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Transcript
GARDENING IN THE 21ST CENTURY Sustainable, Low Maintenance Landscapes Why do you garden? For me, it was time to stop when… What brought me back… What does gardening look like in the future? By 2040, it is estimated there will be 9.1 billion people on the planet. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2013) World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision. "On a global basis...the two great destroyers of biodiversity are, first habitat destruction and, second, invasion by exotic species” - E.O. Wilson Define the goal… Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations. What is a sustainable landscape? High tech options? What is a sustainable landscape? Low tech planting approaches? A philosophy and approach that considers the larger ecosystem… And prioritizes biodiversity Biological diversity, or the shorter "biodiversity,“ simply means the variety, of plants and animals and other living things in a particular area or region. Biodiversity also means the number, or abundance of different species living within a particular region. Scientists sometimes refer to the biodiversity of an ecosystem, a natural area made up of a community of plants, animals, and other living things in a particular physical and chemical environment. So how is our biodiversity doing? Biodiversity loss Currently experiencing the worst species die-offs since the loss of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Scientists estimate we’re now losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times the background rate (1-5 species per year), with dozens going extinct every day. Data indicate 99 percent of currently threatened species are at risk from human activities, primarily those driving habitat loss, introduction of exotic species, and global warming. Plants at particular risk Through photosynthesis, plants provide the oxygen we breathe and the food we eat and are thus the foundation of most life on Earth. Of the more than 300,000 known species of plants, the IUCN has evaluated only 12,914 species, finding that about 68 percent of evaluated plant species are threatened with extinction. Restoration ecology defined The Society for Ecological Restoration defines “ecologic restoration” as an “intentional activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem with respect to its health, integrity and sustainability.” Practices include erosion control, reforestation, use of genetically local native species, removal of non-native species and weeds, revegetation of disturbed areas, day-lighting streams, reintroduction of native species, as well as habitat and range improvement for targeted species. Ecology & regional ecosystems Ecosystem & plant communities Plant community is a collection of plant species within a designated geographical unit, which forms an identifiable vegetation type. The components of each plant community are influenced by soil type, topography, climate and human disturbance. A plant community can be described floristically (the species it contains) and/or by its physical structure. The good news… Sustainable landscapes don’t require a lot of … time • space • money • They do require… research (so based on sound science) • planning (so save time/labor/money later) • creativity (so not the same “cookie cutter” approach) • Sound science first Obligate Wetland Plants = OBL) Almost always (99%) found in a wetland Facultative Wetland Plants = FACW) Occur in wetland >67-99% Facultative Plants = FAC) Similar likelihood of being found in wetland or upland Facultative Upland Plants = FACU) Occur in upland >67% to 99% (<33% found in wetland) Obligate Upland Plants = UPL) Almost always (99%) found in upland habitat Quantifying floristic quality Botanists and plant ecologists use a quantitative measure called the Floristic Quality Index (FQI) to express the "quality" of a natural area. FQI is not a stand-alone value, but is used together with other assessments to evaluate the quality of a site. Some plants are more “rare” The basis of the FQI calculation is the coefficient of conservatism (C), a value given to each species on a state-wide basis. Each native species is assigned a value from 0 to 10, that represents the probability that this plant species is likely to occur in landscapes relatively unaltered from those of pre-settlement times. Plant species with high C values are relatively specialized in their requirements, and thus are found in higher quality habitats. Translation for gardening… Use native plants adapted to your site hydrology, and with a reasonable C-value (roughly 2-6) to best adapt to the garden landscape Controlling invasive species Conservation groups such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the European Union define "Invasive Alien Species" as those that are, firstly, outside their natural distribution area, and secondly, threaten biological diversity. Economic costs of invasives Direct impacts are the effects of the particular pest or disease on the host. Indirect impacts are the effects that are created by the presence of a pest that could affect public health issues, such as compromising key ecosystem functions, general market effects (including possible changes in consumers' attitude toward a given product), research requirements, market access problems, and impacts on tourism and other sectors of an economy. Gardeners and invasives Many landscape plants that are still propagated and sold are now known to be invasive. Check the Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN) for a list of plants to avoid, and possible native alternatives Translation for gardeners… Science first – check species against invasive watch lists and avoid choosing plants based on just aesthetics; look for native alternatives to standard landscape species Sustainable practices in the garden 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Conduct a thorough site analysis Incorporate natives/hardy plants using ecological approaches Reduce turf areas Practice good soil management Minimize chemical use Provide space and resources for wildlife Include plantings for home energy conservation Add plantings for water conservation/retention Incorporate food production Take a long-term perspective 1. Site analysis Assess hydrology and drainage Assess soil and fertility Determine structure – closed canopy (woodland), open canopy (savanna) or no canopy (prairie) Assess functional needs – what purpose does the site need to provide for humans Assess adjacent site influences Determine character or planting style – formal vs. naturalized, curvilinear vs. geometric 2. Incorporate native/hardy plants Natives are adapted to our climate/soils and resistant to pests/diseases Hardy plants thrive for many years without replanting Support our regional ecosystems Provide habitat Preserve genetic variation 3. Reduce turf areas Use only where truly needed Play/recreation spaces Gathering places Try sustainable methods Allow turf to go dormant during drought periods Mow high, sharpen blades and use a mulching mower – or try a rotary mower! Aerate and compost instead of traditional fertilizers Allow some broadleaf plants to remain 4. Practice good soil management Protect soil from erosion Minimize compaction Enrich soil with living components and natural fertilizers Make your own compost to help restore the soil Know your soil • • • • • • Assess your soil fertility Assess your soil drainage Test your soil pH Physically loosen (improve tilth) Amend? (natives often prefer less) Enrich/nurture over time (topdressing) 5. Minimize chemical use Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Know your target (proper diagnosis) Target treatment at most effective time (life cycle) Use least toxic method first Physical removal Organic/biological controls Chemicals only if necessary 6. Provide resources for wildlife Include water when possible Provide food and cover Research hostspecific relationships Involve your family Keep your camera handy! 7. Plants for energy conservation Provide shade for southern and western exposures Shade air conditioning units Plant windbreaks Group plantings by water needs 8. Add plantings that consider water Reduce run-off – create a rain garden Add a rain barrel to your downspout Consider xeriscaping for dry areas Rain gardens (functional wetlands) Plantings that need minimal water 9. Incorporate food Permaculture principles Grow more productive over time Conserves energy and resources Fun for kids Eat your results A word about pollinators The decline of pollinators is well documented world wide One third of all food crops rely on pollinators In North America, studies have shown that native pollinators are more effective than other pollinators, but often require specific native plants as habitat 10. Take a long-term perspective Long-lived perennials and natives take time to establish Public acceptance often requires education Ecosystems evolve, and so do eco-friendly gardens QUESTIONS? Rory Klick, Associate Professor & Horticulture Dept. Chair, College of Lake County [email protected]