Download 209 Maintain the appearance of decorative amenity areas File

209 Maintain the appearance of decorative amenity areas
How to maintain the appearance of the following decorative horticultural areas
Formal bedding
Formal bedding is used to provide areas of high visual
impact in places the public visit. Therefore they require
a high level of upkeep in particular weeding using hand
tools such as hoes is a major requirement. They may
also require watering in dry periods as the plants in the
boarders will not have the deep root systems that will
be found with shrubs and trees. Also it may be
necessary to trim the grass edges of borders in lawned
areas as well as remove litter and replace dead or
damaged plants.
Hanging baskets
These will require watering on a regular basis as they can
only retain the amount of water that the growing medium
in them can hold. As they are exposed to the sun and
drying wind from all sides they dry very quickly. Also to
ensure good growth a liquid feed may be required to
maintain a good visual display. Dead heading to promote
continued flowering may also be required.
Other containers
Depending of the type and size of container the
maintenance will vary greatly. In the main the
issue will be watering, weed control, repairs to
damaged plants and containers and feeding of the
plants with fertilisers to ensure heather growth. In
addition control of plant size maybe required i.e.
pruning.
Mixed borders
Mixed borders will require a range of tasks such as
weeding, mulching, watering replacement of plants
(annuals) lifting and dividing of herbaceous perennial
every 3 years as well as general work such as litter
removal.
Wall shrubs
These will require shaping (pruning and trimming) and
checks will need to be made to ties to ensure they do not
come away from the wall they are growing against. In
very dry weather the may need watering as they will
often be growing in poor soil next to buildings. Weeding
around the base of the plants will also be required as will
the topping up of mulches applied to retain moisture.
Pruning of wall shrubs - Timing: Annually; after
flowering for those that flower on the previous year's
growth, or in late winter or early spring for those
flowering on the current year's growth.
Examples: Camellia, Ceanothus, Chaenomeles, Garrya,
Fuchsia,
Magnolia grandiflora, Pyracantha
Pruning: Shorten sideshoots to within two to four buds of the permanent
framework of branches. Remove shoots growing towards the wall
Climbers
These will need to be checked for ties, watered, as well as pest
and diseases treated. Many types are pruned back to ground
level at the end of the season
When to prune climbers
In general, plants that flower on the previous season’s growth
are pruned immediately after flowering. These plants often
flower in winter, spring or early summer.
Plants that flower on the current season’s growth are often pruned in late winter or
early spring. These plants usually flower in mid- to late summer, or in autumn. Some
(such as Callistemon) require summer pruning after flowering.
Although pruning depends on the individual needs of the plant, some tasks are very
similar:
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Tie in new growth regularly to fill the allotted space
Tie in side shoots to fill gaps
Prune back overlong shoots
Removed dead shoots
1. Vigorous climbers
Timing: Those that flower on the previous year's growth should be pruned after
flowering and where flowering occurs on the current year's growth prune in late
winter or spring.
Examples: Akebia, Eccremocarpus, honeysuckle (Lonicera), Parthenocissus,
Trachelospermum, Vitis.
Pruning: No regular pruning needed. However trimming may be required to keep
them to the space available, removing as much from the longer shoots as
necessary.
2. Moderately vigorous climbers
Timing: Annually; after flowering for those that flower on the previous year's
growth, or in late winter or early spring for those flowering on the current year's
growth.
Examples: Bougainvillea, Plumbago, Solanum crispum, Sollya heterophylla.
Pruning: Shorten sideshoots to within three to four buds of the permanent
framework of branches. This induces more compact growth and promotes the
formation of flower buds in the shortened shoots. Overcrowded, diseased or
damaged shoots can be removed at the same time.
The reasons for feeding and providing moisture for plants in decorative
amenity areas.
The amount of nutrients a plant requires will of course vary during its life time.
Seedlings require very little in the way of nutrients to germinate as the have a food
supply in the seed. However once they begin to establish they will need increasing
supplies of nutrients that are normally obtained from the soil.
Also the growth rate required and the function of the plant will also affect the
nutrients required and applied. For example a hedge that needs to grow quickly may
be given more nitrogen based fertilisers where as a rose that needs to flower well will
be given fertilisers high in potassium.
As plants establish they create more extensive root systems that can pull nutrients
more effectively from the soil and therefore require less feeding.
Plant needs water to growth and move nutrients and cope with heat stress by losing
water they cool themselves need it for growth photosynthesis
Common weeds, pests, diseases, and disorders of plants and their
symptoms.
15 Common weeds to decorative amenity areas
1. Annual meadow grass
2. Hairy bittercress
3. Groundsel
4. Slender speedwell
5. Broadleaved plaintain
6. Shepherds purse
7. Ground Ivy
8. Daisy
9. Cow parsley
10.
Spear thistle
11.
Annual nettle
12.
Cleavers
13.
Scentless mayweed
14.
Sun spurge
15.
Field bindweed
Weed control
Annual weeds can mostly be controlled by hoeing etc. This is because they mostly
have shallow fibrous root systems and when cut at ground level they cannot regrow.
For chemical control with a weed killer (herbicide) a contact weed killer can be used
which kills the part of the plant it touches)
Perennial weed
These tend to have deep tap roots or extensive underground stems etc. This is
because as they are perennial they need to have reserve of food to grow after winter
or damage etc. Therefore these types of weeds need to be dug out and the entire
plant removed to prevent regrowth or treated with a translocated herbicide that will
move around inside the weed killing all parts.
