west jefferson streetscape eitaliation stewardship plan...some of these tasks would include:...

Prepared for the Town of West Jefferson, NC

June 2015

West Jefferson Streetscape RevitalizationStewardship Plan

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West Jefferson Streetscape Revitalization Stewardship Plan

Elizabeth GilboyDirector

Lara BrowningLandscape Architecture Project Manager

Jack RosenbergerLandscape Architecture Project Coordinator

Jen JessupLead Landscape Architecture Designer

The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) is an outreach center in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech that assists communities,

neighborhood groups and non-profit organizations in improving the natural and built environments. Assistance is provided in the areas of landscape architecture,

architecture, planning, and interior design. Working with communities, the conceptual planning and design provides communities with a graphic vision of their project that

can then be used for grant applications and fundraising for the next steps toward implementation.

Community Design Assistance Center101 South Main Street

Blacksburg, Virginia 24060p: 540.231.5644f: 540.231.6089

w: http://cdac.arch.vt.edu

PROJECT TEAM

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Project funding provided by the United States Forest Service in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Forestry.

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Bruce Bytnar Managing Director, Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden

Beth Carson Horticulturalist, Blacksburg Department of Public Works

Dean Crane Director, Blacksburg Department of Parks and Recreation

Susan Day Assistant Professor, The Department of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation

Virginia Tech

Jeff Marion Research Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey

Adjunct Professor, The Department of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation Virginia Tech

Jennifer Wampler Environmental Program Planner, Department of Conservation and Recreation

Acknowledgments

The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) recognizes the need to incorporate detailed stewardship plans with conceptual design work. A project cannot achieve long term success without a strategy for proper planting, care, and maintenance. The information in this document describes strategies for CDAC design concepts that have been implemented. Such stewardship includes general landscape maintenance, tree and planting care, controlling nonnative and invasive plant species, pests, disease control, habitats, streetscapes, and parks.

One of the greatest and most satisfying aspects of landscape design is its ever changing and transformative nature over time. CDAC is committed to providing communities with sustainable designs and the continued success of our work over time is ensured through the environmental stewardship practices described in this document. CDAC aims to provide resilient and sustainable design solutions that can grow and evolve for the benefit of future generations. After projects developed by CDAC are implemented and installed, it is our hope that this stewardship plan will help each community we assist be successful stewards of their respective conceptual designs.

Purpose and Goals of the Stewardship Plan

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1.1 General Maintenance 8 1.1.1 Levels of Maintenance 1.1.2 Long-term vs. Short-term Maintenance 8 1.1.3 Maintenance Checklist & Schedule 8

2.1 Tree Planting and Care 11 2.1.1 Planting 11 2.1.2 Care 15

2.2 Controlling Nonnative Invasive Plants 21 2.2.1 Effective Treatments 21 2.2.2 Selective Herbicide Application Methods 21 2.2.3 Selecting an Effective Herbicide 22 2.2.4 Other Treatments 23 2.2.5 Rehabilitation Phase 23

2.3 Natural Pest and Disease Control 25 2.3.1 Prevention 25 2.3.2 Beneficial Insects 25 2.3.3 Physical Pest Control Solutions 26 2.3.4 Organic Insecticides 27 2.4 Habitats 28 2.4.2 Constructed Wetlands and Riparian Corridors 28 2.4.4 Rain Gardens 31

2.5 Streetscapes 35 2.5.1 Site Preparation and Street Tree Selection 37

2.6 Parks 39

43 3.1 Appendix - Online Resources 3.2 Appendix - Book Reference Materials 48 3.3 Appendix - Attached Reference Materials 49

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Section 1: Introduction

Section 2: Stewardship by Project Type

Section 3: Appendix

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION

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1.1 General Maintenance 1.1.1 Levels of Maintenance

Considering the level of maintenance for different projects depends on the project type and use. Frequency of day-to-day maintenance tasks are based on the level of maintenance required for each project to be sustained as designed. Additional considerations, when determining the level of maintenance for projects, are funding and who will be performing the tasks. Each individual community must determine their resources and how those resources will be allocated within their budget.

Sources of funding may be donated by various community groups, and partnerships can help to bolster a community’s capacity. For example, if a town cannot afford to install irrigation systems for their athletic fields, a local interest group could donate that installation money. The town would then assume the management responsibilities of that irrigation system onward.

1.1.2 Long-term vs. Short-term MaintenanceShort-term maintenance refers to the day-to-day tasks involved in managing a project. Some of these tasks would include: watering, mulching, mowing, weeding, tree trimming, litter and trash removal, inspection, and other regularly scheduled activities. Short-term maintenance also includes minor repairs and replacements such as fixing a broken fence post or painting a bridge. These types of repairs should be included in a general maintenance budget.

Long-term maintenance means correcting landscape problems and replacing or restoring major components that have been destroyed, damaged, or have deteriorated. Examples of long-term maintenance could include stabilization of an eroded hillside or the control/eradication of an invasive species on a site. These costs can be unforeseen and typically warrant their own budgets. They can become projects themselves.

1.1.3 Maintenance Checklist and ScheduleA checklist and schedule should be included within a stewardship plan that addresses both short-term and long-term maintenance functions. A checklist allows for regular reporting of the day-to-day tasks and often includes itemized tasks and a section to report problems and their solutions. Reviewing these reports can help identify any trends or problem areas that could point to a less obvious dysfunction or design flaw.

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West Jefferson Streetscape Revitalization Stewardship PlanSection 1: Introduction

General Maintenance

A maintenance schedule should include the following:1. List of specific maintenance activities2. Frequency of each activity3. Cost per application of each activity 4. Annual cost of each activity5. Who will perform the activity (park crews, different agencies, or

volunteers)

A schedule can begin to determine budgets and labor needed for a project. For example, it may be determined that some tasks, such as power washing site amenities annually, may not be able to be covered under the project budget. Those tasks could be performed by volunteer groups.

A successful stewardship program should also promote a public monitoring system which allows for citizens to report maintenance problems and receive feedback. This is especially helpful when there is a limited crew trying to maintain a large area or a number of projects. Every set of eyes can help!

Sources: Greenways, A Guide to Planning, Design, and Development, Section 15: “Greenway Management.” Charles A. Fink & Robert M. Searns.

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West Jefferson Streetscape Revitalization Stewardship PlanSection 1: Introduction

General Maintenance

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SECTION 2: STEWARDSHIP BY PROJECT TYPE

2.1 Tree Planting and Care 2.1.1 Planting

Pre-InstallationStep 1: Check above groundDo not plant a tree where it will interfere with buildings, overhead utility lines, pavement, or intersection sightlines as it gets bigger. Make sure the planting spot is at least:

• 3 feet from pavement or fencing• 15 feet minimum from building or other trees• 25 feet from overhead electric wires if the tree will grow taller

than 30 feet

Figure 1: Image from “Tree Owner’s Manual.” United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. www.treeownersmanual.info.

Step 2: Check below groundAt least 72 hours in advance of planting, call the underground utility locating service in your area to be sure that there are no buried utilities where the tree will be planted. Most services will mark utilities (electric, cable, or gas) for free. 1-888-258-0808

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West Jefferson Streetscape Revitalization Stewardship PlanSection 2: Stewardship by Project Type

Tree Planting and Care

Step 3: Check lawsCheck with your town or municipality to see if there are any laws regarding planting and pruning.

Installation* Planting should occur during the dormant season, in late fall after leaf drop or early spring before budbreak.

Step 1: Move the tree to a location near where it will be plantedDo not lift or carry the tree by its trunk.

Step 2: Remove trunk and branch packaging.Remove trunk wrap, twine, and labels. Leave any root packaging in place during this step.

Step 3: Prune critical branches and no others!Prune only branches that are broken or dead. Also remove competing leaders, if present. Most trees should have one central leader. If there are two or more leaders, choose which should remain and remove the other(s). Pruning should be minimized at the time of planting to combat transplant shock. Do not prune oaks in the spring or early summer if you live in an area with oak wilt!


Step 4: Find the root flare and remove excess soilRemove soil from the top of the root ball until the top of the root flare is exposed. There should be several roots at least as big around as a pencil extending in opposite directions from the trunk. Two to four inches of soil may have to be removed before finding the main roots.

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Figure 3: Diagram of root flare. Image from “How to Plant a Tree.” Clemson Extension. https://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/videos_posters/posters/tree_planting.pdf.

Bare root trees: There is no soil or root packaging to remove.

Balled-and-burlapped trees: Remove the top of the root ball packaging. Cut any twine from around the trunk taking care not to nick the bark, then bend the wire basket back off the top of the ball. Remove soil from the top of the root ball until the main root system is found. Some of the wire may have to be cut. Leave the rest of the wire basket in place until the tree is put in the ground.

Container trees: Remove the entire container. Pull or cut the soil off the top of the root ball until the main root system is found.

