Research and Development

Research & Development

Green Landscape Design– Sustainable v$. Maintainable

As in many things in life there is much more to plants than meets the eye. The obvious benefit of the man-made landscape is the increased beauty of our surroundings after clearing the slate of earth for our living and working spaces. Throughout history, plants have been used to enhance the life qualities of our space – from cooling to heating, from modifying to beautifying the landscape. But to have the full benefits of a people-planted landscape in any community, it must, like nature herself, be sustainable.

Sustainability implies, that with a little work (but with a lot of planning) a landscape will be long-lasting without taking away from the intended purpose. The goal in Sustainable Landscaping is to create visually pleasing, environmentally sound, and relatively low maintenance landscapes. Sustainable landscaping tries to balance the resources used and results gained.
For a successful sustainable landscape it takes an adjustment in the expectations we have of how a landscape should look. What is gained is a more natural landscape that uses less labor and chemicals. It requires as much or more planning than traditional landscapes, but establishing plant communities creates a landscape that becomes easier to maintain as it matures, and is self-perpetuating through proper plant selection.

		Did You Know... Downtown Chicago trees live about 7 years Suburban trees live about 30 years Natural trees can live 100's of years May 2005 R&D 'Extreme Landscaping-The Ultimate Challenge'


How to plan a landscape design with sustainability in mind? A few simple steps help direct that planning:
1. Determine the main purpose of the landscape 2. List the constraints - Site Planning (village guidelines, owner preferences) Correct drainage problems Plan site to prevent erosion Water runoff handled properly Site planned for reduced nitrogen fertilizer use Plant selection and placement affects heating and cooling of the building 3. Develop the idear sustainable plant community within the site limits- Plant Selection Plants selected for reduced pruning, spraying, fertilizing Pest and disease resistant selections (such as Malus or Rosa selections) Use trees, shrubs and perennials (vs. annuals) to reduce the cost of planting and maintenance Plants in their ideal growing conditions Local either hardy native plants (for less maintenance- adapted to local ecology, drought, soils and pests) or plants adapted to similar growing conditions Right plant for right site hardiness, light, soil, water and humidity Plants sited so that they complement and do not compete when mature Knowing mature size before planting helps long term sustainability Examine growth patterns, growth rate, life span and growing habits Shrubs - hedges or individuals need space to grow for ideal form accent with perennials that can be moved later and groundcovers for weed control deciduous shrubs provide structure flowering at different times from perennials Many options for site preference, size, shape, colors, scents... Reduce the use of invasive or aggressive plants Attracting beneficial wildlife Plant in combinations create communities of native plants, birds, bees and wildlife the more similar to a native habitat, the better chance of survival for all Protect existing plants and wildlife of the local ecosystem provide habitat, shelter and food Create wildlife habitat wildlife corridors Let flowers go to seed for food No pesticides that kill beneficials 4. When all of these criteria are met, the real sustainability evaluation can begin. This is where the long-run benefits really start to shine.

Evaluating landscape sustainability- List of Environmental benefits
	REDUCE WASTE Hardy/healthy plants reduce replacement plantings Avoid invasives which have to be removed Do not over water, fertilize or prune Plant by mature size so plants don't outgrow site and need pruning Leave biomass, compost or recycle Used recycled hardscapes materials
	PROTECT SOIL Protect from compaction and erosion Avoid quick release chemicals Add local organic matter compost with beneficial microbes Mulch for soil fertility and earthworms Use compost to provide slow release fertilizing and improve soil Aerate soil
	CONSERVE AND PRTECT WATER Irrigate long, slow and infrequent Efficient irrigation systems maintain and fix leaks in systems Use compost absorbs water and lowers runoff Use porous hardscape surfaces Use less turf Plant native and drought tolerant plants Group plants by water needs Use rainwater or graywater
	CONSERVE ENERGY Plant trees for cooling on west and southwest of buildings Plant trees for shade fo paved areas Use solar powered or efficient outdoor lighting Local suppliers can reduce transportation costs and fuel use Maintain equipment or upgrade for fuel efficiency Don't use sythetic fertilizers energy is used to produce them
	REDUCE POLLUTION Use mulch and drip irrigation to reduce weeds without herbicide use Avoid quick release fertilizer - it creates a spurt of new growth and attracts pests Plant insectary plants that attract biocontrol insects Use organic controls soaps or oils, Bt or mechanical removal of pests
The sustainable landscape is an ecosystem tucked into the hardscaping of the human environment of work and play. The better we balance that created ecosystem the longer life it has to soften our living space.
Links for more information Global ReLeaf www.americanforests.org/global_releaf Arbor Day www.arborday.org

Last updated 01/05. ©2005Beeson's McHenry County Nursery. All rights reserved.