Earth Kind: Landscape Management:

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Earth Kind Landscape Management
Prepared by
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Environmental Stewardship is the primary focus of
educational activities within Texas Cooperative
Extension's Horticulture program. Our "Earth
Kind" emphasis focuses on conserving and
protecting natural resources through the use of
environmentally friendly practices. This can
involve everything from conserving water in the
landscape to the safe handling and use of
pesticides.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
The 5 year goals for the TCE Earth Kind -
Horticulture project are to assist urban and
rural clientele

• Reduce the volume of irrigation water used by
  33
  
• Reduce the volume of chemical pesticides used by
  25
  
• Reduce the volume of fertilizers reaching surface
  and groundwater by 50
  
• Reduce air and noise pollution by 50
• Reduce the volume of yard wastes entering
  landfills by 50

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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Earth Kind addresses numerous topics in the area
of landscape management. As your interest and
knowledge in this area grows you will have an
increased awareness of the many programs,
practices and activities that are Earth Kind.
Working together we can make a difference in
conserving and protecting our states valuable
natural resources.
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Earth Kind Landscape Management
Landscape Water Conservation
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
In many urban areas of Texas between 40 and 60
percent of the water supply is used for landscape
irrigation. Earth Kind Water Management focuse
s 7 landscaping principals that helps conserve
water and help protect the environment.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Planning and design Soil analysis Practical
turf areas Appropriate plant selection Effic
ient irrigation Use of mulches Appropriate m
aintenance
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Start With a Plan Creating a water-efficient lan
dscape begins with a well-thought-out landscape
design. Implementing your landscape design can
be done gradually over several years.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Soil Analysis and Preparation
To increase plant health and conserve water, add
organic matter to the soil of shrub and flower
bed areas. As a rule-of-thumb, till in 4 inche
s of organic material to landscape beds and
planting areas.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Practical Turf AreasI It is important to note th
at turfgrasses require more frequent watering and
maintenance than most other landscape plants.
Zoysiagrass, buffalograss and centipedegrass are
used less often but offer much promise for
landscape water conservation.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Plant Selection Texas has an abundance of beauti
ful native plants which are naturally adapted to
the state. Most of these plants have lower water
demands, fewer pest problems and less fertilizer
needs than many non-adapted plants.
Combining Texas natives with well-adapted non-na
tives, is a key to a beautiful, interesting
landscape which conserves water.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Landscape Maintenance An added benefit of landsc
ape water conservation can be less maintenance.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Watering Basics The greatest waste of water in t
he landscape comes from applying too much too
often.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Lawn Irrigation The key to watering lawns is to
apply the water infrequently, yet thoroughly.
At the first sign of wilting, you have 24 to 48
hours to water turfgrass before serious injury
occurs. Apply 1 inch of water to the lawn as
rapidly as possible without runoff.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Tree and Shrub Watering All trees and shrubs nee
d more frequent watering from planting time until
becoming well rooted, which may take two growing
seasons. As with lawns, water established tree
s, shrubs and groundcovers infrequently, yet
thoroughly.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Irrigation Systems By zoning an irrigation syste
m, grass areas can be watered separately and more
frequently than groundcovers, shrubs and trees.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Irrigation Systems continued If you have a
permanent sprinkler system, make sure the
sprinkler heads are adjusted properly to avoid
watering sidewalks and driveways.
A properly adjusted sprinkler head sprays large
droplets of water instead of a fog of fine mist
which is more susceptible to evaporation and wind
drift.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Mulching Conserves Moisture A good mulch conserv
es water by reducing moisture evaporation from
the soil. Mulch also reduces weed populations,
prevents soil compaction and keeps soil
temperatures more moderate.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Proper Mowing Conserves Water
Mowing grass at the proper height conserves
water. Taller grass blades also act as a livin
g mulch, shading the ground and reducing soil
moisture evaporation.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Proper Fertilizing Conserves Water
Applying fertilizer to the lawn at the proper
time and in the proper amount can save time,
effort and money through reduced mowing and
watering.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Other Water Saving Cultural Practices
Other cultural practices that add to the
efficient use of water by plants are periodic
checks of the irrigation system, properly timed
insect and disease control and elimination of
water-demanding weeds. By following these guidel
ines and tips, you can proudly create your own
Earth Kind landscape.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Water Conservation Commitment
Water conservation in the landscape protects
water quality and quantity. It also means
following the principles of Earth Kind to
conserve and protect this valuable natural
resource.
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Earth Kind Landscape Management
Nitrogen Phosphorous Fertilizers
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
The use of home landscape and garden fertilizers
has caused concern about pollution of surface and
groundwater.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
The two fertilizer nutrients of most concern are
nitrogen and phosphorus. Proper fertilization us
ing Earth Kind techniques can enhance plant
growth without polluting the environment.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Phosphorus is one of the macronutrients essential
for plant growth. Although misuse or misapplicat
ion may contaminate surface water, proper
application poses no threat and may actually
reduce pollution possibility.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Inorganic phosphorus moves very little in soil.
When applied and incorporated as a fertilizer,
phosphorus is quickly bound by soil particles.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
A routine soil test is recommended to determine
existing soil phosphorus levels. Based on this
information fertilizers may be selected which
limit the potential for surface and groundwater
contamination.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
The soil test report will recommend whether
phosphorus or other fertilizer nutrients are
needed.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Of all the fertilizer nutrients, nitrogen
generally produces the greatest growth response
in plants. Nitrogen is present in soils in the
form of nitrate, ammonium, and as a component of
soil organic matter. In all but very wet or dry
soils, the ammonium form is readily converted to
the nitrate form. This nitrate form is completely
soluble and not tightly held by soil particles.
Therefore, nitrate can readily leach downward
with percolating water and contaminate
groundwater supplies.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
For landscape areas fertilize once or twice
during the growing season at a rate of 1 to 2
pounds of actual nitrogen per 100 square feet of
bed area.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
For turfgrass apply 1 pound of actual nitrogen
per 1,000 square feet of lawn area.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
These numbers stand for the percentage of
nitrogen, phosphate, and potash in the
fertilizer. If the soil test shows phosphorus is
high, then a fertilizer with a low or zero
percentage of phosphate should be selected.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
The following Earth Kind guidelines will greatly
reduce the potential for surface and groundwater
contamination from nitrogen and phosphorous
fertilizers.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Have your soil tested and follow soil test
recommendations. Water your lawn after fertili
zing, but do not allow water to runoff into
streets or surface water. Any fertilizer spille
d on sidewalks, streets or other paved areas
should be promptly cleaned up.
Clippings not left on the lawn, leaves, and othe
r plant debris should be removed as soon as
possible from street gutters, sidewalks, and
driveways. This plant material can be composted,
used in the garden as a mulch, or disposed of
through appropriate community services.
When mowing lawns, do not direct clippings into
the street or surface water. Apply irrigation w
ater judiciously and avoid runoff in to streets
and surface drainage systems.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Improper use of lawn and garden fertilizers may
contribute to pollution of surface and
groundwater. Avoiding over-application of
fertilizer by following soil test guidelines as
well as by practicing simple Earth Kind landscape
maintenance techniques will help reduce potential
pollution problems and protect our valuable
natural resources.
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Earth Kind Landscape Management
Pesticide Safety Handling
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
A wide variety of off the shelf pesticide
products are available to control weeds, unwanted
insects, and other pests in the landscape.
Many of the products can be hazardous to people
and the environment.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Users to take responsibility for making sure that
these products are handled properly. The basic
steps in reducing pesticide risks include
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management