* Container trees can be pot-bound. Inspect root system for circling roots. Always purchase container trees from a reputable nursery.

Figure 4: Diagram of removing the soil from the top of the root ball. Image from “Tree Owner’s Manual.” United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. www.treeownersmanual.info.

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Step 5: Remove problem rootsRemove all small roots above the main root system with a hand pruner. Examine the main root system for roots that extend out but then turn to the side or back towards the trunk. Prune these roots at the point where they turn.

Step 6: Determine how deep and wide to digMeasure the height of the remaining root ball. This is exactly how deep the hole should be dug. Measure the approximate width of the root ball or root system. Multiply this by 2, or if the soil is hard (clay or compacted), by at least 3. This is how wide the hole should be dug.


Step 7: Dig the holeThe dimensions of the hole are very important in determining the survival of the tree. Dig the hole ONLY as deep as the root system (NO deeper!).

Step 8: Put the tree in the holeIf the tree has a heavy root ball, slide it into the hole, and straighten the trunk.

Step 9: For balled-and-burlapped trees, remove root ball packagingWithout loosening the root ball, cut, peel back, and remove as much of the wire basket or burlap as possible (at least the top third).

* A root ball should remain a root ball. If it starts to fall apart while removing the wire and burlap, backfill the hole with enough soil to stabilize it then carefully remove the wire and burlap and backfill. Try to keep the root ball intact.

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Step 10: Backfill with the same soilMake sure the trunk is straight. Put the original soil back in the hole, breaking up large clods, and working it in with hands or a shovel.

Step 11: WaterWater the root ball and entire backfilled area.

Step 12: MulchPut a 2 to 4 inch layer of organic mulch over the backfilled area. Pull mulch away from the trunk so that none touches the bark.

* There should never be more than 4 inches of mulch over the roots. Too much can prevent the roots from getting the necessary water.

Figure 6: Diagram of proper mulching technique. Image from “Tree Owner’s Manual.” United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. www.treeownersmanual.info.

2.1.2 CareWatering

The first 3 years of a tree’s life is critical. Smaller caliper trees need less water and can establish faster than larger caliper trees. Generally, the establishment period for trees is at least 1 year for every 1 inch caliper. Check 6 inches below the surface every other day in fast draining soils and weekly in slow draining soils to see if the soil is dry, if so, then water. If the soil is dry, 1 1/2 gallons of water per 1 inch diameter of trunk is recommended. If irrigation is not present then water trucks can be used. Watering bags or “gatorbags” are a great way to slowly release water over a long period of time and can be filled weekly.

Figure 7: Diagram of tree watering. Image from “Tree Owner’s Manual.” United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. www.treeownersmanual.info.

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After 3 years, check weekly and water when dry. Soil type and weather conditions can influence the demand for water, watering schedules and amounts can vary.

* Trees may have small root systems for the first year after planting and may dry out sooner than anticipated! Make sure to check regularly for dry soils even after recent rainfall.

MulchingMulching helps maintain soil moisture, controls weeds, and insulates the soil. It also reduces the likelihood of tree damage from weed whackers or lawn mowers.

There are 2 types of mulch to consider: inorganic and organic. Inorganic mulch consists of various types of stone, rock, pulverized rubber, geotextile fabrics, or other materials. Some negative aspects to inorganic mulch are that it does not decompose or improve soil structure by providing nutrients. However, since it does not decompose, it does not need to be replenished very often.

Organic mulch includes wood chips, pine needles, hardwood and softwood bark, leaves, compost mixes, and a variety of other products derived from plants. Each material decomposes at a different rate depending on the climate and soil. For example, wood chips can take longer to break down and therefore should not require frequent replenishing. Avoid using fine, non-composted wood chips because soil nitrogen may be taken up by the tree’s roots as the wood chips begin to decompose. Organic mulch can improve soil quality and fertility. It is the preferred material by arborists, horticulturalists, and other landscape professionals for its benefits. Applying newspaper as a layer before mulching in grassed or weedy areas where it is no longer desired kills grass. This can also help prevent weeds from growing through unwanted mulched areas.

When applying mulch, 2 to 4 inches is recommended for well-drained sites, closer to 2 inches is recommended for poorly drained areas. Mulch should be placed to the outer edge of the tree’s crown or beyond. Excessive mulch can cause problems. It can create excessive moisture and cause root rot. Thick layers of fine mulch can prevent penetration of water while piling mulch against a trunk can stress stem tissues which can lead to insect and disease problems.

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Trunk ProtectionYoung deciduous trees have thin bark that can easily be damaged by animals and equipment such as weed whackers or lawn mowers. Mulch around trees can protect trees from these elements, but sometimes rodents such as rabbits and mice will chew on young bark. To prevent damage associated with trunk wounding, plastic tubing or hardware cloth can be installed around the trunk. The tubing should be big enough to allow 1 to 4 inches of space between it and the trunk. It should be 1 to 3 feet tall to accommodate snow and deter small rodents.

Figure 8: Sketch of tree protection guard. Image from “Tree Owner’s Manual.” United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. www.treeownersmanual.info.

FertilizingIt is not recommended that fertilizers be used in the first year after planting a tree due to the tree’s small root system. Apply additional fertilizers after the tree’s establishment period only if an arborist or soil test indicates that it is necessary. Overdosing with fertilizer can harm the tree. Fertilizer not absorbed by the tree can alter the soil or leach out, potentially polluting groundwater, rivers, ponds, and lakes. Be careful when using “weed and feed” on lawn areas surrounding trees. Some combinations of fertilizers and herbicides will injure trees.

Checking Tree HealthTo maintain a tree’s health, yearly inspection is important. Check for size, color, trunk damages, and distribution of leaves. Observe the growth rate of the tree compared to the past year’s growth. Fast growth does not necessarily mean good health, but a dramatic reduction in growth rate could indicate a problem. Trees should also be in inspected after storms for broken, dead, or hanging branches. Cracks, fungi, branch unions, or a weak trunk on a leaning trunk should be treated quickly.

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PruningPruning can be dangerous in certain situations. Hire an arborist or contact the appropriate people to prune if the following applies:

• Pruning cannot be done with both feet on the ground • Trees or branches are located within 10 feet of utility lines• Pruning requires power equipment

Pruning is important for public safety and tree health. It can encourage trees to develop a strong structure which can reduce the amount of damage during severe weather.

Pruning for public safety involves removing branches that could fall and cause injury or property damage, trimming branches that interfere with sight lines of streets or driveways, and removing branches that could grow into utility lines.

Pruning for tree health would involve removing diseased or insect-infested wood, thinning the crown to increase airflow and reduce pest problems, and removing crossing or rubbing branches.

Pruning Young TreesPruning correctly when trees are young will help the tree develop a strong, well-balanced crown. During the first to third years after planting, attention should be paid to pruning a tree. Young trees should have branches that are well attached to the trunk, one central leader, good spacing between branches, enough clearance between the ground and the first branch, and a good crown height. Pruning correctly early in a tree’s life can greatly help to produce a long-lived tree and will be more cost efficient in the long-run. Refer to http://tinyurl.com/trainingyoungtrees for a video on how to prune a young tree.

Figure 9: Diagram of proper pruning technique. Image from “Tree Owner’s Manual.” United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. www.treeownersmanual.info.

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Pruning Mature TreesBeginning 3 years after planting, trees should be pruned lightly every year or every other year. After 10 years, frequency of pruning will vary depending on the species of tree and the conditions in which it is planted. A general rule is not to remove more than 25% of a tree’s living branches. Broken, dead, rubbing branches, or branches sprouting from the base of the trunk can be removed every year.

Winter is the best time of year to prune because branches are easy to see, diseases cannot be spread, and there is minimal stress to the tree. Most trees, however, can be pruned at any time except for trees that are prone to fire blight or oak wilt. Trees susceptible to fire blight include mountain ash, apple, crabapple, hawthorn, pear, flowering quince, and pyracantha. Trees susceptible to oak wilt include most oaks.

ToppingOne pruning technique that should be avoided is topping. Topping is the indiscriminate removal of branch ends. Many myths revolve around topping. Some believe topping will make the tree easier to maintain or that it invigorates a tree. Others believe it will add value to their property; however, the opposite is true. Topped trees will require more attention because of the fast growing, loosely attached shoots that form. Topping also immediately injures the tree and exposes it to decay and invasion from insects and disease, which will cause the life span of a tree to be reduced. The property value of a home may also decrease because topped trees lack natural beauty. Topping is not pruning, not recommended for any tree, and not performed by certified arborists. If topping is suggested by someone maintaining your trees, it may reflect a lack of knowledge and another professional should be found.

Figure 10: Sketch of a topped tree. Image from “Tree Owner’s Manual.” United States Department of

Agriculture, Forest Service, and Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. www.treeownersmanual.

