Sustainable Landscaping

As water shortages and water quality become the norm for California, many gardeners are turning to sustainable landscaping. Not only does sustainable landscaping promote water conservation and increased water quality, it is also low-maintenance, enhances soil quality, provides safe habitat for native wildlife and can even decrease energy usage.

Sustainable landscaping practices are interconnected and include careful plant selection and placement, effective watering, recycling of organic matter to improve soil and integrated pest management to reduce chemical use while attracting beneficial wildlife.
An important facet of sustainable landscaping is selecting plants best suited for your climate and microclimates. Generally speaking, the Sierra foothills are in Sunset’s climate Zone 7, bordering Zone 9 below Jamestown as you approach the San Joaquin Valley. In the higher elevations of Zone 7, gardeners will experience cooler, wetter microclimates.

Microclimates can vary throughout a garden depending on sun exposure, wind, soil type and even distance from asphalt. Choose plants that are native to your climate zone and thrive in nature in each of the different microclimates in your garden. Unlike exotics and invasive species, many California native plants are drought tolerant and once established help conserve water.
Plant placement is also key to sustainable landscaping. Group those with similar needs, allowing them to be cared for together. Native deciduous trees can be planted on southwest and southeast corners to increase shade in summer yet allow plenty of sun to reach the house in the winter. This promotes energy conservation. Grow ground covers near heat retentive surfaces such as asphalt to increase summer cooling.
Water conservation is another goal of sustainable landscaping. First and foremost, resist overwatering. Most of us overwater our plants (particularly those that are established) rather than waiting for the first signs of distress or checking the soil for dryness. Overwatering leads to runoff and losses to evaporation. Ultimately water and soil are both negatively affected as nutrients and other valuable soil materials are washed away in the water.

Drip irrigation applies water directly to a plant’s root zone, stimulating deeper root growth. With slow application, more water soaks in at deeper levels resulting in
less evaporation on the surface. Another tactic is to use rain water and or gray water to water trees and plants. Check local guidelines regarding use of gray water on edibles.
Amending your soil with organic material helps boost water-holding capacity, decreases runoff and enhances soil quality. Compost also improves soil texture and provides vital plant nutrients, reducing the need for fertilizer. Initially when planting, work compost deeply into the soil rather than applying it to just the top few inches. Thereafter to maintain good soil quality, till infrequently.
Adding three to four inches of mulch on top of your soil is a natural way to control weeds without the use of chemicals. Mulch also decreases evaporative losses and erosion and keeps material from heading to landfills.

Integrated pest management is key to sustainable landscaping. (IPM is the use of the least toxic methods for managing garden problems.) Limit the use of chemicals that have a negative effect on water and soil quality and are harmful to pollinators and other native wildlife.
Disease-resistant native plants attract beneficial wildlife to gardens which in turn keep pests at a minimum without pesticides. Mulch, rather than herbicides, helps control weeds.
Sustainable landscaping protects our natural resources and helps to create beautiful low-maintenance gardens. The strategies used to reach the ‘ideal’ are interconnected. Implementing one approach in your garden means you are already working on others, helping you become a good steward for the environment.

For a detailed article on sustainable landscaping go to http://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu; type in 8504 in the browse space. For help managing plant problems, go to www.ipm.ucdavis.edu.
Kathi Joye is a UCCE Master Gardener of Tuolumne County and enjoys gardening at an elevation above 4,000 feet.
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Garden Landscape Design - 10 Tips To Design A Beautiful Garden Landscape

1. When coming up with a garden landscape design, you should consider the size, shape, and style of your home during the landscape design phase. The landscape design of your garden should blend with the house, not distract from it. You should be trying to enhance the property as well as the existing structures with your landscape design A good garden landscape design should flow smoothly with your home by creating repeat design details, textures, colors and smooth transitions.
2. When designing your garden landscape, make sure you have a plan in mind. A garden design should incorporate height and width restrictions of the area you plan on planting your garden, especially when dealing with trees. The garden may become unmanageable blocking views or pathways.
3. A successful garden landscape design will include proper soil requirements for the types of plants that you choose within your garden. Drainage requirements have to be taken into consideration when designing you garden. Poor drainage will doom your garden from the start
4. When designing your garden landscape, make sure that you plan for future growth. Your landscape design at maturity may change how the garden receives sun and shade throughout the day. Garden plants bought with the sun in mind may end up in the shade.
5. A vital key to a great garden landscape design is to create a focal point. Whether your focal point is a tree or an oddly shaped plant or garden color, create a garden landscape around it.
6. Consider the curb appeal that your garden landscape design will bring. The backyard garden may be where you hang out, but the rest of the world will see the garden design in the front yard. A good landscape design technique is to plan curves into the garden design; nature does not work in just straight lines. This type of landscape design will increase the look and curbside appeal of your garden, adding value to your house.
7. The future needs of the family should be taken into consideration when designing your garden landscape. If you have children, design your garden with them in mind. Each member of the family will use the garden design differently.
8. One of the most overlooked elements of the landscape design is lighting, both natural and artificial. Lighting plays a very important role in any good garden landscape design. Garden lighting sets the tone for how the garden will be used during the day as well as at night.
9. Your garden landscape design does not have to be expensive, but make sure that you are being realistic about costs. It's very easy to misjudge landscaping design costs, especially if you hire contractors.
10. When planning your garden landscape design, make sure and create it around your personality, desires and maintenance requirements. If you really like an oriental garden design, why plant a rose garden. The future maintenance of your landscape design should be a major decision during the landscape design. If you do not have the time or the ability to keep up on the maintenance, your landscape design is doomed for failure.

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