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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
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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
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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]