amount of Lawn because grass offers less food and cover for most wildlife than other plants Increase Vertical Layering between the ground and the tree canopy Provide Water because it is essential for wildlife survival Plant Native Vegetation whenever possible because it will attract indigenous wildlife species Provide Bird/Bat Houses and Bird Feeders to increase the diversity of wildlife attracted to your yard

Remove Invasive Exotic Plants that take over natural habitats and can replace all the native vegetation Manage Pets to protect wildlife and themselves. Cats are good hunters and kill millions of birds and other small animals each year. Reduce Pesticide Use to prevent unnecessary wildlife illness, deaths, and lack of diversity Expand the Scale of Habitat by working with your neighbors to create larger wildlife habitat patches

Key Resources Pasadena Learning Gardens www.PasadenaLearningGardens.org UC Integrated Pest Management system www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/ Pasadena Water and Power www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/waterandpower/ http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/waterandpower/cooltrees/ LA County DWP sustainability site ladpw.org/epd/sg/gen_info.cfm Great list of natives http://nativesanctuary.wordpress.com/ 2010/06/20/easy-natives-for-your-garden-list/

Summary