EcoMinutes
March 2009 – GreenScaping Your Landscape
030209
According to the EPA, by changing your landscape to a GreenScape, you can save
time and money and protect the environment. You can save time by using plants
that need less care, money by eliminating unnecessary watering and chemicals,
and the environment by conserving water supplies, decreasing chemical use and
runoff that can contaminate drinking water and waterways, and recycling yard
waste. The five steps to GreenScaping are: 1) build and maintain healthy soil;
2) plant right for your site; 3) practice smart watering; 4) adopt a holistic
approach to pest management; 5) practice natural lawn care. With the start of
spring, a lot of us will start to plan and plant our yards and gardens. We’ll
give you hints and facts to make it a success and be green in every sense of the
word.
030309
To GreenScape your landscape, you need to build healthy soil. There are about 4
billion microorganisms in one teaspoon of soil. Soil creatures keep our
landscapes healthy by creating a loose soil structure allowing air, water and
plant root growth, by recycling nutrients and making them available to plants,
storing water, and protecting plants from some pests and diseases. Before you
fertilize, have your soil tested, you might not need it. Feed your soil with
compost, dig or till 2 – 3 inches of compost into the top foot of soil when
making new beds and add compost each fall and spring. Be sure to mulch – use up
to 3 inches of organic material like leaves, aged wood chips, compost or grass
clippings around your plants, to stabilize soil temperature, prevent weeds, feed
the soil and conserve water.
030409
To GreenScape your landscape, you need to plant right for your site. You need to know your yard and select plants which will grow well in our area, and fit the amount of sun, type of soil, and water available in your yard. Think about how big a tree or shrub will be when mature, especially when planting near your house, driveway, or power lines. Pick plants which are resistant to pests and diseases and be sure to prepare the soil. Plant at the correct depth and mulch and water as the new plants build deep roots. Pick plants that attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife. In particular, plant native plants and avoid invasive species such as popcorn trees.
030509
To GreenScape your landscape, you need to practice smart watering. Watering too
much or too little can cause plant problems. Water deeply and infrequently.
Most plants do best if the soil is allowed to partially dry out between
waterings. Vegetables and annuals need water at the first sign of wilting, but
perennials need water only if they stay droopy after it cools off in the
evening. Trees and shrubs usually don’t need watering once their roots are
fully established, in 2 to 5 years, except in very dry years. Additionally, add
compost to your soil and mulch.
When soil is dry or
compacted, it won't absorb water quickly. If water puddles, stop watering a
while and then restart so the water has time to soak in.
030609
To GreenScape your landscape, you need to practice holistic pest management.
Only
about 5-15 percent of the bugs in your yard are pests. "Good bugs," like the
ground beetle and the green lacewing, help control pests.
On-going
pest problems are a sign that your lawn or garden is not getting what it needs
to stay healthy, so correct the underlying problem to reduce the chances of the
pests reappearing.
Maintain
healthy soil. Select pest-resistant plants and put them in the sun/shade and
soil conditions they like. Use a variety of plants so, if pests attack, your
whole garden isn't at risk. Mow higher. Most grasses should be mowed to a height
of two to three inches. Taller grass has more leaf surface and deeper roots and
eventually chokes out many weeds. Clean out diseased plants so disease doesn't
spread. Pull weeds before they go to seed and spread.
030909
To GreenScape your landscape, you need to practice natural lawn care. Mow
frequently when grass is actively growing so that you are only cutting no more
than one-third of the height of the grass. "Grasscycling," or leaving the
clippings on the lawn, doesn't cause thatch build up—and it does make lawns
healthier. Soil organisms recycle the clippings into free fertilizer, and you
save all the work of bagging. If you need additional fertilizer, use organic.
Shrink your lawn and use native plants instead. If you live on the water, be
sure to leave or plant a "buffer" of dense native vegetation along the shore to
filter and slow run-off, shade and cool the water, provide homes for wildlife
and prevent bank erosion.
031009
The University of Florida is here in your backyard and ready to offer you
solutions. Your county extension office is the local source of research-based
information. It is a three way partnership between the Escambia county Board of
Commissioners, the University of Florida, and the US Department of Agriculture.
Eight extension agents and two program assistants are ready to help with issues
in horticulture, agriculture, nutrition, marine sciences, windstorm damage
mitigation, and youth development. Along with general education programs,
classes can target specific information requested by individual groups and
organizations. A few of these programs include pesticide training for lawn
professionals, food safety education, youth public speaking, creating
Florida-friendly landscapes, and design tips for energy-efficient homes. For
more information on the Escambia County Extension visit escambia.ifas.ufl.edu.