Some more common problems on trees and shrubs
Common problems with outdoor
flowering plants
Common problems on roses
For more information on chemical treatments for plant problems visit
http://www.bayergarden.co.uk/gardendoctor/
3 common plant disorders
1. Reversion
Reversion is the name given when a cultivar known for a particular leaf
shape, colour, or other striking characteristic ‘reverts’ back to a
different form found in the plant’s parentage. The term is often used to
describe a variegated shrub or tree that produces non-variegated
shoots (see below)
2. Drought caused by lack of water in the soil (see below)
3. Salt damage from salt used to clear ice from roads or paths close to
plants (see below) or from salt in sea spray near to the coast
Some more physiological disorders that affect plants
Constriction (damage from diggers etc.)
Mechanical Damage
Water logging
Spring and Autumn Frosts
Lightning (tall trees)
Compaction (of soil around the plant)
Mineral deficiencies (lack of nutrients)
How to select and use control methods for weeds, pests and diseases
appropriate to the area being maintained
How to deal with the following threats to plant health
Annual weeds among annual bedding plants
This can be done by hoeing or hand weeding as the use of herbicides would be
difficult to manage without damage to the closely placed bedding.
Perennial weeds in open shrub boarder
These will need to be dug out by hand to prevent regrowth from tap roots etc.
Alternatively spot treatment with a transloacted weedkiller such as Roundup may be
possible.
Aphids on a climbing rose
If possible encouragement of natural predators such as lady birds
should be encouraged. However if the attack is severe then a
chemical pesticide will be required
This is best sprayed on with a fine nozzle to ensure it treats all
the affected areas
Slugs in an herbaceous boarder
These can be dealt with by slug traps (beer filled containers
that the slugs fall into and drown. Also plastic sheeting can be
laid down which the slugs will hide under come morning. These
can be pulled back and the slugs collected and disposed of.
Chemical control can also be sued in the form of slug pellets.
Slug pub trap (a beer filled dish is left in the ground around
the affected plants the slugs are attracted crawl in and drown.
Back spot on an individual climbing rose
It is possible that selective removal of affected
leaves may result in control also hygiene may help
i.e. removing fallen leaves etc. will help prevent the
disease from having a hiding place from which to
infect plants at a later date. If required a systemic
fungicide could be used to control the problem.
Why unwanted plant material is removed
The different types of plant material and why it must be removed
(i) damaged plant material
This should be removed as it makes the plant look
unsightly and also may be a starting point for diseases
which could damage the plant
(ii)
diseased material
This needs to be removed and burned to prevent the disease
spreading further or to other plants in the area
Rose canker
(iii) weeds
These are removed as they are unsightly and complete with desirable plants for
water, food and light and can be a place for pests to hide.
(iv) Plant debris (old leaves etc.)
These are removed as they are unsightly and can be a place for pests to hide.
(v) non typical
This type of growth should be removed as it detracts
for the look of the plant an example of this might be
reversion (where some parts of a plant revert back to
plain green colour) on a variegated plant
(vi) dead plants/plant material
These should be removed as they are unsightly and can be a place where pests
and diseases can establish.
(vii) excessive growth
This need to be removed to keep plants to the desired
size and shape and prevent them overcrowding
surrounding plants or growing over paths etc.
(viii) Badly positioned.
These need to be removed as they may spoil the look of
the plant or area or may be a nuisance to close to a drain etc.
Some examples of items of equipment which will be necessary for
maintaining the appearance of decorative amenity areas.
Pruning equipment might include
Secateurs
Pruning saws
Loppers
Knapsack sprayers for liquid fertilisers and applying pesticides
Spinning disc spreaders
(spades, forks, hoes etc.).
Digging and soil cultivation tools
Watering equipment and hose pipes
The methods of maintaining the equipment above ready for use.
Pruning and cutting blades should be cleaned after use to avid spread of diseases i.e.
blades wiped with disinfectant, crossing points might need to be oiled or greased to
ensure they operate smoothly for the user. Blades may need to be sharped using
sharpening stones and teeth set on saw blades
Resetting the teeth on a pruning saw
Digging tools should be washed in water and lightly oiled to prevent rust (a clean
spade or fork in 40% easier to use that one caked in dried on mud or covered in rust.
After use tools should be checked to ensure they are clean and free from damage and
any problems reported to the supervisor.
Current health and safety legislation, codes of practice and any additional
requirements. Health and safety legislation that apply to this area of work
The Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA) places an obligation for workers to
protect themselves and others during work operations.
The Provision and use of work equipment regulations (PUWER) places an
obligation on employers to ensure all equipment and tools are safe and fit for the
work intended.
COSHH- Harm from fertiliser and substances used in feeding of treating plants– “The
control of substances hazardous to health” requires that all substances used at work
must be assessed for any risks they might present to the workers using them.
Harmful substances might include weedkillers etc. The results of these “COSHH risk
assessments” should be made known to the worker and if the material must be used
and no safer material is available then if required protective clothing must be supplied
free of charge.
Risk assessments
Maintaining has a number of risks and these risks must be assessed and steps taken
to reduce them (such as training in the use of tools and chemicals and having a first
aid kit nearby).
The correct methods for disposing of waste.
Old fertiliser and empty containers may need to be disposed of via a licensed
contractor. Plastic bags and containers should if possible be recycled.
How environmental damage can be minimised.
This can be done by careful disposal of any fertiliser not used i.e. by a licensed
contractor. Also recycling of plastic bags will reduce landfill disposal. Care should be
taken to ensure fertilisers do not get into water courses such as streams and ponds.
The correct methods for disposing of organic and inorganic waste.
Non-hazardous waste e.g. leaves; these can be recycled by composting. Prunings can
be shredded and recycled to be used as mulch to reduce off site disposal by landfill
etc.
Hazardous waste i.e. old fertiliser bags etc.-collect in marked containers and dispose
of via an approved waste contractor for recycling.
Empty pesticide containers should be rinsed and the rinses should be added to the
sprayer tank. Once rinsed the empty container should be stored in a safe locked
container for approved contractor disposal.