1. Chuck Ingels, Farm & Horticulture Advisor UC Cooperative Extension, Sacramento County Landscape to Reduce Waste

2. l Americans generate 4-6 lbs. of trash a day per person l Avg. US household generates 650 lbs. of compostables each year l Garbage handling is 4 th largest expense for many cities l CA goal: Divert 50% of organic matter Landscape to Reduce Waste Why?

3. l In CA, yard wastes are the largest component of municipal waste l Grass clippings = about half the yard trimmings deposited in state landfills l An average CA lawn produces 300 to 400 lbs. grass clippings / 1,000 sq. ft. annually Landscape to Reduce Waste Why?

4. l Design and select plants to reduce pruning l Lawns: Reduce area, use alternative species, grasscycle l Prune properly, water & fertilize judiciously l Use plant debris for mulch or compost l Reduce, recycle, reuse & rebuy Landscape to Reduce Waste How?

5. Select plants to match local conditions l Sun exposure l Temperatures l Rainfall l Soils l What plants are native or well adapted? Landscape to Reduce Waste Design and Select Plants to Reduce Pruning

8. Select Appropriate Plants Replace High Maintenance Plantings

9. Select Appropriate Plants Avoid Invasive Species

10. Landscape to Reduce Waste Reduce Lawn Areas

11. Landscape to Reduce Waste Choose Alternative Turf Species Currently the most promising species: l ‘UC Verde’ buffalograss -Buchloe dactyloides l Sedge species -Carex pansa, Carex praegracilis, Carex texensis

12. Choose Alternative Turf Species ‘UC Verde’ Buffalograss Other varieties available too (‘Legacy’, ‘Prestige’) Mowed Unmowed

13. l Buffalograss native to U.S. l UC Verde developed by UC, 2003 l Max. height: 4-8 inches l Infrequent mowing (2-3 wks.); can be mowed once a year l Highly drought resistant – “Up to 75% water use reduction” l Winter dormancy – Partial; shorter than bermudagrass ‘UC Verde’ Buffalograss Characteristics

14. l 1 plant per foot (avg.) l $0.535 per plug, 128 plugs per tray l 4 trays per box = 512 sq. ft. l 512 x $0.535 = $274 l Boxing = $7.50, Shipping = $20 l Total = $301.50 l (Tall fescue sod = ~$200-$250) l Savings? Less mowing & water ‘UC Verde’ Buffalograss Approximate Price (Florasource, Ltd.)

15. Landscape to Reduce Waste Choose Alternative Turf Species Carex pansa Carex praegracilis Carex texensis (shade)

16. Choose Alternative Turf Species Carex pansa and C. praegracilis A web site said Carex pansa (left) & C. praegracilis (rt.), but natural variations occur C. praegracilis, mowed & unmowed

17. Carex Species Used for Turf l C. praegracilisClustered field sedge l C. pansaSand-dune sedge l C. texensisCatlin sedge -better for shade? Sedge family (like nutsedge) – triangular Stems & seeds

18. Carex Turf Species Characteristics l Native throughout U.S. and Calif. l Taxonomy is ambiguous; much variation l Most in hort. trade were collected from dunes in Central Calif. coast l Some say Greenlee Nursery C. pansa may be C. praegracilis l Very drought tolerant l Summer dormancy – Stays green with irrig.

19. l 1 plant per 3-4 in. (up to 6 in.) = 4-16 plugs/sq. ft. l Price = $0.35 per plug l 512 sq. ft. x 4 plugs = 2,048 plugs l 512 sq. ft. x 16 plugs = 8,192 plugs l Shipping = $25 (min. order; higher cost for shipping farther) l Total = $717 to $2,867 Carex praegracilis Approximate Price (Native Sons Nursery)

20. Carex Turf Species Key Nurseries & Info l Native Sons Nursery (Arroyo Grande) l Greenlee Nursery (Chino) l Clarification of C. pansa vs. C. praegracilis: Internet search: “A Sedge by Another Name…Is Confusing”

21. Landscape to Reduce Waste Grasscycle

22. Landscape to Reduce Waste Prune Selectively and Properly NO!YES

23. Landscape to Reduce Waste Water and Fertilize Judiciously

24. Landscape to Reduce Waste Produce Mulch or Request from Tree Company

25. Landscape to Reduce Waste Composting

26. Leaves (30-80:1) Straw (40-100:1) Paper (150-200:1) Sawdust (100-500:1) Animal bedding mixed with manure (30-80:1) High carbon materials such as: Making Compost Browns

27. Vegetable scraps (12-20:1) Coffee grounds (20:1) Grass clippings (12-25:1) Manure –Cow (20:1) –Horse (25:1) –Poultry (10:1), with litter (13-18:1) –Hog (5-7:1) High nitrogen materials such as: Making Compost Greens

28. Browns Decay very slowly Coarse browns can keep pile aerated Tend to accumulate in the fall Tie up nitrogen in soil if not fully composted May need to stockpile until can mix with greens Greens Decay rapidly Poor aeration – may have foul odors if used alone Tend to accumulate in spring and summer Supply nitrogen for composting Best composting if mixed with browns Making Compost Browns vs. Greens

29. Aerobic Composting l Composting with decomposers that need air (oxygen) l The fastest way to make high quality compost l Produces no foul odors l Aerobic decomposers produce heat (140F+)

30. Is Shredding Necessary? l Smaller particles have greater surface area, decompose faster l Allows microbes to get at more of the food

31. Many Types of Composters Bins Tumblers

32. Landscape to Reduce Waste Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy Reuse & relocate existing plants

33. Reuse construction materials Landscape to Reduce Waste Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy

34. Reuse construction materials

35. Landscape to Reduce Waste Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy Reuse construction materials

36. Rebuy Landscape to Reduce Waste Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy l Use recycled products (e.g., “Trex”, “Rumber”) l 1 ton of source-reduced wood product = 1.1 tons of timber saved from harvest l 4 tons of harvested trees is about 1 acre of forest l One of the largest tire piles in Calif. measured 40 acres in size and 6 stories deep

37. Landscape to Reduce Waste Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy Rebuy

38. l StopWaste.org / Bay-Friendly Landscaping & Gardening www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=8 l River-Friendly Landscaping (Sacramento) www.msa.saccounty.net/sactostormwater/RFL/ l CalRecycle / Sustainable Landscaping (CIWMB) www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Organics/ l EcoLandscape.org www.ecolandscape.org l The Sustainable Sites Initiative www.sustainablesites.org Landscape to Reduce Waste Resources