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Protecting Trees from Construction DamageAnother consideration to take when caring for trees is the impact construction may have on a tree’s health. When protecting trees from construction damage a defined protected root zone should be identified. To identify the protected root zone, the following should be considered:

• Measure the diameter (width) of the trunk at chest height to the nearest inch.

• Multiply that number by 1.5 feet for every inch for mature or stressed trees or by 1 foot for young, healthy trees. For example, 20 inches of trunk diameter would equal 30 feet of protected root zone.

• Measure that distance from the trunk of the tree. The area within that radius is the protected root zone.

• A minimum of 6 feet must be protected around trees regardless of the trunk diameter.

All construction activities, such as storing materials and moving equipment, changing the grade, excavating, and paving should be kept away from the protected root zone by placing a tree protection fence around the radius of the tree.

When to Hire an Arborist? At some point during the life span of a tree an arborist may need to be consulted. Certain situations may require an arborist’s expertise such as: when pruning or removing large trees, when pruning around utilities or structures, when pruning involves heights taller than standing capability or the use of powered equipment, or if disease or insect problems occur.

Sources: Training Young Trees. Larry Costello, University of California. http://tinyurl.com/trainingyoungtrees.

Tree Owner Information. International Society of Arboriculture. www.treesaregood.org & www.isa-arbor.com

Tree Owner’s Manual. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. www.treeownersmanual.info.

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2.2 Controlling Nonnative Invasive Plants The best defense against nonnative invasive plants is constant surveillance of all projects and the use of effective control measures upon discovery of invaders. Early detection can minimize cost and labor compared to eradicating an established infestation. It is possible to eradicate established invasive stands but only with the proper treatment and persistence. The following discusses ways to effectively treat nonnative invasive plants.

2.2.1 Effective TreatmentsIf a stand of invasive plants already exists, proper and aggressive eradication measures should be taken to avoid spread. Using effective herbicide applications offers the best means of controlling or eradicating because herbicides can kill the roots without leaving the soil bare and susceptible to reinvasion or erosion. However, herbicide use is never a recommended method along rivers because it can cause the destruction of aquatic and animal life. When using herbicides, use only EPA–approved products. To be successful with herbicide treatments, the following should be done:

• Use the most effective herbicide for the species.• Follow the application methods as prescribed on the label.• Choose the optimum time of year to apply treatments. For

leaves, apply mid-summer to early fall and no later than a month before expected frost. Evergreens and semi-evergreens can be treated effectively in winter.

• Adhere to all label prohibitions, precautions, and best management practices during herbicide transport, storage, mixing, and application.

• After application, be patient; allow herbicides to work for several months before resorting to other treatment options.

2.2.2 Selective Herbicide Application Methods Some aggressive infestations require a broadcast treatment of herbicide. Broadcast treatment, however, may kill desirable plants, as well as invasive species. In many cases, the best approach can be spot application to target invasive plants while avoiding exposure to desired plant material.

Directed Foliar SpraysDirected foliar sprays are usually applied with a backpack sprayer and aim to target plant foliage by saturating all leaves to the point of run off. It is recommended to use low pressure, drift retardants, or spray shields when using this method to avoid unwanted overspray. This method of application is very cost efficient and should be applied from mid-summer to late fall to be most effective.

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Controlling Nonnative Invasive Plants

Stem InjectionStem Injection is an herbicidal concentrate mixed with water and applied to incision cuts spaced around woody stems created by an ax, hatchet, machete, brush, or tree injector. This application is best for large trees and shrubs with trunks more than 2 inches in diameter. When applying the injection treatment, avoid times when rainfall might occur within 48 hours. The incisions could be washed out into the soil and nearby plants can be damaged. The most effective time of year to use this application is late winter and throughout the summer. Sap production in the spring can wash herbicides from cuts.

Cut-TreatThe cut-treat application method involves an herbicidal concentrate mixed with water and applied to the outer circumference of freshly cut stumps or the entire top surface of cut stumps. A backpack sprayer, spray bottle, wick or paint brush can all be used to apply the herbicide with this method. The most effective time of year to use this application is in the late winter and summer.

Basal SpraysBasal sprays are herbicidal oil based mixtures sprayed or daubed onto the lower portions of woody stems with a backpack sprayer or wick applicator. This method is effective in controlling invasives with woody stems that are less than 6 inches in diameter. Examples of basal sprays are Pathfinder II and Vine-X which are premixed and ready to use. The most effective time of year to apply this herbicide is late winter and early spring when the leaves do not hinder spraying the stem. Summer sprays can also be effective but are difficult due to the presence of leaves.

Soil SpotsSoil spots are Velpar L herbicide applied in measured amounts to the soil around targeted invasive woody stems or in a grid pattern for treating many stems in one area. This can be applied with a spot gun or a backpack sprayer with a stream nozzle. This application is only effective on specific nonnative invasive species when applied during the spring and early summer.

2.2.3 Selecting an Effective Herbicide Nonnative invasive plants are usually difficult to control or eradicate. Herbicides that are both applied to the foliage and soil are usually the most effective with the least number of applications. However, when using herbicides on the soil, caution should be taken to limit the damage to surrounding plants when their roots are present in the treatment area or soon after a rainfall. Some herbicides have residues

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that can be transferred to other plants during temperatures exceeding 80 degrees fahrenheit, therefore it is recommended to only apply those herbicides on cooler days. Also when possible, use herbicides that target specific invasive species and choose the proper time of year to apply. For example, basal sprays should be applied to the bark of invasive plants in the late winter before most other plants emerge and foliar sprays on evergreen/semi evergreen invasives should be applied after surrounding plants have entered a dormant period.

2.2.4 Other Treatments OvergrazingOvergrazing can reduce the growth of invasives but it will not eradicate them. Examples of overgrazing can be the use of goat herds in large invasive areas. Charlottesville Virginia has successfully used goats in some of their parks to control invasive plant spread.

Prescribed Burning Prescribed burning can also eradicate invasives, but it is limited in its effectiveness and requires specific knowledge to be successful.

Cutting or Mowing Cutting or mowing invasives removes the above ground plant and slows down the growth but doesn’t eradicate them. This method, when used with herbicides, can be extremely effective in eradication.

Hand-Pulling If discovered early, small infestations can be controlled with hand-pulling of the plants.

An eradication program for infestations of invasive plants usually requires several years of treatment and many more years of surveillance to check for new invasions. To be successful, a planned strategy should be followed with persistence.

2.2.5 Rehabilitation PhaseThe rehabilitation phase can be the most important step in the process of eradicating and reclaiming sites. Rehabilitation requires establishment of native plants that can outcompete and outlive any surviving nonnative invasive plants while stabilizing and protecting the soil. In some areas, native plant communities may naturally reinitiate successions after eradicating nonnative plants, but if not, native plants should be seeded or planted. Tree nurseries operated by state forestry agencies are a good source for many species of native trees and shrubs. Native plant seed can also be used, but proper

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sowing and planting would be required to assure fast germination. To ensure the success of a project, constant surveillance, treatment of new invasives, and rehabilitation following eradication are critical to preventing and controlling invasions of nonnative species.

Sources: Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: A Field Guide for Identification and Control, Section “General Principles for Controlling Nonnative Invasive Plants.” U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/gtr/gtr_srs062/07_other_nn_plants.pdf

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2.3 Natural Pest and Disease Control Natural pest control has many benefits. It can be more cost effective than buying and applying pesticides and it is safer for the garden, people, wildlife and the environment. Most pests can be controlled by planting a diverse garden that can attract a variety of beneficial insects. To target certain pests, in addition to beneficial insects, physical controls may also need to be put in place. If needed, an organic insecticide can be used. A products list, approved by the US National Organic Program, has been included in section 2.3.4 Organic Insecticides.

2.3.1 PreventionA healthy garden is the best defense against garden pests. To maintain a healthy garden consider the following:

• Remove any dead or weak plants. Even if the plants aren’t dead they can attract predators. Dispose of plants away from the garden area.

• Naturally composting, mulching, and top-dressing your planting beds can be a great way to develop strong, vigorous plants.

• Use seaweed spray or fertilizer in mulch. Seaweed contains iron, zinc, barium, calcium, sulfur, and magnesium which promotes growth in plants and helps repel slugs.

• Clear garden area of debris and weeds which can be breeding grounds for insects.

• Interplant and rotate crops. When plantings are mixed, pests are less likely to spread. Rotating crops can prevent a reinfestation year after year.

• Keep foliage dry. Water planting beds early in the day so the foliage can dry throughout the day. Wet foliage encourages insects and fungal disease. Drip irrigation can be used to avoid wet foliage.

• Disinfect tools that have been in contact with infested plants. This can reduce the spread of disease.

