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Landscape to Reduce Waste. Chuck Ingels, Farm & Horticulture Advisor UC Cooperative Extension, Sacramento County. Landscape to Reduce Waste Why?. Americans generate 4-6 lbs. of trash a day per person Avg. US household generates 650 lbs. of compostables each year - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Chuck Ingels, Farm & Horticulture Advisor
UC Cooperative Extension, Sacramento County
Landscape to Reduce Waste
Americans generate 4-6 lbs. of trash a day per person
Avg. US household generates 650 lbs. of compostables each year
Garbage handling is 4th largest expense for many cities
CA goal: Divert 50% of organic matter
Landscape to Reduce WasteWhy?
In CA, yard wastes are the largest component of municipal waste
Grass clippings = about half the yard trimmings deposited in state landfills
An average CA lawn produces 300 to 400 lbs. grass clippings / 1,000 sq. ft. annually
Landscape to Reduce WasteWhy?
Design and select plants to reduce pruning Lawns: Reduce area, use alternative
species, grasscycle Prune properly, water & fertilize judiciously Use plant debris for mulch or compost Reduce, recycle, reuse & rebuy
Landscape to Reduce WasteHow?
Select plants to match local conditionsSun exposureTemperaturesRainfallSoils What plants are
native or well
adapted?
Landscape to Reduce WasteDesign and Select Plants to Reduce Pruning
Landscape to Reduce WasteDesign and Select Plants to Reduce Pruning
Select Appropriate PlantsReplace High Maintenance Plantings
Select Appropriate PlantsAvoid Invasive Species
Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce Lawn Areas
Landscape to Reduce WasteChoose Alternative Turf Species
Currently the most promising species:
‘UC Verde’ buffalograss-Buchloe dactyloides
Sedge species-Carex pansa, Carex praegracilis, Carex texensis
Choose Alternative Turf Species‘UC Verde’ Buffalograss
Other varieties available too
(‘Legacy’, ‘Prestige’)
Mowed
Unmowed
Buffalograss native to U.S. UC Verde developed by UC, 2003 Max. height: 4-8 inches Infrequent mowing (2-3 wks.); can be
mowed once a year Highly drought resistant – “Up to 75%
water use reduction” Winter dormancy – Partial; shorter than
bermudagrass
‘UC Verde’ BuffalograssCharacteristics
1 plant per foot (avg.) $0.535 per plug, 128 plugs per tray 4 trays per box = 512 sq. ft. 512 x $0.535 = $274 Boxing = $7.50, Shipping = $20 Total = $301.50 (Tall fescue sod = ~$200-$250) Savings? Less mowing & water
‘UC Verde’ BuffalograssApproximate Price (Florasource, Ltd.)
Landscape to Reduce WasteChoose Alternative Turf Species
Carex pansaCarex praegracilis
Carex texensis (shade)
Choose Alternative Turf SpeciesCarex pansa and C. praegracilis
A web site said Carex pansa (left) & C.
praegracilis (rt.), but natural variations occur
C. praegracilis,mowed & unmowed
Carex Species Used for Turf
C. praegracilis Clustered field sedge C. pansa Sand-dune sedge C. texensis Catlin sedge
-better for shade?
Sedge family (likenutsedge) – triangularStems & seeds
Carex Turf SpeciesCharacteristics
Native throughout U.S. and Calif. Taxonomy is ambiguous; much variation Most in hort. trade were collected from
dunes in Central Calif. coast Some say Greenlee Nursery C. pansa may
be C. praegracilis Very drought tolerant Summer dormancy – Stays green with irrig.
1 plant per 3-4 in. (up to 6 in.)= 4-16 plugs/sq. ft.
Price = $0.35 per plug 512 sq. ft. x 4 plugs = 2,048 plugs 512 sq. ft. x 16 plugs = 8,192 plugs Shipping = $25 (min. order; higher
cost for shipping farther) Total = $717 to $2,867
Carex praegracilisApproximate Price (Native Sons Nursery)
Carex Turf SpeciesKey Nurseries & Info
Native Sons Nursery (Arroyo Grande) Greenlee Nursery (Chino)
Clarification of C. pansa vs. C. praegracilis:Internet search:“A Sedge by Another Name…Is Confusing”
Landscape to Reduce WasteGrasscycle
Landscape to Reduce Waste Prune Selectively and Properly
NO! YES
Landscape to Reduce Waste Water and Fertilize Judiciously
Landscape to Reduce WasteProduce Mulch or Request from Tree
Company
Landscape to Reduce WasteComposting
Leaves (30-80:1)
Straw (40-100:1)
Paper (150-200:1)
Sawdust (100-500:1)
Animal bedding mixed with manure (30-80:1)
High carbon materials such as:
Making CompostBrowns
Vegetable scraps (12-20:1)
Coffee grounds (20:1)
Grass clippings (12-25:1)
Manure– Cow (20:1)
– Horse (25:1)– Poultry (10:1), with litter
(13-18:1)– Hog (5-7:1)
High nitrogen materials such as:
Making CompostGreens
Browns• Decay very slowly
• Coarse browns can keep pile aerated
• Tend to accumulate in the fall
• Tie up nitrogen in soil if not fully composted
• May need to stockpile until can mix with greens
Greens• Decay rapidly
• Poor aeration – may have foul odors if used alone
• Tend to accumulate in spring and summer
• Supply nitrogen for composting
• Best composting if mixed with browns
Making CompostBrowns vs. Greens
Aerobic Composting
Composting with decomposers that need air (oxygen)
The fastest way to make high quality compost
Produces no foul odors Aerobic decomposers
produce heat (140F+)
Is Shredding Necessary?
Smaller particles have greater surface area, decompose faster
Allows microbes to get at more of the food
Many Types of Composters
BinsTumblers
Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy
Reuse & relocateexisting plants
Reuse construction materials
Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy
Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy
Reuse constructionmaterials
Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy
Reuse construction
materials
Rebuy
Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy
Use recycled products (e.g., “Trex”, “Rumber”)
1 ton of source-reduced wood product =1.1 tons of timber saved from harvest
4 tons of harvested trees is about 1 acre of forest
One of the largest tire piles in Calif. measured 40 acres in size and 6 stories deep
Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy
Rebuy
StopWaste.org / Bay-Friendly Landscaping & Gardening
www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=8 River-Friendly Landscaping (Sacramento)
www.msa.saccounty.net/sactostormwater/RFL/ CalRecycle / Sustainable Landscaping (CIWMB)
www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Organics/ EcoLandscape.org
www.ecolandscape.org The Sustainable Sites Initiative
www.sustainablesites.org
Landscape to Reduce WasteResources
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