• Choosing the right pesticide product.
• Reading the product label.
• Determining the correct amount to purchase and
  use.
  
• Using the product safely and correctly.
• Storing and disposing of pesticides properly.

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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
One of the greatest causes of pesticide exposure
to humans and the environment is the use of
pesticides in and around the home.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Always store pesticides in their original
containers, complete with labels that list
ingredients, directions for use, and first aid
steps in case of accidental poisoning.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Use child-resistant packaging correctly. Child
resistant does not mean child proof, so users
must still be extra careful to store properly,
out of childrens reach, those products that are
sold in child resistant packaging.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
The best way to dispose of small amounts of
excess pesticides is to use them.
Check with the local solid waste management auth
ority, environmental agency, or health department
to find out whether there is a community
household hazardous waste collection program or a
similar program for getting rid of unwanted,
leftover pesticides.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
To dispose of less than a full container of a
liquid pesticide, leave it in the original
container with the cap tightly in place to
prevent spills or leaks. Note No more than 1
gallon of liquid pesticide at a time should be
thrown out with the regular trash in this manner.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Wrap individual packages of dry pesticides in
several layers of newspaper and tape or tie the
package closed. Put the package in a covered
trash can for routine collection.
Note No more than 5 pounds of dry pesticide at
a time should be thrown out with the regular
trash in this manner.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Do not pour leftover pesticides down the sink,
into the toilet, or down a sewer or street drain.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
An empty pesticide container can be as hazardous
as a full one because of residues left inside.
When empty, a pesticide container should be
rinsed carefully three times and the rinsewater
thoroughly drained back into the sprayer or the
container previously used to mix the pesticide.
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Earth Kind
Landscape Management
Do not recycle any pesticide containers, unless
the label specifically states that the empty
container may be recycled after cleaning.
Following these Earth Kind recommendations on pe
sticide safety and handling will greatly help
reduce the risk to human health and the
environment.