Unit 4 Landscape Installation Chapter 8 (lawns) slp 4.1 Soil Amendments I. Soil conditioners change the physical AND chemical properties of a soil A. Physical 1. Aggregate same size particles into clumps 2. Improve drainage by creating larger pore spaces 3. Improve aeration by creating larger pore spaces 4. Improve available water to plants B. Chemical 1. Make alkaline soils more acid lower ph 2. Hold and release nutrients by improving cation exchange capacity (CEC) Types of Soil Conditioners A. Organic 1. Fir bark shredded bark of fir trees, may have other components added (perlite) 2. Redwood conditioner shredded bark of redwood trees, very slow to decompose 3. Acid mix mixture of peat moss, fir bark and/or other components lowers soil ph 4. Peat moss shredded peat from peat bogs, lowers ph, high water holding capacity 5. Steer manure decomposes quickly, has low N content, may be high in salts 6. Compost home made from garden debris, cheap B. Inorganic 1. Perlite large particles containing many small holes, holds water and oxygen, chemically inert, sterile 2. Vermiculite lightweight, gold colored, particle of various sizes, high cation exchange capacity, high water holding capacity, sterile. 3. Sand inert, use large uniform particle size, may or may not improve drainage I Mulch coverings on top of soil A. Advantages 1. Smother weeds / prevent seeds from germinating 2. Conserve water 3. Aesthetics (looks good) 4. Protects and encourages microbes in soil B. Disadvantages 1. Needs to be reapplied 2. Decomposition may compete with plants for nutrients (N) 3. May leach toxins into soil 1
IV. Types of Mulch A. Natural 1. Shredded wood products 2. Chipped wood products 3. Cover crops living plants 4. Decomposed granite 5. Gravel B. Synthetic 1. Chipped rubber 2. Synthetic turf 4.2 Lawns I. Lawn Qualities A. Positives 1. Useable soft surface (sports, picnics, play) 2. Cools the atmosphere adds O2 3. Looks good 4. Prestige (how we feel) B. Negatives 1. Water use 2. Maintenance costs 3. Pollution from fertilizers, weed control, insecticides Lawn Installation 1) Install irrigation system first A. Seed 2) Remove all surface vegetation and weeds 3) Water/ spray to control weed seeds (repeat) 4) Add soil conditioner to top 4 of soil 5) Level soil, remove clods 6) Spread seed 7) Cover seed lightly (not manure) 8) Water 2 to 3 times per day Fall is best time to plant cool season grass, Spring for warm season B. Sod Same as seed (1 5) 6) Fertilize soil with starter food (low N, high P,K) 7) Lay sod pieces tightly, lightly tamp or roll with roller, overlap horizontal seams 8) Water 2 3 times per day C. After care 9) Mow after 2 weeks (sod), up to 1 month after germination for seed. 10) Mow 2 3 times before applying lawn food I Sustainable Lawn Care A. Water deeply and infrequently B. Raise mower height to 3 4 C. Aerate and thatch annually D. Cover with ¼ organic matter annually E. Feed with low N fertilizer F. Grow with a cover crop (clover) 4.3 Landscape Installation Order of installation 1) Grading attention to drainage 2) Hardscape All concrete, brick, pavers, etc. 3) Amend soil add organic matter 4) Irrigation delivery and control 5) Planting Trees Lawn Shrubs and vines Annuals 2
4.4 Irrigation I. Irrigation Design A. Determine water source and capacity B. Select delivery system 1. Sprinkler type spray, rotary 2. Drip 3. Soaker C. Locate sprinklers (based on spray radius) D. Layout pipes, valve zones, calculate pressure requirements E. Locate controller, size wiring F. Finalize plan Efficient Irrigation systems A. Control water loss B. Direct water to landscape only C. Avoid overspray on narrow areas D. Repair leaks, faulty valves, broken spray nozzles E. Limit watering time to stop runoff F. Allow 30 minutes between runoff times so water can soak into soil IV. Drip Irrigation A. Waters slowly B. Uses less water C. Directs water only where needed D. Avoids runoff E. Can be applied under mulch F. Uses low pressure G. Can accommodate odd or narrow areas 4.5 Planting in the Landscape I. Planting Trees A. 5, 15 gal, 24 box container sizes B. Dig hole same depth as container, 2x wider C. Amend soil from hole half and half with planting mix D. Cut any circling roots at bottom of root ball E. Place container in soil and backfill with amended soil F. Tamp down soil and/or place hose into amended soil to remove air pockets G. Build water basin wider than root ball with remaining soil mix H. Top of root ball should be visible do not bury trunk I. Mulch with 2 3 of cover mulch AMENDED 3