2.3.2 Beneficial InsectsBeneficial insects are insects which you can attract to a garden or release that will prey on harmful insects and their larvae. There are many different species that target specific problems. For a more extensive list refer to Organic Pest Control Series: Beneficial Insects which can be found in section 3.1 Appendix: Online References.

• Braconids, Chalcids, and Ichneumon Wasps destroy leaf eating caterpillars. Plant carrots, celery, parsley, and caraway (members of the Umbelliferae family) to attract these insects to a garden.

• Ladybugs are common insects that consume aphids, mites,

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Natural Pest and Disease Control

whiteflies and scale. Attract ladybugs to a garden by planting members of the daisy family (Compositae) such as yarrow. Ladybugs can be purchased online and released into the garden.

• Lacewings are consumers of aphids and their larva. Lacewings are attracted to “composite” flowers such as yarrow, goldenrod, black-eyed susan’s and asters. Lacewings can also be purchased online and released into the garden.

• Hover-flies eat aphids, and the larva of hover-flies eat aphids and other pests. They are also attracted to flowers like yarrow, goldenrod, black eyed susan’s and asters.

• Praying Mantis are large insects that eat most garden pests. Their eggs are available online.

• Soldier beetle larvae feed on the eggs and larvae of beetles, grasshoppers, moths and other insects. Adult soldier beetles feed on aphids and other soft bodied insects. Plant marigolds and goldenrod to attract these beneficial insects.

• Nematodes are effective against cutworms, beetles, and root weevil larvae. Nematode eggs are mixed with water and applied to the soil where they hatch and go to work. Wash eggs off foliage onto the ground if needed.

2.3.3 Physical Pest Control SolutionsOften it is necessary to use physical pest control solutions in addtion to beneficial insects. Below is a list of physical pest control ideas.

• Yellow Flypaper can be effective to trap aphids and whiteflies. Any board painted yellow and coated with a sticky substance, such as tanglefoot, can be effective.

• Apple Maggot Traps are sticky red sphere traps. Hang one trap for every 100 apples in a tree. Apple maggots can be extremely destructive pests for apples.

• Pheromone traps attract insects and catch them with a sticky substance. Position them around the garden perimeter to avoid attracting unwanted pests into the garden

• Floating Row Covers consist of lightweight opaque material which can be draped over planting beds or trees. Sunlight and water can penetrate the cover but insects and birds cannot. The material is light enough to allow plants to continue to grow underneath it. Anchor the cover, with rocks or boards to prevent the wind from lifting it. Row covers are great for protecting seedlings and vegetables such as carrots, beets, broccoli, chard and spinach.

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• Cloche is a miniature greenhouse for seedbeds and young plants. Unlike the row cover, the cloche needs to be opened to water and during hot days.

• Barrier Paper is scraps of waxed cardboard such as milk cartons or roofing felt. It is a simple and effective method against cabbage moths

2.3.4 Organic Insecticides

If needed, an organic insecticide can be used to combat diseases. Below is a brief list of approved products by the US National Organic Program. Refer to A Glossary of Natural Garden Pest Control Solutions for more information in the Appendix: Online References section.

• Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) Apply late in the day to be effective on armyworms, cabbageworms, corn earworms, diamondback moths, grape leaf rollers, melon worms, tomato fruitworms, tomato hornworms, and various webworms and budworms. Do not apply on butterfly host plants.

• Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powder that has sharp edges and cuts into insects’ bodies killing them of dehydration. Lightly sprinkle dry DE on the soil’s surface where Japanese beetles, slugs, or other pests will come into direct contact with the dry particles.

• Horticultural oils applied directly to pests interfere with respiration, causing insects to suffocate and die. These oils help control aphids, whiteflies and other pests, but can also kill beneficial mites and injure the leaves of some plants.

• Insecticidal soaps have fatty acids that break down the protective cuticles of soft-bodied pests, such as aphids, which will then quickly become dehydrated and die. Soap sprays have no residual effect and only kill insects that are sprayed directly.

• Iron phosphate slug bait can be sprinkled throughout your garden beds, and slugs will eat it instead of plants, then crawl off to die. The bait is nontoxic to pets and humans.

• Neem is an oil that can slow the growth of many insects. It is best used on young insects and can control aphids and leaf-eating caterpillars.

27



• Pyrethrum is one of the oldest known pesticides. It is fast-acting and the strongest insecticide allowed under U.S. National Organic Standards, so use it only after all other methods have been exhausted. Insects, including beneficial ones, typically become paralyzed as soon as they come into contact with pyrethrum, which is made from the dried flowers of the daisy Tanacetum cinerariifolium.

• Spinosad is a biological pesticide derived from the bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa. Spinosad controls all types of caterpillars, Colorado potato beetle larvae and blister beetles, and works best on pests that consume a lot of leaf tissue.

Sources:A Glossary of Natural Garden Pest Control Solutions. Mother Earth News. http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/natural-garden-pest-control-zm0z14jjzsto.aspx?PageId=4#axzz3D1YnWNED

Natural Garden Pest Control. Eartheasy: Solutions for Sustainable Living. http://eartheasy.com/grow_nat_pest_cntrl.htm

Organic Pest Control Series: Beneficial Insects. Mother Earth News. http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/beneficial-insects-zl0z0413zkin.aspx#axzz3D1YnWNED 28



2.4 Habitats 2.4.1 Constructed Wetlands and Riparian Corridors

Constructed WetlandsConstructed wetlands are large, shallow, planted ponds that filter stormwater runoff, slow water flow, and help control flooding to a downstream waterway or stormwater system. They should be managed properly to perform well. Typically, it can take up to 3 years for a wetland to become established. Once established, constructed wetlands should require little maintenance but still should be routinely monitored, inspected, and outlet systems should be cleaned to ensure a successful and functioning habitat. Below is a guide to maintaining a constructed wetland.

Hydrology• Water should reach all parts of the wetland surface. • Check monthly and after storms to ensure that water is moving

and that debris, litter, or other blockages are not blocking flow paths.

• Remove floating debris from the pond area. • Inspect for algal blooms or dead fish. This could indicate water

has extremely low levels of oxygen, high nutrient loads, and/or pollutants. Test water quality if this is suspected.

Structures• Dikes, spillways, and water control structures should be

inspected monthly or following a storm. Debris or blockage should be removed immediately.

• Any damage, erosion, or blockage should be repaired as soon as possible to prevent the wetland from not functioning and causing more expensive repairs.

• Inspect banks for settlement, erosion, scouring, cracking, sloughing, seepage and rilling. Repair as needed.

• Sediment should be removed from the forebay before it occupies 50 percent of the forebay, typically every 3 to 7 years.

Vegetation• Water levels are key to the success of wetland vegetation.• Wetland plants can tolerate some changes in water level;

however, attention should be paid to the species and their tolerance levels for water changes over extended periods of time.

• During the first growing season, vegetation should be inspected every 2 to 3 weeks.

• Replace dead plants as needed to fill the voids. • Vegetation should maintain at least 85 percent cover of the

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Habitats

emergent vegetation zone (the area where plants grow in the water, but their leaves and stems extend out of the water.)

• Prevent excessive shading by controlling tree and tall shrub growth. Most wetland plants require at least 6 hours of sun every day.

• Invasives species should be removed immediately. (Refer to Section 2.2 Controlling Nonnative Invasive Plants: 2.2.4 Other Treatments)

• Herbicides should not be used since they can severely damage water quality and emergent vegetation.

• Water depth should be increased during the winter to increase retention time and to protect against freezing.

Burrowing animals and Mosquitoes• Muskrats and other burrowing animals can damage water

control structures. If wire screening is not installed, a thick layer of gravel or rock can deter these animals.

• Stagnant water creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The best defense is to keep water flowing and vegetation cover. Vegetation cover provides oxygen and prevents stagnant water.Unblocking flows also prevent stagnant backwaters.

• Disperse floating plants to provide cover. • Purple martins, swallows, and bats can help manage mosquito

population. Provide houses, perches, and boxes for wildlife. • The use of insecticides is usually ineffective because they

dilute in the water or the organic matter absorbs them. • It is not recommended to chemically treat for mosquitoes

because you run the risk of contaminating both the wetland, wildlife, and the downstream water body.

Monitoring• Monitoring is needed to measure whether the wetland is

meeting its goals. • Photographs should be taken each time at the same location. • Systems that have little inflow and have been doing well, only

need to be checked monthly and after a major storm. Systems with heavier inflow require more detailed monitoring.

Riparian CorridorsRiparian corridors are stream buffers that improve water quality by filtering pollutants from stormwater runoff such as oil, fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste. They reduce flooding and erosion by stabilizing stream banks and moderate stream temperatures by

30


Habitats

providing shade and keeping fish and other aquatic life healthy. The corridor also provides nesting and foraging habitats for many species of wildlife. A riparian buffer should be monitored and maintained regularly, then periodically as the buffer becomes established. Routine maintenance may be necessary, depending on weather conditions. Below is a list of items to consider when maintaining a riparian buffer.

