Green from the Ground Up Green California Summit March 2009
ValleyCrest Companies Since 1949 ValleyCrest Companies, formerly known as Environmental Industries, has built, maintained and beautified some of America's most distinctive landscapes. Private residences Large municipal properties Hotels and resorts Corporate campuses and office buildings Golf courses Public highways Theme parks Museums Sports venues ValleyCrest Landscape Development ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance ValleyCrest Golf Course Maintenance Valley Crest Tree Company and more...
ValleyCrest Landscape Development ValleyCrest Landscape Development is the nation s largest landscape and site construction company. Our Services: Pre-construction services Hardscapes Decorative concrete Themed construction Golf course construction Natural and artificial sports field Snow and ice removal services Site development Wetland restoration and native re-vegetation Landscape construction Irrigation installation Water features Design build Tree relocation Erosion control Royal Pacific Resort - FL J. Paul Getty Center - CA
ValleyCrest Landscape Development Northern California Projects Include: Bay Meadows Linear Park Pac Bell & McCovey Cove Raiders Practice Facility Cache Creek Casino
ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance, formerly known as Environmental Care, is recognized nationwide as a leader in landscape maintenance services. Our Services: Exterior landscape maintenance Landscape renovation / enhancement Turf and ornamental maintenance Irrigation and water management Seasonal color design and installation Fertilization, weed and pest management Tree care Plant healthcare Interior landscape maintenance Snow plowing and ice removal Cisco Systems CA Post Addison Circle - TX
Green Landscape Management Practices Return organic debris to landscapes as mulch Radial and other trenching to improve root growth on compacted soil Irrigation efficiency Detain stormwater and runoff via bioswales and basins 6
Live oaks growing in old neighborhood. Soil is not compacted 7
Container oak transplanted into undisturbed agricultural soil (notice cracks and clods.) Roots have grown over 2 feet down. John T. Law Jr., Ph.D. 8
Commercial Landscapes Large Developments Soil has to be compacted as part of protection from earthquake damage. Compaction eliminates voids or pores in the soil where water can collect. Water in soil can act as a lubricant allowing the soil to move. Water in soil can cause liquefaction The result of this compaction is that it is only near the soil surface where gas exchange between soil and atmosphere is rapid enough to provide the roots with enough oxygen to support root function. 9
Soil liquefaction caused failure of parking structure during Northridge Quake Cracked pavement from soil movement 10
Voids and organic matter that could create voids are removed 11
Roots growing in crack. Unstable for structures or slopes. Cut and fill land development cannot have organic matter. Soil can slip along the crack 12
Restore developed areas using native or adapted vegetation or other ecologically appropriate features Soil in built environments needs to have pores (voids) and organic matter removed for stability. Soil has to be compacted so it won t settle. Undisturbed soil has lots of pores and microbial life; but not stable for buildings and hardscape 13
How do roots grow into soil? Root tips grow into existing pore space Roots cannot push their way into compacted or clay soil There must be a mix of water and air. Saturated soil has no air. Turf irrigation often saturates soil 14
Roots turn when they hit dense clay soil 15
Several escaped and proliferated in the well aerated soil at the soil surface Roots are deflected (bottom 2 arrows) by the mechanical impedance and low oxygen present in the compacted soil. Many roots spiraled around inside the original planting hole
Remediating compacted soil by vertical mulching and radial trenching 17
Or remediate compacted soil using life in the soil Feed the soil food web with mulch. Plant roots feed the soil food web John T. Law Jr., Ph.D. 18
Rhizosphere sugars exuding out of roots. Somewhere between.1 to.5 lb of organic compounds per sq. yard per year.
Food for the soil food web was hauled away. We are reducing this by about 30% and making continuous improvement 20
Turf is very biologically active can biodegrade a significant amount of organic debris - Mulching mower 21
Using mower to chop up pruning debris for mulch or composting 22
Reducing waste Make compost onsite 23
Blowing pruning chips directly onto landscape. Feeding soil food web and reducing fuel use 24
These microshredders-mites, skeletonize plant leaves start cycling of carbon, nitrogen, etc
Small insects living in soil under mulch 26
Irrigation Efficiency Management by maintenance personnel Adjustment and repairs Uniformity is usually less than 50% in beds ET based controllers In-line drip, rotors, flood bubblers Recycled water where available 27
Reducing water use Documenting water reduction Sub-metering to track water use on different parts of landscape 28
Irrigation improvements can be done better and be done worse. Cost: $3,610 Savings: $9,001
Recycled water is an important part of sustainability Transition border from potable to recycled water
Reducing water use Turf areas narrower than 15 feet should be removed. Loosen soil to 18 inches and plant trees
Limit the use of potable water for landscape irrigation. 32
Turf reduction After Outdoor seating and congregating areas 33
Bioswale to capture runoff from pavement
Reducing air and water pollution Storm water running through bioswale is cleaned and recharges ground water. 35
Reducing air and water pollution Storm water detention area recharges and cleans water. Wetland takes carbon dioxide out of the air and traps (sequesters) it in the soil. 36