Landscape maintenance

Regular maintenance Soil maintenance –pH and nutrient testing & maintenance –Amending –Weed control Plant maintenance –Irrigation Mulching –Pest control (insects, disease, other organisms) –Pruning

Landscape tools

Weed control Chemical control –Pre-emergent vs. post-emergence –Selective vs. nonselective

Weed control Hand weeding Landscape fabric Mulch

Irrigation Water supply to a plant –Limited by root system Improve soil drainage, reduce soil compaction to improve root growth –Avg. soil absorbs 3/8” water per hour Slow, less-frequent deep watering better than frequent shallow watering –Soaker hose –Drip irrigation –Basin watering (berm)

Irrigation

Hand watering Sprinkler irrigation –Good for lawns, densely planted beds –Wastes water (evaporation, unplanted areas) –Can promote foliar diseases –Fixed heads/risers –Portable heads Drip/trickle irrigation –Reduces water usage by >50% –Can apply fertilizers –Nozzles, pipes can clog

Irrigation Mulching/ground covers reduces frequent watering needs Standard 1/2” residential pipe can handle one irrigation head (install ¾”-1” piping if plan to irrigate) Generally need 1” water per week –Lawns 1” per week –Woody plants 3-4” total every 4 weeks Newly transplanted woody plants need to be watered weekly (1 st year), every 2 weeks (2 nd year)

Garden pests

Pest control Choose plants with minimal pest problems Insect pests are often vectors for disease Chemical control –Contact poisons vs. systemic pesticides –Synthetic vs. organic

Biological pest control Gardens Alive Home Harvest

Pruning Removal of excessive & undesirable growth

Why prune? Sanitation –Broken branches & dead tissue Diseased parts Opening canopy –Increase air flow; reduce humidity –Increase penetration of sprays Removal of undergrowth for appearance and fire prevention Stimulate new, vigorous growth

Why prune? Aesthetics –Shape Formal hedges Topiary

Espalier

Vase-shaped trees

Pollarding

Why prune? Enhance reproduction –Yield enhancement –Fruiting shoots vs. non-fruiting shoots –Increase flower size –Fruit distribution, size, sugar content uniformity –Access to fruit

Why prune? Manipulate physiology –Pre-transplant root pruning –Shoot tip pruning to promote branching –Stimulate new growth on older plants Dwarfing Bonsai

Pruning tools Saws Shears Hand pruners Loppers Pole pruners Bypass vs. anvil

Pruning tools Sanitation Branch size and pruner damage –Hand pruners (< 1/2 inch dia.) –Loppers (< 2 inch dia.) Maintain sharp tools –Clean cuts heal faster

Pruning principles Cutting is irreversible Breaking apical dominance changes form of plant Pruning invigorates regrowth Pruning can direct growth Timing of pruning is critical –Spring flowers develop on previous season’s growth –Summer and fall flowers develop on current season’s growth

Pruning techniques

Prune inward growing branches

Pruning for outward growth

Prune rubbing branches

Included bark

Crotch angles

Trees with central leaders Standard form

Pruning Multiple leaders

Removing the central leader

Branched head standard

Multistemed tree form

Drop crotching – controlling height

Pruning cuts

Pruning branches Cut at 90 0 angle Cut in stages

Pruning large branches

Pruning pines – pinching candles

Pruning shrubs Heading back

Thinning

Renewal pruning (gradual renovation)

Coppice for color

Shearing

Hedge shapes

Training - Espalier