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Welcome to the Coral Learning Garden
Nature is astounding. Plants, with only the water and food that shows up;
with no tending, fertilizer, or pesticides flourish. Multiple dynamic systems support one another, balanced and beautiful. Abundance erupts across
the land with careless grace, providing habitat for plants and organisms alike.
More Sustainable Landscaping
What is it? Appropriate to your situation Healthy Soil Water used wisely Right plants in the right spots Minimize waste Nature in balance
More Sustainable Landscaping
Why do it? Improve health of garden, family and community Save money (energy, water, trash, chemicals) Protect water, soil, and wildlife Learn about the dynamic systems that are our world
More Sustainable Landscaping
How to do it... Evaluate your situation Determine what you want Learn about options Develop a plan and a schedule Start rolling it out
Evaluate your Situation
Sun, shade, slope, rainfall, cold air Current hardscape and trees Irrigation system Soil: type, drainage, test if for edibles
Time and money
Determine what you want
Appearance, as you approach, from inside, etc. Uses: Play, dining, cooking, relaxation Shade Edibles
Recap
Your plan will be more of a process You have a diagram of property and house You have current and planned hardscape and trees
identified You have identified areas to do what you want to do You have other zones determined by irrigation and
sun – edible, fruit trees, drought tolerant
Consider your options
Understand and nurture the soil Use Water Wisely Planting Plans – What to put in those zones Minimize waste Provide Habitat
Understand & Nurture the Soil
Best food for most plants is its own decaying leaves Composting – do it fast Worm Composting – do it easy Compost tea – leverage your compost Microorganisms: Provide lots of small fish
Worms Rock
Easy Clean Best product Reduce waste
Coral – day 1
Bring in the pros 8/27/08
Compost Tea Time
Add a little compost
Rototill?
Solarize 8/29
Removing lawns, preparing beds
Sod cutters Sheet mulch Solarize
Muir High Sod removal
Cover and cover...
Clear and cover w/ manure
Wet and cover
Mulch, cover edges and wait
Use Water Wisely
Plants need water to the bottom of their root zone Hydrozone: water for the plant that needs the most Understand irrigation system – avoid runoff Capture, Slow and Spread water Modify Irrigation – drip off heads or hose bibs Mulch, mulch, mulch
Plantings
The Hardest Part – you need to plan for how landscape will look in five years – mature sizes
Mediterranean zone plants go dormant in summer!!! - don't mix
Map to current irrigation zones if possible
The list of natives – and get a pro to help
Sunset Western Garden Book - Pasadena is in zone 20 Landscape Plants for California Gardens by Bob Perry
www.landdesignpublishing.com/ - get pdf's of first 3 sections Washington Park @ El Molino
Sustainable Landscape Practices that Reduce Waste
Planting to reduce heat in summer and shade air conditioner
Reducing waste and recycling materials Keeping greenwaste on site Nurturing healthy soils while reducing fertilizer
use Conserving water and topsoil Using IPM to minimize chemical use Reducing runoff
Ten tips to landscaping for wildlife
Limit the Amount of Lawn because grass offers less food and cover for most wildlife than other plants
Increase Vertical Layering between the ground and the tree canopy
Provide Water because it is essential for wildlife survival
Plant Native Vegetation whenever possible because it will attract indigenous wildlife species
Provide Bird/Bat Houses and Bird Feeders to increase the diversity of wildlife attracted to your yard
Remove Invasive Exotic Plants that take over natural habitats and can replace all the native vegetation
Manage Pets to protect wildlife and themselves. Cats are good hunters and kill millions of birds and other small animals each year.
Reduce Pesticide Use to prevent unnecessary wildlife illness, deaths, and lack of diversity
Expand the Scale of Habitat by working with your neighbors to create larger wildlife habitat patches
Key Resources
Pasadena Learning Gardens www.PasadenaLearningGardens.org
UC Integrated Pest Management system www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/
Pasadena Water and Power www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/waterandpower/ http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/waterandpower/cooltrees/
LA County DWP sustainability siteladpw.org/epd/sg/gen_info.cfm
Great list of natives http://nativesanctuary.wordpress.com/2010/06/20/easy-natives-for-your-garden-list/
Summary