Maintenance and Operations: Landscaping Phil Boise Urban/Ag Ecology Consulting Services Landscaping

Phil Boise Urban-Ag Ecology IPM Ventura Unified, Misc. Santa Barbara school districts CA School IPM Advisory Committee DPR School IPM Training Green Gardener Certification Program City of Santa Monica, Santa Barbara Regional IPM Coalition US EPA, CA Department of Pesticide Regulation Farm Manager County Department of Ag Licensed Pest Control Advisor (PCA) Landscaping

M&O Volume, Landscaping Landscaping Maintenance Plan (Guideline LP1) Turf/Grass (Guideline LP2) Trees (Guideline LP3) Ornamentals (Guideline LP4) Hardscape (Guideline LP5) Playgrounds (Guideline LP6) Irrigation Systems (Guideline LP7) Outdoor Pest Management (Guideline LP8) Overview of the O&M Volume Landscaping

Landscaping Maintenance Plan (Guideline LP1) ACTION = OBSERVATION (Monitoring) FUNCTION Recreational turf = safe playing surface (not weed-free) Landscape: = architectural element = visual/ physical barrier Develop a landscaping management plan that outlines the goals, tasks, schedules and responsibilities for the grounds staff. Plan should cover all aspects of grounds maintenance including hardscape care, plant maintenance, and pest management. Landscaping Landscaping

Landscaping Maintenance Plan (Guideline LP1) SUSTAINABILITY: Minimize inputs, waste Takes care of itself GENETIC DESTINY: Every plant wants to reach genetically determined size PLAN = Authorize Replacement of Labor Magnets with Low Maintenance, High Function Plants Develop a landscaping management plan that outlines the goals, tasks, schedules and responsibilities for the grounds staff. Plan should cover all aspects of grounds maintenance including hardscape care, plant maintenance, and pest management. Landscaping Landscaping

Landscaping Maintenance Plan (Guideline LP1) What’s the FUNCTION? Is this SUSTAINABLE? What is function of this plant? Is efficient use of time and resources? Is this a safety hazard? Airborne dust/ pollen, harborage for rodents Justify replacement under safety budget? What would logical long term strategy be? Replace with plant that fits the site Will this strategy pay for itself? Landscaping Landscaping

Landscaping Maintenance Plan (Guideline LP1) Pest problems? Reduce Plant Stress Stress = weak plants; weak plants = pests Compaction/ over watering: roots can’t breath! Wrong Plant in Wrong Place Pruning = stress Over fertilizing = weak plants Develop a landscaping management plan that outlines the goals, tasks, schedules and responsibilities for the grounds staff. Plan should cover all aspects of grounds maintenance including hardscape care, plant maintenance, and pest management. Landscaping Landscaping

Turf/Grass (Guideline LP2) FUNCTION Class A Sports Non-Sports: Recreational / Transportation Corridor Non-Sports: Weeds Mow high to exclude weeds Make turf competitive! Protect/ correct compaction Aerate: Avoid weed-seed season Do not over water Mow-strips around turf, under fences Modernization funds New construction Focus on a pest and weed prevention strategy that combines routine mowing, aeration, grasscycling and fertilization with monitoring for harmful pests and weeds. Use only the exact amount of pesticide needed, performing only spot treatments of low risk pesticides. Landscaping Landscaping

Turf/Grass (Guideline LP2) Mow-strips around turf, under fences Modernization funds New construction Maybe best long term management investment: No spraying (plus paperwork/ notification) No weedwhipping under No weeds Fast mowing/ fast edging Landscaping Landscaping

Turf/Grass (Guideline LP2) GRASS CYCLING: Fertilizer from clipping recycled in 2-3 days 13,000 lbs of clippings per acre per year: Hard on your back 1,300 lbs of 8-4-6 fertilizer per acre NO cost to buy NO cost to spread NOTHING to carry SLOW release FEEDS the soil Most Mowers Mulch Mow Often Use only the exact amount of pesticide needed, performing only spot treatments of low risk pesticides. Landscaping Landscaping