031109
Did you know that a large city can save $70 million a year by protecting its
trees? A recent study in San Antonio calculated the value of the ecological
services provided by its trees. The researchers found that it would cost city
residents over $70 million per year in taxes just to duplicate the ecological
functions of its trees. The researchers added up the costs to retain the same
amount of stormwater runoff, to remove the same amount of air pollutants, and
to provide the same energy savings as the city’s trees. So the next time
someone says that trees in Pensacola need to be cut down because they are in the
way of development, tell them what San Antonio’s mayor said. “Trees are a vital
municipal asset, and they save our city residents over $70 million a year in
taxes.”
031209
Every time it rains, a valuable resource goes down the drain. Collecting
rainwater from rooftops is an ancient practice, but the use of rain barrels and
cisterns has increased in popularity due to recent droughts and a cultural
emphasis on being eco-friendly. Rainwater collected from a roof into a cistern
or rain barrel can be used for landscape and garden irrigation or for washing
cars or pets. During a typical summer a 60-gallon rain barrel could save you up
to 1300 gallons of utility water! In addition, the water collected can reduce
flooding and erosion problems caused by heavy rains. By diverting some water
from local drainage, you can also prevent stormwater pollution by keeping that
water from running off and collecting hazardous pollutants like pesticides,
fertilizers, and bacteria, which typically drain into our local water bodies.
031309
Have you ever had a problem with water from a heavy rainstorm washing away your
soil? It may be time to consider a rain garden. Rain gardens are landscaped
beds designed to capture excess rainwater during a storm and hold it until it
seeps back into the soil. The gardens typically have a bowl shape with a berm
to hold in water. Native wetland-adapted plants are used in the gardens,
although they are only designed to hold water for a couple of days. Using a
rain garden can be the perfect solution for an area of the yard that erodes
after a storm, or for the area below your roof gutter downspout. Larger
versions of rain gardens, called “bioretention areas” are now being used in
large commercial and residential developments as a more aesthetically pleasing
alternative to stormwater ponds. For more information and pictures of
constructed rain gardens, go to WUWF.org.
031609
Are you tired of watering your lawn, spreading fertilizer, pesticides, and weed killers on grass that you have to cut, bag, and haul away? If so, you might consider converting part or all of your lawn into native plants that require no irrigation, fertilizers, or pesticides. It may appear that we have unlimited water, but the amount of water that can be pumped from the sand and gravel aquifer is limited. Irrigation of lawns is one of the biggest users of our fresh, clean water. You may think that your small amounts of pesticides, weed killers and fertilizers don’t amount to much, but it all adds up. When excess fertilizers leach out and seep into Bayou Texar, just a small amount of phosphates can cause algae blooms. In future EcoMinutes we will tell you how to do your part.
031709
Are you ready give up your watering, pesticides and fertilizers and to
plant some native species? One attractive, small native woody shrub you can
use in your landscaping is Woody Goldenrod. Woody Goldenrod grows up to three
feet tall and is found in very dry open woods and roadsides like along US 98 in
Gulf Breeze. The yellow flowers look like the allergy causing Goldenrod, but
taxonomists place this shrub in the genus Chrysoma with its species name
almost as long as the plant is tall - paucifloscuosa. Chrysoma
paucifloscuosa transplants very easily if you want to dig your own – where
it can be done legally, or you can buy it at a nursery growing native plants.
Once established, this attractive shrub will never need irrigation, fertilizer,
or pesticides.
031809
Another native shrub for your ex-lawn is Conradina. Conradina canescens
doesn’t have a common name, let’s call it Beach Heather. This shrub belonging
to the mint family can be found on beach dunes, dry open forests, and roadsides
near the coast. The shrub grows up to two feet tall. It has small needle-like
evergreen leaves. Since Conradina is in the mint family, its opposite leaves
smell like peppermint when crushed. Conradina blooms in mid to late summer. Its
numerous lavender flowers have purple spots. I’ve transplanted small (six to
eight inch tall) specimens of beach heather from road sides with 80% survival.
031909
If you live on or near the beach, a regular grass lawn is especially difficult
to establish and maintain, even if you wanted to. Sea oats, Uniola
paniculata, and upper marsh grass, Spartina patens, once established,
are very attractive and totally self maintaining without fertilizers,
pesticides, weed killers, or irrigation. If you have a friend with sea oats
and/or upper marsh grass on their property, you can dig and transplant these
native grasses with permission. If digging sea oats, be sure to get the
horizontal, underground stem and don’t deplete an area but rather just thin them
out. They grow back vigorously. Upper marsh grass is shorter and grows thick
and dense.