Double staking trees A. Remove nursery stake B. Plant tree C. Use two 2 redwood or ponderosa stakes D. Stakes should be parallel to prevailing winds E. Place stakes outside of amended root ball F. Tie at height that is just above the height where tree stands upright with support G. Only use two straps (ties) do not use wire H. Remove staking apparatus ASAP, usually 1 year I Planting Shrubs A. Use same method as trees without staking B. Space 2/3 distance of mature growth for fast to moderate growing, ½ distance for slow growing plants IV. Perennials Treat as shrubs according to individual requirements V. Annuals/ bulbs A. Usually planted in masse at same time B. Amend entire area C. Spot plants at recommended spacing D. Use alternating pattern for total coverage VI. Fertilize at time of planting A. In hole 1. Use tablets or slow release pellets placed in the planting hole 2. Works over long period 3. Roots grow into fertilizer 4. No competition from surface weeds 5. May be so slow to dissolve as to be useless B. Surface feeding 1. Granules or liquid 2. Feeds existing root ball and planting hole 3. Food moves down into entire root zone 4. Fast acting, needs repeated application 5. Available to surface competition 6. Easily washed away 4.6 Pruning I. Plant hormones A. Promoters 1. Encourage plant growth 2. Bud growth initiation 3. Stem elongation 4. Cell division 5. Cytokinens B. Inhibitors 1. Usually associated with dormancy 2. Inhibit shoot development of lateral buds 3. Involved in flower bud formation 4. Root formation 5. Auxins 4
C. Apical dominance 1. Apical meristem in terminal bud 2. Inhibits lateral branch development 3. Removing apical bud encourages side buds to develop into branches (pinching back) 4. Flower buds determined by hormone ratios, promoters vs. inhibitors Reasons for pruning A. Control growth direction B. Force side buds to sprout C. Remove dead and diseased wood D. Invigorate growth or flowering wood E. Remove stress on weak branches F. Control fruit/ flower production G. Increase root / wood ratio I Pruning trees A. Three cut method 1. Undercut 1 foot away from trunk 2. Top cut inches away from undercut, cut all the way through 3. Top cut near trunk along branch collar I Pruning strategies A. Topping Remove all branch tips usually at same height Forces many weak laterals B. Thinning Selectively remove entire branches Directs growth to new apical buds C. LA hybrid A. Severe pruning combining thinning and topping B. Same method applied to all types of trees C. Results are over pruned and permanently damaged trees 4.7 Training Plant Growth I. Staking A. Single stake B. Correct direction of plant growth C. Define or enhance growth shape D. Support weak stems E. Standard 1. Tree like affect using plants normally grown as shrubs (tree roses) 2. Must remain staked forever F. Nursery trees 1. guide and support trunk of young trees 2. Weakens tree trunk 3. Replace with double stakes in landscape G. Vines A. Support vines in nursery containers B. Must be tied to stake for upright growth C. Require continual pruning and tying 5
Trellising A. Wooden grid used for training plants B. Flexible branches are tied to grid C. Vines are trellised D. Shrubs and fruit trees are espaliered 1. Young branches are tied while flexible 2. Grow and harden into permanent form 3. Need continual pruning I Topiary A. Sculpted shrubbery B. Free pruning shape is formed entirely from pruning C. Framed pruning shrub is pruned inside of shaped cage D. Usually supported by stakes IV. Perennial/ annual support A. Low supports for weak stemmed perennials and annuals B. Plants grow through support C. Keeps flowering stems upright D. May give plant a specific form 6