Water• During the first growing season, newly planted trees and

shrubs need water at least once a week or as needed until established, approximately 2 to 3 years. (Refer to Section 2.1 Tree Planting and Care)

• After heavy rains, vegetation should be inspected for damage.

Weed Control• Weed control may be necessary for the first few years of

establishment. Refer to Section 2.2 Controlling Nonnative Invasive Plants.

• Organic mulches such as leaf humus, wood chips, pine mulch, or shredded bark can help to retain moisture and limit weeds in a newly planted buffer. Once a vegetative cover is created, the shade should prevent weeds from forming; however, time is needed for native species to grow without competition from weeds.

• Mechanical methods of weed control, such as hand-pulling, are recommended. The use of herbicides are not recommended because they can damage water quality, vegetation, and wildlife habitat. If absolutely necessary, spot-treat only.

• Fallen trees form important habitats and should remain where they pose no hazard to safety.

Mowing• Most riparian buffers need at least 100 feet total width from the

stream’s edge. Native grasses and wildflowers planted in the upland zone, furthest from the stream’s edge, can be mowed once or twice a year to prevent it from becoming overgrown with shrubs (Refer to Figure 1). Avoid mowing from April to July when birds may be nesting. This zone is important for slowing runoff and trapping sediment.

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Habitats

Figure 1: Diagram of a stream buffer zones. Image from “Around the Water Cooler: Riparian Buffers”: Greenversations: An Official Blog of the U.S. EPA. http://blog.epa.gov/science/2012/09/around-the-water-

cooler-riparian-buffers/. 2.4.2 Rain Gardens

A rain garden is a small, shallow, constructed garden depression that is planted with deep-rooted native plants and grasses. It is usually located in an area that receives runoff from hard surfaces such as a roof, sidewalk, or driveway. Rain gardens slow, capture, and hold water from these surfaces for a short period of time. This allows it to naturally infiltrate into the ground. Rain gardens can be easy to maintain but are not maintenance free. It is important to weed, clean, and re-mulch the garden. The first 2 years require the most care while plants are becoming established. Below is a guide to maintaining a rain garden.

Water• Water plants weekly during the first 1 to 2 growing seasons.• A newly planted rain garden needs approximately 1 inch of

water per week or roughly 6 gallons per square yard per week. The length of time to water can vary based on the size of the garden and water pressure.

• If your rain garden or pond has a pump, inspect it regularly to maintain working condition. Refer to manufacturer’s guide on the maintenance of your pump. In general, if filters are present, clean weekly. Turn off pumps and filters during the winter months. Unless fish are present, pumps are not generally needed to maintain a healthy water garden with clear water.

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Habitats

Weeding• During the establishment period, weeding should be done

often. Weeding in the spring will help control weeds in the summer. It is best to remove weeds before the seeds mature and spread.

• Pulling weeds reduces competition for space, light, and water. As the garden matures, weeding will need to happen less frequently.

Mulching• Mulch 2 to 3 inches during the spring to keep soil moist and

allow easy infiltration of rain water.• Use an organic mulch.

Monitoring• Rain gardens should be inspected monthly.• Clear any dead vegetation and debris that may have collected. • Replanting may be necessary over time. If a plant is not thriving

in one location of the garden, try relocating it to a wetter or dryer area

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Habitats

Sources: A Handbook of Constructed Wetlands, Chapter 9 “Operation, Maintenance, and Monitoring.” USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the US Environmental Protection Agency. http://water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/restore/upload/constructed-wetlands-handbook.pdf

Apple Tree Care. National Gardening Association Editors. http://www.garden.org/foodguide/browse/fruit/apple/1600

Grow a Native Grass Meadow. Carol A. Heiser. http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/habitat/wild-in-the-woods/grow-a-native-grass-meadow.pdf

Growing Apple Trees In The Home Garden. Michael L. Parker, Department of Horticultural Science North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/hil/hil-8301.html

Landscape Design Guidelines, Section 5 “Installation and Maintenance.” Tennessee Department of Transportation. http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/environment/beautification/landscape/Chapter_5_Installation_Maintenance.pdf

Maintaining a Rain Garden. Crystal Environmental Quality Commission. http://www.ci.crystal.mn.us/cityofcrystal/uploads/Maintaining_a_Rain_Garden_Information_2011.pdf

Maintaining your Rain Garden. Rutgers University, Water Resources Program. http://www.water.rutgers.edu/Projects/RGRebate/RGMaintenance.pdf

Maintaining Your Woodland Garden. Evelyn J. Hadden. http://www.lesslawn.com/articles/article1073.html

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Habitats

Managing Riparian Buffer Areas. Forestry Commission. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/INFD-6MVK4U

Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual, Chapter 6 “BMP 6.6.1: Constructed Wetland.” http://www.raingardensforthebays.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/PASWBMPManualChapt6.pdf

Riparian Buffers for Wildlife. Penn State Extension. http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/wildlife/habitat-management/pa-wildlife-16-riparian-buffers-for-wildlife

Stream Buffers. Clean Water Education Partnership. http://nccwep.org/involvement/buffers/index.php

Wetlands Operation & Maintenance Guide. Auckland Council. http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/environmentwaste/stormwater/Documents/wetlandsconstructionguide.pdf

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Habitats

2.5 StreetscapesA streetscape refers to the natural and built fabric of a street. It is a public place where people are able to engage in various activities and helps define a community’s aesthetic quality, economic activity, health, and sustainability. Streetscapes include the road, adjoining buildings, street furniture, trees and open spaces, that combine to form the street’s character. Street trees provide green infrastructure and vegetation that softens noise, reduces glare, and provides shade, while increasing beauty, reducing stress, and improving livability within a community. A streetscape stewardship plan involves maintaining all the hardscape elements, such as benches, trash receptacles, lighting, and vegetation within the right of way.

Below is a list of maintenance tasks that are included when maintaining streetscapes. Based on the type of project, choose the elements that make sense for your project.

Watering• Newly planted trees (Refer to Section 2.1 Tree Planting and Care)• Watering planting beds from a truck should be done with care so

that the force from the water does not damage the plants or mulch. • A watering schedule is necessary. • Establishment period for shrubs and ground covers is

approximately 6 months to 1 year. Flowers establish much more quickly.

• Water planting beds 2 to 3 times per week for the first 8 weeks after planting then water once a week until they are established.

Irrigation System (if present)• Inspect system monthly and repair system if needed. • Back flow test annually.

Mulching • Maintain mulch depth of 2 to 4 inches.

(Refer to Section 2.1 Tree Planting and Care for more mulching information)

Tree Pruning• Prune low branches posing hazard to pedestrian walkways or

streets.• Prune to a minimum height of 6 to 7 feet to allow comfortable

passage beneath by pedestrians and vehicles.

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Streetscapes

Shrub and Ornamental Grass Pruning• Selectively prune shrubs based on species. Maintain sightlines at

intersections.• Ornamental grasses have attractive foliage throughout the winter

and should not be pruned until the spring. This also helps insulate the crown of the plant. In the spring, before growth resumes, cut back ornamental grasses to approximately 4 to 6 inches.

Pest Management• Problem areas should be inspected monthly and handled on a

case by case basis. Spot–treat, DO NOT over treat.• Immediately remedy problem in accordance with the Departments

of Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM).

Vandalism • Graffiti should be repaired immediately within 24 hours if possible.

Hardscape • Remove debris, sand, dirt, and organic material from walks weekly.• Remove tripping hazards from pedestrian areas as soon as

possible.• Blow grass clippings after mowing away from hard surfaces.• Remove weeds growing in cracks as needed.

Litter and Trash Removal• Pick up litter from tree grates and empty trash containers on a

regular basis as determined to be needed by your community.

Holiday Banners • Consider appropriate timin for putting up and removing holiday

banners.• Replace banners as needed.

Seasonal/Annual Plantings in Pots or Hanging Baskets • Replant seasonally.• Check daily for moisture content.• Water every other day during times of drought or when needed.• Use drip irrigation system if present.

Signage• Inspect sign lettering, surfaces, and posts at least monthly.• Repair/replace signs to maintain design and safety standards as

needed.

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Streetscapes

Site Amenities• Inspect benches, trash containers, bicycle racks, and other site

amenities at least monthly. Repair or replace as needed.• Clean/power wash amenities annually if possible.

Lighting• Inspect monthly.• Repair/replace bulbs or posts immediately.