032009
Native trees and larger shrubs and vines should be used where appropriate. Live
oaks are very hurricane resistant. Where there is enough space, pecan trees are
desirable for shade in the summer and nuts in the fall. Being deciduous in
winter, they let the sun shine through when needed. Native vines for walls,
fences, and trellises include yellow jasmine, cross vine, and cow itch. Yellow
jasmine blooms in late winter while both cross vine and cow itch show their
attractive orange flowers in late summer. With a little planning, one can have
native flowers blooming most of the year. Not only will you have native flowers
all year but you can feel good about keeping ground water and surface waters
cleaner.
032309
Fertilizing plants is a routine practice in the landscape but it may not always
be necessary for all plants. Before adding fertilizer, know the nutrient needs
of your specific plants and the plant response you desire. If you are happy
with the growth of your plants and they look healthy, consider skipping the
fertilizer application. To determine the nutrient levels in your soil and
exactly what your plants need, have the soil tested. The local Escambia County
Extension office has information available on how to collect and test soil.
When applying fertilizers, always follow University of Florida recommendations
and correct application procedures. Know the size of
the area to be fertilized before you visit the store so that you don’t buy more
than you need. For more information on fertilizing visit
escambia.ifas.ufl.edu.
032409
Many of us recycle our glass, paper, and plastic, but do you recycle your food?
Kitchen waste, including fruits, vegetables, eggshells, tea and coffee filters,
are perfect additions to a compost bin. For a successful compost bin or pile,
choose an area outdoors that is easily accessible from the yard and kitchen.
Bins can be constructed from many materials, and are recommended to keep
neighborhood animals from becoming a nuisance. Simply throw in your kitchen
waste ( but no meat or dairy products) along with leaves and grass clippings
from the yard, and wait for it to become the perfect garden amendment! To speed
up the process, turn the pile with a shovel or pitchfork weekly and make sure
the pile is moist. With our warm spring and summer temperatures, raw materials
can become rich soil in as little as six weeks!
032509
Taking care of our lawns and gardens can require a large amount of water,
especially during hot, dry periods of the year. With a long hot summer ahead,
now is a great time to review some basic tips to make every drop count. It’s
best to water in the early morning or evening to minimize loss of water through
evaporation. Watering your lawn and plants during the peak heat of the midday
sun can rob up to 30% of the moisture from the ground and may even damage your
lawn. We recommend watering between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. to
maximize efficiency in watering and keep water pressure constant. Also, don’t
water too much; in general,
turf grasses only need about 3/4"
— 1" of water per
week to maintain green color and active growth, so check to see how much water
you’re actually using. For
more information about water conservation, go to ECUA.org or WUWF.org.
032609
With a long hot summer ahead, now is a great time to review some basic tips on
watering to make every drop count. If you're watering your lawn with a
sprinkler, be sure to check to see if all of the heads are working correctly and
are correctly directed. Don't water the driveway, the sidewalk or the car, make
sure that your sprinkler's range is adjusted to water the lawn and garden.
Also, be aware that if it's windy while you're watering, the wind may be
diverting your spray, and you may be missing your targeted area. Even better
than using a sprinkler, consider using drip irrigation - it uses less water, and
the water is better directed.
032709
The ECUA’s average daily water production during the summer months is
approximately 45 million gallons per day. The ECUA has sufficient water and
pumping capability within its 35 well system to accommodate this demand, but we
need your help, especially during the long, hot, and often dry summer.
Irrigating between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. can moderate
some of the extreme peaks in usage, and maintain a balanced system pressure.
This approach greatly enhances our system capabilities; extending the life of
our equipment, while also optimizing water pressure during the times when you
and your neighbors need it most.
033009
Did you know that U.S. cities have lost more than 20 percent of their trees in
the past 10 years? A recent study of over 400 urban areas found a loss of 21
percent of their trees mainly due to urban sprawl, new development, and roadway
construction. Trees provide many ecological functions including reducing
stormwater runoff, reducing flooding, removing pollutants from the air, and
reducing energy costs. Medical research shows that the loss of these trees in
urban areas is directly proportional to the rise in respiratory disease in these
urban areas. To replace the lost functions that were provided by these trees
that were cut down, citizens now have to pay over $230 billion in additional
taxes. Trees are a vital municipal asset, and they should be protected from
unnecessary and arbitrary removal.
033109
Before you buy or use any pesticide, ask yourself whether it is really
necessary, particularly in light of studies linking
lawn chemicals to negative health consequences.
You may not need to control the pest or weed
and there may be an alternative to traditional chemical use. Organic gardening
methods are one way that you can reduce pesticide use and get nature to help
control any pests or diseases. For example, do one or two dandelions mean that
the whole lawn needs treatment? Try removing weeds using a knife or garden fork
instead. Why not remove slugs or snails when they come out at night, or use a
physical barrier to discourage them? The USDA has found that vinegar is
an effective natural herbicide - when used in concentrations of 5-10%, it killed
85 to 100% of the weeds. It costs about $65 per acre to spray, and is
environmentally safe.