Prepared by Elaine Homstad, MG 1 Going Green How to transition your landscape to a low-maintenance,...

Prepared by Elaine Homstad, MGPrepared by Elaine Homstad, MG 11

Going GreenGoing GreenHow to transition your landscape How to transition your landscape

to a low-maintenance, earth-to a low-maintenance, earth-friendly ecosystemfriendly ecosystem

Presented by Elaine Homstad

Fairfax County Master Gardeners Association


Why Garden?Why Garden?

Reduce StressReduce Stress Low-impact exerciseLow-impact exercise CommunityCommunity Personal SatisfactionPersonal Satisfaction Safe food sourcesSafe food sources Creative outletCreative outlet Contribution to the futureContribution to the future


THE IMPORTANCE OF GARDENING & COMPOSTINGTHE IMPORTANCE OF GARDENING & COMPOSTINGHow Gardening Makes You GreenHow Gardening Makes You Green

Being green is all the rage. And you can’t get Being green is all the rage. And you can’t get anymore green than growing plants in your own anymore green than growing plants in your own yard. Even growing a few plants can impact yard. Even growing a few plants can impact global warming. Consider trying these Green global warming. Consider trying these Green Landscaping and Garden Tips as a way to reduce Landscaping and Garden Tips as a way to reduce your carbon footprint and pollution, while creating your carbon footprint and pollution, while creating a more beautiful and healthier yard for yourself a more beautiful and healthier yard for yourself and your family, and a better community for your and your family, and a better community for your neighbors.neighbors.

Courtesy Hilton Garden Inn 2008Courtesy Hilton Garden Inn 2008


1. CLEAN THE AIR, PLANT A TREE1. CLEAN THE AIR, PLANT A TREE Trees help clean the air by absorbing pollutants such as carbon monoxide, Trees help clean the air by absorbing pollutants such as carbon monoxide,

sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Trees also remove particulate sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Trees also remove particulate pollution from the air and cool summer air temperatures in cities. pollution from the air and cool summer air temperatures in cities.

2. EAT BETTER, GROW A GARDEN2. EAT BETTER, GROW A GARDEN Eating better starts with eating fresh. The fresher the vegetables, the more Eating better starts with eating fresh. The fresher the vegetables, the more

nutritious they are. And you can’t get any fresher produce than if you grow nutritious they are. And you can’t get any fresher produce than if you grow some of your own. Plus, you’ll know what’s been sprayed on those some of your own. Plus, you’ll know what’s been sprayed on those vegetables you’re eating.vegetables you’re eating.

3. REDUCE POLLUTION, GROW LESS LAWN3. REDUCE POLLUTION, GROW LESS LAWN The conventional gas powered lawn mower pollutes as much in an hour of The conventional gas powered lawn mower pollutes as much in an hour of

mowing as driving a car 100 miles. Reduce lawn mower pollution by using mowing as driving a car 100 miles. Reduce lawn mower pollution by using an electric mower, or better yet, reduce the size of your lawn by planting an electric mower, or better yet, reduce the size of your lawn by planting trees, shrubs and gardens instead.trees, shrubs and gardens instead.

4. GET SOME EXERCISE4. GET SOME EXERCISE Gardening is exercise and good for your health. With proper guidance, Gardening is exercise and good for your health. With proper guidance,

researchers in England found that 30 minutes of gardening burned more researchers in England found that 30 minutes of gardening burned more calories than a 30-minute aerobics class. Gardening also lowers blood calories than a 30-minute aerobics class. Gardening also lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels, helps prevent diabetes and heart disease, pressure and cholesterol levels, helps prevent diabetes and heart disease, and prevents or slows osteoporosis. Plus, think of all the beautiful flowers and prevents or slows osteoporosis. Plus, think of all the beautiful flowers and tasty vegetables you’ll grow as a result of your workout.and tasty vegetables you’ll grow as a result of your workout.



5. COMPOST TO REDUCE YOUR GARBAGE5. COMPOST TO REDUCE YOUR GARBAGE Reduce the amount of garbage you produce by composting. Take your non-Reduce the amount of garbage you produce by composting. Take your non-

meat kitchen scraps and yard waste and toss them into a compost bin. Not meat kitchen scraps and yard waste and toss them into a compost bin. Not only will you be reducing the amount of trash sent to the landfill, you’ll be only will you be reducing the amount of trash sent to the landfill, you’ll be creating great soil for your plants. creating great soil for your plants.

6. SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY6. SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY Gardening is a great way to spend some quality time with kids, grandkids Gardening is a great way to spend some quality time with kids, grandkids

and your spouse. Choose fun projects to tackle together such as growing and your spouse. Choose fun projects to tackle together such as growing herbs in a container or decorating your deck. It’s a productive way to herbs in a container or decorating your deck. It’s a productive way to spend time with loved ones in the fresh air. spend time with loved ones in the fresh air.

7. LANDSCAPE TO INCREASE YOUR PROPERTY VALUE7. LANDSCAPE TO INCREASE YOUR PROPERTY VALUE Good landscaping can add up to 19% to the value of your home. Take some Good landscaping can add up to 19% to the value of your home. Take some

time to plant trees, shrubs and flowers and spruce up your house and yard time to plant trees, shrubs and flowers and spruce up your house and yard to make it a hot item to sell.to make it a hot item to sell.

8. MULCH TO REDUCE WATER USE8. MULCH TO REDUCE WATER USE To conserve this precious resource, apply a 2- to 4-inch thick layer of To conserve this precious resource, apply a 2- to 4-inch thick layer of

organic mulch, such as shredded bark, around trees and shrubs. The mulch organic mulch, such as shredded bark, around trees and shrubs. The mulch reduces the amount of water that evaporates so you’ll have to apply less reduces the amount of water that evaporates so you’ll have to apply less to keep your plants healthy.to keep your plants healthy.



9. BUY RECYCLED PRODUCTS9. BUY RECYCLED PRODUCTS Buy yard products, such as pots and lawn furniture, made from recycled Buy yard products, such as pots and lawn furniture, made from recycled

materials to reduce the amount of virgin resources you use. Many recycled materials to reduce the amount of virgin resources you use. Many recycled products are attractive, functional and durable.products are attractive, functional and durable.

10. ADD SOME BEAUTY TO YOUR LIFE10. ADD SOME BEAUTY TO YOUR LIFE Not only does gardening make for a greener lifestyle, it adds beauty to your Not only does gardening make for a greener lifestyle, it adds beauty to your

yard and neighborhood. In a recent National Gardening Association survey, yard and neighborhood. In a recent National Gardening Association survey, one of the top reasons people garden is to create a relaxing, beautiful one of the top reasons people garden is to create a relaxing, beautiful place in their yard and their community. A well landscape community also place in their yard and their community. A well landscape community also is safer with less crime. Make the world a better place by gardening. is safer with less crime. Make the world a better place by gardening.



Making the TransitionMaking the Transition

Analyze the “AS IS”Analyze the “AS IS”What is the most time-consuming, What is the most time-consuming,

physically physically demanding, requires the most demanding, requires the most chemicals or chemicals or gasoline-powered equipment, gasoline-powered equipment, or is an or is an invasive species?invasive species?

Make a plan for the “TO BE”Make a plan for the “TO BE”

Replace, Reduce or EliminateReplace, Reduce or Eliminate


The “Hit List”The “Hit List” LawnsLawns

• MonocultureMonoculture• Creates large carbon footprintCreates large carbon footprint

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species• Overpowers Native SpeciesOverpowers Native Species• Creates ecological imbalanceCreates ecological imbalance

Overuse of AnnualsOveruse of Annuals• Requires more attentionRequires more attention• Does not contribute to a sustainable and Does not contribute to a sustainable and

self-renewing landscapeself-renewing landscape


LawnsLawns “ “Ultimately, the perfect lawn, like the Ultimately, the perfect lawn, like the

perfect body, is an illusion, a gigantic perfect body, is an illusion, a gigantic fantasy stymied by the realities of fantasy stymied by the realities of ecology and American geography ecology and American geography both. It is also a dream founded on both. It is also a dream founded on two resources our nation is rapidly two resources our nation is rapidly running short of-oil and water.”running short of-oil and water.”

Ted Steinberg, from his book Ted Steinberg, from his book American Green - The Obsessive American Green - The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect LawnQuest for the Perfect Lawn


So, what to do about the lawn…?So, what to do about the lawn…?

Reduce their size with garden beds and Reduce their size with garden beds and ground coversground covers

Mow high – at least 3” for weed Mow high – at least 3” for weed suppression – and leave the clippings on suppression – and leave the clippings on the lawnthe lawn

Tolerate the weeds. They’re green, aren’t Tolerate the weeds. They’re green, aren’t they?they?

Do not water! Lawns may go dormant Do not water! Lawns may go dormant during droughts, but they rarely die out during droughts, but they rarely die out entirely.entirely.

Use organic products (like corn gluten)Use organic products (like corn gluten)


Which landscape is high maintenance and which is low?


What about those invasives?What about those invasives? Invasive species are, generally, non-native species that cause ecological or Invasive species are, generally, non-native species that cause ecological or

economical harm. They share certain characteristics, such as being able to economical harm. They share certain characteristics, such as being able to mature quickly, generate many offspring and can tolerate a wide range of mature quickly, generate many offspring and can tolerate a wide range of habitats. habitats.