2.5.1 Site Preparation and Street Tree SelectionMany factors can place stress on a street tree, such as air pollution, temperature extremes, lack of sufficient soil for root growth, limited space, overhead obstructions, and improper use (i.e. using a tree as a bike rack.) With proper selection and site preparation, trees can survive and thrive in an urban environment. Available space for proper root growth is one of the most limiting factors and can deteremine a tree’s health and longevity. When designing tree pits consider the following to provide the best environment for a street tree to thrive:

• Tree pits should be as large as possible to allow tree roots ample growing space. Optimal tree pit size would be 4 feet by 10 feet or 5 feet by 10 feet if available.

• If tree pits already exist within a sidewalk, enlarge the tree well as much as possible while still allowing adequet space for pedestrain traffic.

• Combine tree pits to include several trees in a continuous planting strip.

• Use a porous pavement, such as dry-laid pavers in surrounding sidwalk to allow water to penetrate the soil below.

• Use a structural soil mix, also known as engineered soil, under paved areas. Structural soil consists of gap-graded gravels which are made up of crushed stone, clay loam, and a hydrogel stabilizing agent. (* Source: http://www.hort.cornell.edu/uhi/outreach/csc/article.html) It uses angular stones in the planting mix under hardscaped areas, such as sidwalks and parking lots, which can be compacted to provide the structural support required for hardscape installation but also be open enough to provide adequate drainage and aeration for trees.

• If there is a public park or lawn nearby, let the roots grow into the adjacent area by planting the tree at the back of the sidewalk.

Selecting the right tree for the situation is also important to a healthy street tree. For example, a large tree that is thriving in an open park space may not do well in a tree well along a street. The tree that thrives in a park may need much more space to adequetely grow

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Streetscapes

roots and obtain the proper amount of water, nutrients, and support to become an healthy specimen. There are many tree species that can survive in challanging spatial situations. For example, if spacing is too tight between street and building or overhead utility lines exist, select a tree that will fit. If a tall tree is desired for a tight space consider selecting a cultivar with a narrow upright growth habit. For further information on which cultivars work best for certain situations refer to Urban Tree Selection Manual in the sources at the end of this section.

Sources: Environmental Best Management Practices and Design Standards Manual, Chapter 8 “Streetscape Management.” Bellevue Parks & Community Services. http://www.bellevuewa.gov/pdf/Parks/E12_Ch-08-Streetscape-Management.pdf


Urban Tree Selection Manual: A Guide for Selecting Trees for the Urban Environment. 2007. John Alexopoulos, Paula Stahl, and Robert M. Ricard.

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Streetscapes

2.6 ParksA park stewardship plan consists of day-to-day maintenance tasks as well as long-term maintenance such as controlling invasive species and taking on projects like upgrading park elements. Each park’s level of maintenance depends on the type, usage, and budget. For example, the frequency of mowing would vary if it were a recreational field versus a low-trafficked passive park. Another example would be a volunteer group taking responsibility for a certain maintenance task in a park. Towns sometimes do not have the budget or man power to maintain every park to a certain level of quality and may need to coordinate with volunteer groups for help.

Some parks could have different elements not found in others therefore requiring different tasks. Below is a list of maintenance tasks that are included when maintaining parks. Based on the type of park, choose the elements that make sense for your project.

Athletic Fields• Mow twice a week if used heavily or once a week if needed to

maintain 2 ½ inches height. • Frequency of mowing depends on rain/watering.• Fertilize twice a year.• Apply pre-germinated seed to heavily worn areas.• Aerate twice a year.• Over seed annually.

Park Lawns• Mow once a week if needed to maintain 3-3 ¼ inches height. • Trim perimeters once per week with string trimmer.

Trees (Refer to Section 2.1 Tree Planting and Care)

Shrub and Ornamental Grass Pruning• Selectively prune shrubs based on species and desired form. • Ornamental grasses have attractive foliage throughout the winter

and should not be pruned until the spring. This also helps insulate the crown of the plant.

• In the spring, before growth resumes, cut back ornamental grasses to approximately 4 to 6 inches.

Weeding• The goal is to establish a solid cover of desired vegetation that will

choke out weed growth. • Proper plant selection, spacing, and soil conditions should reduce

long-term weed growth by providing plants the optimum conditions to grow to their mature size and block the light needed for weeds

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Parks

to grow.• Identify which plants are a part of the habitat and which should be

removed. • Certain techniques such as using newspaper or weed cloth

beneath the mulch in planting beds can lessen the need for weeding.

• Weed in early spring thoroughly before weeds can take root and become a bigger labor intensive problem during the summer.

• Hand-pulling weeds can be effective if they are removed immediately upon discovery.

Storm Cleanup (Usually a town water department’s responsibility)• Inspect drain covers twice a month. Remove debris and organic

material immediately. • Maintain water inlet height and an undisturbed flow of drainage.

Watering Plants• Watering from a truck should be done with care so that the force

from the water does not damage the plants or mulch. • A watering schedule is necessary. • Establishment period for shrubs and ground covers is

approximately 6 months to 1 year. Flowers establish much more quickly.

• Water 2 to 3 times per week for the first 8 weeks after planting then water once a week until they are established.

Mulching Plants• Maintain mulch depth of 2 to 4 inches.

(Refer to Section 2.1 Tree Planting and Care for more mulching information)

Irrigation System (if present)• Inspect system monthly and repair system if needed based on

park usage • Back flow test annually.

Litter and Trash Removal• Pick up litter and empty trash containers every day, as needed,

or develop a regular litter/trash pick up schedule as deteremined appropriate for your community (ie. once a week, twice a week, once a day etc.)

• During the cold season (November – March) this will not need to be as frequent, but a regular schedule should be developed based on your community’s needs.

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Parks

Vandalism • Graffiti should be repaired immediately within 24 hours if possible.

Hardscapes (around buildings, pathways, or gathering areas)• Inspect surfaces at least once a month. Replace or repair any

surface that poses a hazard to pedestrians.• Remove dirt, sand, and organic debris from hard surfaces after

storms. The frequency depends on available labor.

Outdoor Courts• Inspect weekly (when mowing) for damages and repair.• Replace nets when broken or removed.• Maintain posts, backboards, rims, and hardware to original design

specifications.

Site Amenities• Inspect benches, trash containers, picnic tables, grills, bicycle

racks, drinking fountains, and other site amenities at least monthly. Repair or replace as needed.

• Clean/power wash amenities yearly. This task is an example of what could be done by a volunteer group like the boy scouts. The town could provide supplies while the volunteer group provided the time and labor.

Fences and Gates• Inspect fences, gates, and bollards when mowing. Repair any

damages.

Signage• Inspect sign lettering, surfaces, and posts when mowing or at least

monthly.• Repair/replace signs to maintain design and safety standards

immediately.• Clean signs yearly. Another task where volunteer groups could

provide time and labor while the town could provide supplies.

Lighting• Inspect monthly.• Repair/bulb replace immediately.

Pest Management• Problem areas should be inspected monthly and handled on a

case by case basis. Spot–treat, DO NOT over treat.• No pesticides on parks with kid or dog activity.

(Refer to Section 2.3 Natural Pest and Disease Control)

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Parks

Open Space (Refer to Section 2.3 Habitats)

Invasive Plants (Refer to Section 2.2 Controlling Nonnative Invasive Plants)

Each park’s future success depends on how well it is maintained for its use. A park improvement team is one example of how that success can continue throughout a park’s lifespan. A park improvement team consists of community volunteers that inspect and review successes and failures of different parks. Each person has a different perspective and can comment on what maintenance or design aspects are working or not working for each park. For example, after inspecting park benches it could be noted that placing pavers under benches can eliminate water ponding and the need to edge.

Long-term maintenance considerations should be included in a stewardship plan. What will a park look like in 5 to 10 years or 15 years? Landscapes have a lifespan and when necessary adjustments should be made to accommodate plants nearing the end of their lifecycle. For example, as mature trees begin to reach their lifespan, younger trees can be planted so that they will be established by the time the older trees need to be removed.

Sources: Cranberry Township Parks Maintenance Plan. Public Works Grounds Maintenance Division. http://www.cranberrytownship.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/16787


Maintenance Management Plan: Oakland County Parks. Pros Consulting LLC. http://www.destinationoakland.com/Documents/March%202010%20Commission%20Maintenance%20Management%20Plan.pdf

Preparing Landscape Management Plans for Seattle Green Factor Compliance. Seattle Department of Planning and Development. http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cs/groups/pan/@pan/documents/web_informational/dpds021344.pdf

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Parks

SECTION 3: APPENDIX

44


3.1 Online ResourcesSection 2.1 Tree Planting and Care

Training Young Trees. Larry Costello, University of California. http://tinyurl.com/trainingyoungtrees.

Tree Owner Information. International Society of Arboriculture. www.treesaregood.org & www.isa-arbor.com

Tree Owner’s Manual. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. www.treeownersmanual.info.