Trees (Guideline LP3) FUNCTION GENETIC DESTINY Landscaping If Tree Needs Fertilizer After 2nd Year, It’s the Wrong Tree Information: SelecTree: http://selectree.calpoly.edu/ Enter name or attributes (height, color, width, wind, etc.) ‘5,970 photos for 1,000 trees’ Southern California Edison: Photo gallery: http://www.sce.com/Safety/CaringForYourTrees/ Pacific Gas and Electric: Tree Selection Guide: http://www.pge.com/field_work_projects/vegetation_mgmt/education/ Landscaping Landscaping

Trees (Guideline LP3) TREES AND TURF Cluster to reduce maintenance ‘Lawnmower blight’ Landscaping Landscaping

Water + Bare Soil = WEEDS! Ornamentals (Guideline LP4) Math problem: Water + Bare Soil = ? Water + Bare Soil = WEEDS! Manage Water: Drip instead of sprinkler Avoid watering bare ground Manage Bare Soil: Mulch Cover ground with plants Landscaping Landscaping

Ornamentals (Guideline LP4) PLANT REPLACEMENT IS GOOD PLANNING, and your BEST PEST MANAGEMENT! OBSERVE: Plant Stress, Trouble Magnets OBSERVE in neighborhood what plants are healthy Use more of those Site Specific, No Magic List Focus on weed and pest prevention strategies that combine routine pruning with monitoring for weeds and pests. Monitoring of plant health and soil quality should be scheduled as part of the overall preventive maintenance plan. Landscaping Landscaping

Hardscape and Playgrounds (Guidelines LP5-LP6) HARDSCAPES / ASPHALT PLAYGROUNDS CRACKS H2O + Bare Soil =? Weeds in cracks reduce life of surface Seal Cracks Early, Seal Cracks Often Pesticide Alternative: FLAME! Landscaping Landscaping

Hardscape and Playgrounds Guidelines LP5-LP6) FLAME! No H.S.A. reporting Very little smoke, odor No residue Eliminate seed bank Routine monitoring/ treatment No burn permit issue if incidental control Flame weeder info: www.groworganic.com NOT A PEST MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION Landscaping Landscaping

Irrigation Systems (Guideline LP7) Landscaping Irrigation…or ALIENS?! Landscaping

Irrigation Systems (Guideline LP7) Most Important Tool? Over-Watering Significant Cause of: Sick plants Pollution Wasted money Worth money for periodic audit (5 yr), quarterly adjustment Staff training/ contract Landscaping Landscaping

Irrigation Systems (Guideline LP7) 1 school site: 80% too much water Needed .75 inch per week, receiving 3.5 inch How much is your water bill? Healthier plants Less pollution Call city/ county water agency, ask for audits and training Landscaping Landscaping

Outdoor Pest Management (Guideline LP8) Ornamentals: Monitor ‘Pest Magnet’ Plants Replace with Pest Resistant Plants Manage Plant Stress FEED THE SOIL! Mulch Compost Leaf Drop Landscaping

Outdoor Pest Management (Guideline LP8) Turf: Make Turf Stronger: Irrigation/ aeration Grass Cycling for better soil/ fertilizer Landscaping

Outdoor Pest Management (Guideline LP8) Gopher, Ground Squirrel, Yellow Jacket, weeds…. Resources: School IPM: A How To Manual (EPA/BIRC): http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm/schoolipm/index.html Pest Notes: UC IPM: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/selectnewpest.home.html http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/GENERAL/tools.html DPR School IPM Training Curriculum: www.schoolipm.info Landscaping

RISK = HAZARD X EXPOSURE Outdoor Pest Management (Guideline LP8) If using pesticides, consider RISK RISK = HAZARD X EXPOSURE Where exposure is High, Hazard should be low Pesticide Hazard And Exposure Reduction (PHAER) Zone System: www.home.earthlink.net/~ phaerzones Materials Lists as Reference for Reduced-Risk Pesticides Combine regular monitoring and record keeping with measures to keep pest numbers low enough to prevent serious damage or annoyance. Minimize risk by applying chemical controls in spot treatments and using lowest risk formulation possible. Landscaping Landscaping