Because of the characteristics that allow a species to successfully establish Because of the characteristics that allow a species to successfully establish in new territory, invasive species make terrible neighbors. They out-in new territory, invasive species make terrible neighbors. They out-compete native species for the same resources, eventually reducing the compete native species for the same resources, eventually reducing the populations of native species (and in some cases even removing species populations of native species (and in some cases even removing species from a community altogether). Some invasive species have more from a community altogether). Some invasive species have more complicated effects which have ramifications higher up the food chain, complicated effects which have ramifications higher up the food chain, resulting in fewer native birds and wildlife. The third main effect of invasive resulting in fewer native birds and wildlife. The third main effect of invasive species is that they have the ability to alter natural functions of species is that they have the ability to alter natural functions of communities and ecosystems.communities and ecosystems.

Common invasives found in landscapes (partial list):Common invasives found in landscapes (partial list):Burning Bush (Winged Euonymous)Burning Bush (Winged Euonymous) BambooBambooNorway MapleNorway Maple Japanese BarberryJapanese BarberryEnglish IvyEnglish Ivy PachysandraPachysandraBradford PearBradford Pear PrivetPrivetAsian WisteriaAsian Wisteria Japanese HoneysuckleJapanese Honeysuckle

Source: FCPA websiteSource: FCPA websitehttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/ima/whatareinvasives.htmhttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/ima/whatareinvasives.htm


But, but, but…But, but, but…

Take them out, or have them taken out Take them out, or have them taken out and don’t look backand don’t look back

Replace with native species Replace with native species • A good reference book is A good reference book is Native Alternatives to Native Alternatives to

Invasive PlantsInvasive Plants by Cole Burrell by Cole Burrell Also remove or rethink disease or pest-Also remove or rethink disease or pest-

receptive plants, or fast growers that receptive plants, or fast growers that require a lot of pruning and attention require a lot of pruning and attention (arborvitae, euonymus, certain hollies)(arborvitae, euonymus, certain hollies)


Be cautious with the annuals…Be cautious with the annuals… High Maintenance = a garden full of flowering annualsHigh Maintenance = a garden full of flowering annuals

• Planting in Spring, and FallPlanting in Spring, and Fall• DeadheadingDeadheading• FertilizingFertilizing• WateringWatering• Removing in Fall and late winterRemoving in Fall and late winter

Annuals can be beautiful! Consider these lower Annuals can be beautiful! Consider these lower maintenance options for annualsmaintenance options for annuals• Containers or hanging baskets with water-retaining Containers or hanging baskets with water-retaining

media addedmedia added• Proper site…sun in the morning, shade after noonProper site…sun in the morning, shade after noon• Using self-seeding annuals (Cosmos, Cleome, Sweet Using self-seeding annuals (Cosmos, Cleome, Sweet

Alyssum, Four-o-clocks, Dianthus, Silver dollar plants, Alyssum, Four-o-clocks, Dianthus, Silver dollar plants, Dame’s Rocket)Dame’s Rocket)

But for truly Low Maintenance, count on But for truly Low Maintenance, count on Perennials!!Perennials!!


PerennialsPerennials Group plants with similar needs togetherGroup plants with similar needs together Right plant,Right plant, right placeright place (soil type, (soil type, light,light, moisture)moisture)

Use Native plants whenever possibleUse Native plants whenever possible


Other maintenance-reducing Other maintenance-reducing strategiesstrategies

Thick PlantingThick Planting

MulchingMulching


Web ResourcesWeb Resources Fairfax County Master Gardeners Fairfax County Master Gardeners

Association Association www.fairfaxmastergardeners.orgwww.fairfaxmastergardeners.org

Virginia Cooperative Extension Virginia Cooperative Extension www.ext.vt.edu/resourceswww.ext.vt.edu/resources

National Wildlife FederationNational Wildlife Federation www.nwf.orgwww.nwf.org Virginia Native Plant Society Virginia Native Plant Society www.vnps.orgwww.vnps.org Virginia Department of Conservation and Virginia Department of Conservation and

RecreationRecreation www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritagewww.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage


Print ResourcesPrint Resources

Books and magazines from Rodale Books and magazines from Rodale PublicationsPublications

Books by Michael DirrBooks by Michael Dirr

Books from the American Books from the American Horticultural SocietyHorticultural Society


Get out there and get growing!Get out there and get growing!

Prepared by Elaine Homstad, MG 1 Going Green How to transition your landscape to a low-maintenance,...

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