Section 2.2 Controlling Nonnative Invasive Plants Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: A Field Guide for Identification and Control, Section “General Principles for Controlling Nonnative Invasive Plants.” U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/gtr/gtr_srs062/07_other_nn_plants.pdf

Section 2.3 Natural Pest and Disease Control A Glossary of Natural Garden Pest Control Solutions. Mother Earth News. http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/natural-garden-pest-control-zm0z14jjzsto.aspx?PageId=4#axzz3D1YnWNED

Natural Garden Pest Control. Eartheasy: Solutions for Sustainable Living. http://eartheasy.com/grow_nat_pest_cntrl.htm

Organic Pest Control Series: Beneficial Insects. Mother Earth News. http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/benefi-cial-insects-zl0z0413zkin.aspx#axzz3D1YnWNED

Section 2.4 Habitats A Handbook of Constructed Wetlands, Chapter 9 “Operation, Maintenance, and Monitoring.” USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the US Environmental Protection Agency. http://water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/restore/upload/constructed-wetlands-handbook.pdf

Apple Tree Care. National Gardening Association Editors. http://www.garden.org/foodguide/browse/fruit/apple/1600


45

West Jefferson Streetscape Revitalization Stewardship PlanSection 3: Appendix

Online Resources

Growing Apple Trees In The Home Garden. Michael L. Parker, Department of Horticultural Science North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/hil/hil-8301.html


Maintaining a Rain Garden. Crystal Environmental Quality Commission. http://www.ci.crystal.mn.us/cityofcrystal/uploads/Maintaining_a_Rain_Garden_Information_2011.pdf

Maintaining your Rain Garden. Rutgers University, Water Resources Program. http://www.water.rutgers.edu/Projects/RGRebate/RGMaintenance.pdf

Managing Riparian Buffer Areas. Forestry Commission. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/INFD-6MVK4U

Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual, Chapter 6 “BMP 6.6.1: Constructed Wetland.” http://www.raingardensforthebays.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/PASWBMPManualChapt6.pdf

Riparian Buffers for Wildlife. Penn State Extension. http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/wildlife/habitat-management/pa-wildlife-16-riparian-buffers-for-wildlife

Stream Buffers. Clean Water Education Partnership. http://nccwep.org/involvement/buffers/index.php

Wetlands Operation & Maintenance Guide. Auckland Council. http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/environmentwaste/stormwater/Documents/wetlandsconstructionguide.pdf

Section 2.5 Streetscapes Environmental Best Management Practices and Design Standards Manual, Chapter 8 “Streetscape Management.” Bellevue Parks & Commu-nity Services. http://www.bellevuewa.gov/pdf/Parks/E12_Ch-08-Streets-cape-Management.pdf


46


Online Resources

Section 2.6 Parks Cranberry Township Parks Maintenance Plan. Public Works Grounds Maintenance Division. http://www.cranberrytownship.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/16787

Maintenance Management Plan: Oakland County Parks. Pros Consulting LLC. http://www.destinationoakland.com/Documents/March%202010%20Commission%20Maintenance%20Management%20Plan.pdf

Preparing Landscape Management Plans for Seattle Green Factor Compliance. Seattle Department of Planning and Development. http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cs/groups/pan/@pan/documents/web_informational/dpds021344.pdf

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Online Resources

3.2 Book Reference Materials

Section 2.5 Streetscapes Urban Tree Selection Manual: A Guide for Selecting Trees for the Urban Environment. 2007. John Alexopoulos, Paula Stahl, and Robert M. Ricard.

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Book Reference Materials

49

52

57

60

63

70

72

75

77

80

3.3 Attached Reference Materials

A Glossary of Natural Garden Pest Control Solutions. Mother Earth News. http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/natural-garden-pest-control-zm0z14jjzsto.aspx?PageId=4#axzz3D1YnWNED

Composting. Eartheasy: Solutions for Sustainable Living. http://eartheasy.com/grow_compost.html


Growing Apple Trees In The Home Garden. Michael L. Parker,Department of Horticulture Science North Carolina CooperativeExtension Service. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/hil/hil-8301.html

Ensuring Continued Success. National Wildlife Federationhttp://www.nwf.org/pdf/Eco-schools/SchoolyardHabitatsHowToGuide_Part6.pdf

How to Install and Maintain a Rain Barrel. City of Chicago. http://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/OSE/Categories/Urban_Runoff/Install_Maintain_RainBarrel.pdf

Maintenance and Rules. Kaboom. http://kaboom.org/build_playground/toolkit/safety/maintenance_and_rules

Schoolyard Stewardship. Outdoor Classroom User’s Guide.Boston Schoolyard Initiative. http://www.schoolyards.org/pdf/outdoorclassroomusersguide.pdf

Create a Maintenance Plan. Fish and Wildlife Servicehttp://www.fws.gov/cno/pdf/HabitatGuideColor.pdf

Maintenance Strategy. Evergreen and Toyota Canadahttp://www.hsfspark.com/sites/default/files/Evergreen-The%20Learning%20Grounds.pdf

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Attached Reference Materials

Common Plants and Their Toxicity. University of California, Davis, Medical Center, Regional Poison Control Center. http://fcs.sites.mjc.edu/127PlantToxicity.pdf

Poisonous Plants in the Landscape. Robert R. Westerfield and Gary L. Wade, The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. http://extension.uga.edu/publications/files/pdf/C%20957_2.PDF

82

87

50


Attached Reference Materials

9/11

/201

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rint A

rticl

e

http

://w

ww

.mot

here

arth

new

s.co

m/p

rint.a

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id={

1046

278E

-615

C-4

FEE

-A4A

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BD

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F7D

0}#a

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1/5

A G

loss

ary

of N

atur

al G

arde

n Pe

st C

ontr

olSo

lutio

nsFa

ced

with

a p

est p

robl

em?

Lear

n a

thre

e-tie

red

appr

oach

to n

atur

al g

arde

n pe

st c

ontr

ol: a

ttrac

tbe

nefic

ial i

nsec

ts, e

mpl

oy e

ffect

ive

phys

ical

pes

t con

trol

s suc

h as

han

dpic

king

and

row

cov

ers,

and

use

orga

nic

pest

icid

es if

nee

ded.

June

/Jul

y 20

14ht

tp://

ww

w.m

othe

rear

thne

ws.c

om/o

rgan

ic-g

arde

ning

/nat

ural

-gar

den-

pest

-con

trol-z

m0z

14jjz

sto.

aspx

By B

arba

ra P

leas

ant a

nd S

helle

y St

oneb

rook

Plac

e bi

rdho

uses

and

sim

ple

wat

erfe

atur

es a

roun

d yo

ur g

arde

n to

invi

te in

natu

ral p

reda

tors

. Kee

p ch

icke

ns n

ear

your

gar

den

to fe

ed th

em h

andp

icke

dpe

sts.

They

can

als

o w

ork

over

bed

s at

seas

on’s

end

. Kee

p ou

t slu

gs b

y la

ying

out c

oppe

r stri

ppin

g an

d us

e ro

w c

over

to p

rote

ct c

abba

ge-f

amily

cro

ps.

Illus

trat

ion

by L

inda

Coo

k

An

abun

danc

e of

buz

zing

, hop

ping

, flu

tterin

g an

d cr

awlin

g in

sect

s is a

trad

emar

k of

any

hea

lthy

orga

nic

gard

en. T

his d

iver

sity

mea

ns in

sect

s tha

t mig

ht fe

ed o

n yo

ur c

rops

are

like

ly to

be

kept

in c

heck

by

thei

ren

emie

s. In

smal

l num

bers

, pes

ts si

mpl

y pr

ovid

e fo

od fo

r bird

s and

ben

efic

ial i

nsec

ts, a

nd if

you

r soi

lan

d cr

ops a

re h

ealth

y, p

lant

s fen

d of

f the

pre

ssur

e ea

sily

. Onl

y w

hen

pest

pop

ulat

ions

bec

ome

exce

ssiv

edo

gar

dene

rs n

eed

to st

ep in

to re

stor

e ba

lanc

e to

kee

p th

eir g

arde

ns th

rivin

g.

A g

ood

over

arch

ing

man

tra to

gui

de y

ou in

you

r nat

ural

gar

den

pest

con

trol e

ffor

ts c

an b

e su

mm

ed u

p in

two

wor

ds: L

ook

clos

ely.

Exa

min

e yo

ur p

lant

s reg

ular

ly, n

otin

g w

hat k

inds

of i

nsec

ts y

ou se

e. O

bser

vew

heth

er y

ou se

e ju

st a

few

of a

par

ticul

ar k

ind

of in

sect

or w

heth

er p

opul

atio

ns a

re g

row

ing,

and

look

up

pict

ures

of w

hat y

ou se

e so

you

kno

w w

hich

are

ben

efic

ial a

nd w

hich

are

det

rimen

tal.

(For

pic

ture

s of

and

deta

iled

info

rmat

ion

abou

t ben

efic

ial a

nd p

est i

nsec

ts, s

ee o

ur O

rgan

ic P

est C

ontro

l Ser

ies.)

