Sustainable Landscapes

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

Sustainable Landscapes – Incorporate plants suited for the climate – Conserve water – Nurture and protect soil – Prevent/reduce pest problems – Conserve energy/reduce Pollution – Encourage wildlife

Why Garden Sustainably? Save Money Improve Garden Health Protect Water Quality and Wildlife

Sustainable Landscaping…… Leaves a greener footprint for our children’s children Leaves a greener footprint for our children’s children

Sustainable Landscapes Incorporate plants suitable for climate/location Incorporate plants suitable for climate/location Conserve water Conserve water Nurture and protect soil Nurture and protect soil Prevent/reduce pest problems Prevent/reduce pest problems Conserve energy/Reduce pollution Conserve energy/Reduce pollution Encourage wildlife Encourage wildlife

Select plants recommended for your Sunset Zone Select plants recommended for your Sunset Zone

And Microclimate

Microclimates Impact Plant Health and Water Use

Water Needs increase in Heat Islands Landscape plants in heat islands require up to 50% more water than the same species in park settings Landscape plants in heat islands require up to 50% more water than the same species in park settings

A plant out of place is a weed!

Sustainable Landscapes Conserve Water Through: 1. Hydrozoning 2. Scheduling irrigations based on plant needs 3. Making sure sprinklers/drip systems work properly 3. Making sure sprinklers/drip systems work properly 4. Using mulch and soil amendments effectively 4. Using mulch and soil amendments effectively

Hydrozone : Place plants with similar water needs together and irrigate them accordingly

Star Jasmine Less Drought Resistant than Cotoneaster

Drip Irrigate Trees, Shrubs, and Gardens to Reduce Soil Evaporation and to Apply Water Directly into Root Zones

Convert Sprinkler System to Drip Great for areas of shrubs and annuals adjacent to groundcovers or turf Great for areas of shrubs and annuals adjacent to groundcovers or turf Can add 1 – 12 tubes Can add 1 – 12 tubes Simple and efficient in some cases Simple and efficient in some cases Pressure problems can limit its success Pressure problems can limit its success

Steps 1 and 2: Replace Sprinkler Head w/Drip Head

Steps 3 and 4: Add ¼” Drip Tube and Stake

Warm-Season Lawns (bermudagrasss) Use Less Water than Cool-season lawns (tall fescue)

To prevent water waste and brown spots in turf and groundcovers, repair leaks, low heads, broken sprinklers, unmatched sprinklers and pressure and spacing problems

Use UC ANR’s Lawn Watering Guide Based on Warm Season Kc =.6 and Cool Season Kc =.8 and a Distribution Uniformity of 80%

How to Use the ‘Lawn Watering Guide’ Determine type of lawn (warm vs cool season turf) Determine type of lawn (warm vs cool season turf) Conduct a ‘Can Test’ to determine sprinkler system output and distribution uniformity Conduct a ‘Can Test’ to determine sprinkler system output and distribution uniformity Determine how long to irrigate (minutes per week) based on climatic chart provided Determine how long to irrigate (minutes per week) based on climatic chart provided Determine maximum amount of time to water per event until runoff just begins Determine maximum amount of time to water per event until runoff just begins

Grasscycle! Saves time/money Saves time/money Adds organic matter to lawns Adds organic matter to lawns Recycles nutrients Recycles nutrients Reduces greenwaste in landfills Reduces greenwaste in landfills

Buffalograss Use ½ of minutes suggested for warm-season lawn watering guide Use ½ of minutes suggested for warm-season lawn watering guide

Carex praegracillis (Clustered Field Sedge) - Use cool-season Lawn Watering Guide

Lawn Alternatives Woolly Thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus ) Woolly Thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus ) low growing (2”) low growing (2”) soft, fragrant lawn soft, fragrant lawn drought resistant drought resistant cold-tolerant cold-tolerant

Lawn Alternatives (Con’d) Blue fescue (Festuca ovina glauca) Blue fescue (Festuca ovina glauca) Drought-resistant Drought-resistant Striking blue evergreen Striking blue evergreen Grows to 6” tall Grows to 6” tall

CA Natives for Lawn Replacement CA Natives for Lawn Replacement Ceanothus maritimus (native to San Luis Obispo County) Ceanothus maritimus (native to San Luis Obispo County) Tolerates clay soil Tolerates clay soil Blue flowers Blue flowers Low-growing, spreading Low-growing, spreading

Lawn Alternatives (Con’d) Vancouveria hexandra (Inside-out Flower) Vancouveria hexandra (Inside-out Flower) Takes some shade Takes some shade Shortly deciduous Shortly deciduous Somewhat drought resistant once established Somewhat drought resistant once established

Water cycling may be necessary to avoid run- off. Divide the total amount of water required per day into 2-4 cycles. Apply water as close to initial event as possible before soil dries out.

Irrigate Deeply and Infrequently and Monitor Soil Moisture Soil sampling tubeSoil probe

Other Methods to Conserve Water in the Landscape

Minimize the use of water to clean sidewalks and driveways

Remove weeds that compete with landscape plants for water

Irrigate Established Plants Deeply and Infrequently Avoid watering every day Avoid watering every day Water a few inches below the current root system during each watering to encourage deep rooting Water a few inches below the current root system during each watering to encourage deep rooting

Improve Water- Holding Capacity and/or Drainage with Compost Mixed Evenly into Soil (6” – 1’)

Don’t Let Water Get Away! Permeable surfaces Infiltration Basins Water Collection

Apply Mulch Around Plants

Mulch Conserves Water and Beautifies Landscapes

Avoid Over-fertilizing Creates flushes of weak growth Creates flushes of weak growth Increases water requirement Increases water requirement

Avoid Soil Compaction Keep construction activities several feet from landscape plantings Keep construction activities several feet from landscape plantings Incorporate organic soil amendments (except for tree planting sites) Incorporate organic soil amendments (except for tree planting sites)

Soil Compaction Decreases aeration/drainage/root growth Decreases aeration/drainage/root growth Can result in fungal diseases Can result in fungal diseases Can result in plant decline Can result in plant decline and death

Prevent Erosion by Maintaining Plantings on Slopes and Hillsides Prevents loss of valuable soil Prevents loss of valuable soil Prevents landslides and property losses Prevents landslides and property losses

San Bernardino County (909) Riverside County (951)

Can You Make One Change? Questions???