WATERWISE LANDSCAPES

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WATERWISE LANDSCAPES
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Proper Planning and Design

• Site analysis
• Identify microclimates
• Grading and drainage
• Consider function in design
• Porous hardscapes

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Soil Improvement

• Think about the roots
• Water is slow to infiltrate clay soils leading to
  excessive runoff
• Poor drainage leads to root problems
• Sandy soils dry out rapidly and do not retain
  nutrients
• Amend soils with compost

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Appropriate plant selection

• Plants adapted to area
• Microclimates right plant right place
• Consider natives
• Group plants according to water needs -
  hydrozones

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THE ROOT FLARE

• Trees develop a buttressing flare of roots which
  grow radially away from the trunk
• This flare is important for supporting the
  tremendous amount of weight that develops with
  time
• Roots should grow away from the trunk and down
  into the soil
• Soil over top of the root flare will cause the
  development of upwardly growing roots which have
  the potential of girdling the tree over time

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Practical Turf Areas

• Turfgrasses require twice the amount of
  irrigation that woody plants do
• Turf areas are more maintenance intensive
• If installing irrigation, size turf areas based
  on sprinkler heads
• Turfgrass does not compete well in the shade of
  vigorously growing trees
• Consider other groundcovers

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Efficient Irrigation

• Create zones according to water use
• Use drip irrigation where practical
• Water early in the morning to reduce loss to
  evaporation and reduce disease problems
• Water deeply and infrequently
• Calibrate your sprinkler system
• Install rain shut-off devices/moisture sensing
  devices
• Avoid runoff

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Use of Mulches

• Use organic mulch
• Apply two to four inches
• Keep away from trunk or crown of plant
• Conserves moisture
• Modifies soil temperature
• Reduces runoff
• Reduces weeds

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Appropriate Maintenance

• Raise mowing height
• Keep mower blades sharp
• Aerate lawns annually
• Fertilize based on soil analysis
• Do not fertilize if the soil is dry
• Keep fertilizers and pesticides on target and
  clean up non target areas after application
• Check irrigation system frequently
• Keep plants healthy through proper pruning

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Pest Management

• Healthy plants reduce pest problems
• Proper pest identification keep records
• Know your beneficials
• A diversity of flowering plants attract many
  adult beneficials
• Use least toxic alternatives that will get the
  job done read and follow label directions
• Natural (organic) pesticides can kill beneficials
  too
• Do not apply to plants in flower when bees are
  active

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Lady Beetles
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Lady Beetle Life-cycle
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Parasitic wasps
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Serphid Fly
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Green Lacewing
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Lacewing life-cycle
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QUESTIONS