Ref

er to

this

glo

ssar

y to

pre

empt

ivel

y w

ard

off p

ests

and

, if p

robl

ems d

o cr

op u

p, to

targ

et e

ach

com

plic

atio

n w

ith th

e be

st o

rgan

ic p

est c

ontro

l sol

utio

ns. W

e’ve

sepa

rate

d th

is g

loss

ary

into

sect

ions

that

pres

ent a

thre

e-pr

onge

d sy

stem

of o

rgan

ic p

est c

ontro

l: Fi

rst,

attra

ct a

div

ersi

ty o

f ben

efic

ial i

nsec

ts b

yin

terp

lant

ing

flow

ers a

nd h

erbs

— e

spec

ially

thos

e th

at p

rodu

ce n

ecta

r fro

m n

umer

ous s

mal

l flo

rets

, suc

has

min

ts a

nd sw

eet a

lyss

um. S

econ

d, p

ut a

var

iety

of p

hysi

cal c

ontro

ls in

pla

ce w

hen

pest

s get

out

of

chec

k or

are

kno

wn

to b

e tro

uble

som

e in

you

r are

a (s

ee th

e To

p 15

Wor

st G

arde

n Pe

sts c

hart)

. Las

t, if

need

ed, b

ring

in o

rgan

ic in

sect

icid

e re

info

rcem

ents

. The

pro

duct

s lis

ted

in th

is g

loss

ary

all h

ave

been

appr

oved

by

the

U.S

. Nat

iona

l Org

anic

Pro

gram

.

9/11

/201

4P

rint A

rticl

e

http

://w

ww

.mot

here

arth

new

s.co

m/p

rint.a

spx?

id={

1046

278E

-615

C-4

FEE

-A4A

E-1

AE

BD

5EA

F7D

0}#a

xzz3

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nWN

ED

2/5

Pest

-Eat

ing

Ben

efic

ial I

nsec

ts

The

follo

win

g in

sect

s fee

d on

oth

er in

sect

s, he

lpin

g pr

even

t pes

t spe

cies

from

doi

ng m

ore

than

min

orda

mag

e to

you

r cro

ps.

Ass

assi

n bu

g. T

hese

1-in

ch-lo

ng p

reda

tory

bug

s hav

e sh

ield

-sha

ped

back

s and

are

act

ive

pest

hun

ters

.La

rvae

and

adu

lts fe

ed o

n ap

hids

, cat

erpi

llars

, Col

orad

o po

tato

bee

tles,

inse

ct e

ggs a

nd m

ore.

Ass

assi

nbu

gs a

re a

mon

g th

e fe

w n

atur

al p

reda

tors

that

hel

p co

ntro

l Mex

ican

bea

n be

etle

s.

Bra

coni

d w

asp.

Nor

th A

mer

ica

is h

ome

to n

early

2,0

00 sp

ecie

s of t

hese

non

-stin

ging

was

ps. A

dults

are

less

than

a h

alf-

inch

long

, and

they

lay

eggs

insi

de o

r on

host

inse

cts;

the

mag

got-l

ike

larv

ae fe

ed o

n th

eir

prey

from

insi

de. B

raco

nids

lay

eggs

on

num

erou

s pes

ts, s

uch

as a

phid

s, ca

terp

illar

s (in

clud

ing

cabb

agew

orm

s and

tom

ato

horn

wor

ms)

, and

leaf

min

ers.

Gro

und

beet

le. T

hese

ben

efic

ial i

nsec

ts li

ve in

the

soil

bene

ath

mul

ches

, aro

und

com

post

pile

s, an

d in

the

shel

tere

d ar

eas b

elow

per

enni

al p

lant

s. So

me

crea

te v

ertic

al tu

nnel

s tha

t the

y us

e to

am

bush

and

trap

prey

, but

mos

t gro

und

beet

les w

ande

r abo

ut a

bove

grou

nd, f

orag

ing

for f

ood

at n

ight

. The

y di

ne o

nas

para

gus b

eetle

s, ca

bbag

ewor

ms,

Col

orad

o po

tato

bee

tles,

corn

ear

wor

ms,

cutw

orm

s and

slug

s.

Hov

er fl

y (a

ka sy

rphi

d fly

). B

lack

-and

-yel

low

-stri

ped

hove

r fly

adu

lts re

sem

ble

yello

w ja

cket

s but

are

harm

less

to h

uman

s. La

rvae

are

pet

ite, t

aper

ed m

aggo

ts th

at c

raw

l ove

r fol

iage

to fe

ed o

n sm

all i

nsec

ts.

They

are

aph

id-e

atin

g m

achi

nes a

nd a

lso

devo

ur m

ealy

bugs

, mite

s, th

rips,

scal

e in

sect

s, an

d sm

all

cate

rpill

ars,

such

as c

abba

gew

orm

s.

Lac

ewin

g (a

ka a

phid

lion

). La

cew

ing

larv

ae p

rey

on a

phid

s, ca

bbag

ewor

ms,

cate

rpill

ar e

ggs,

whi

tefli

esan

d m

ore.

The

y fe

ed fo

r abo

ut a

mon

th, i

n w

hich

tim

e ea

ch la

rva

cons

umes

abo

ut 6

00 a

phid

s. R

emov

ero

w c

over

s fro

m p

lant

s dur

ing

even

ing

hour

s so

lace

win

gs c

an c

heck

them

for p

ests

. Do

not u

sepe

stic

ides

whe

n la

cew

ings

are

act

ive,

whi

ch h

appe

ns e

arly

in th

e ga

rden

ing

seas

on c

ompa

red

with

mos

tna

tura

l ins

ect p

reda

tors

.

Lad

y be

etle

(aka

lady

bug)

. Lad

y be

etle

larv

ae a

nd a

dults

eat

aph

ids,

smal

l cat

erpi

llars

and

inse

ct e

ggs.

A fe

w sp

ecie

s spe

cial

ize

in e

atin

g m

ealy

bugs

, mite

s, sc

ale

inse

cts a

nd e

ven

pow

dery

mild

ew. I

f you

see

adul

t lad

y be

etle

s on

a pl

ant,

look

in th

e fo

liage

for c

lust

ers o

f yel

low

-ora

nge

eggs

, whi

ch w

ill o

ften

bene

ar a

n ap

hid

colo

ny. D

ark-

colo

red

larv

ae, w

hich

rese

mbl

e m

inia

ture

alli

gato

rs, w

ill h

atch

in a

bout

aw

eek

and

cons

ume

seve

ral a

phid

s per

day

.

Min

ute

pira

te b

ug. L

ess t

han

a qu

arte

r-in

ch lo

ng, t

his c

ompa

ct p

reda

tor c

ontro

ls c

orn

earw

orm

s ear

ly in

the

wor

ms’

life

cyc

le. M

inut

e pi

rate

bug

s als

o fe

ed o

n ap

hids

, thr

ips a

nd w

hite

flies

.

Pray

ing

man

tis. T

he la

rges

t ins

ect y

ou’r

e lik

ely

to se

e in

you

r gar

den,

this

pre

dato

ry sp

ecie

s is a

lway

son

the

prow

l, ea

ting

any

othe

r ins

ect t

hat m

oves

, inc

ludi

ng c

rop-

mun

chin

g gr

assh

oppe

rs.

Sold

ier

beet

le (a

ka le

athe

rwin

g be

etle

). Y

ou’ll

spy

elon

gate

d, h

alf-

inch

-long

sold

ier b

eetle

s am

ong

flow

ers o

r in

thic

k ve

geta

tion.

In so

me

area

s, th

e la

rvae

are

key

pre

dato

rs o

f gra

ssho

pper

egg

s, so

attra

ctin

g so

ldie

r bee

tles c

an p

rovi

de g

rass

hopp

er c

ontro

l. So

ldie

r bee

tle la

rvae

eat

mot

hs, s

ever

al in

sect

s,an

d th

e eg

gs a

nd la

rvae

of o

ther

bee

tles.

Adu

lts fe

ed o

n ap

hids

, cat

erpi

llars

and

oth

er so

ft-bo

died

inse

cts.

Gol

denr

ods,

sing

le-f

low

ered

mar

igol

ds a

nd m

embe

rs o

f the

dai

sy fa

mily

are

sold

ier-

beet

le m

agne

ts.

Spid

er. T

hese

eig

ht-le

gged

crit

ters

are

pro

babl

y th

e m

ost a

bund

ant p

est p

reda

tors

on

your

pro

perty

. Any

gard

en w

ill li

kely

alre

ady

host

seve

ral d

ozen

type

s of s

pide

rs, a

nd th

e m

ost c

omm

on g

arde

n sp

ider

s don

’tsp

in w

ebs.

For e

xam

ple,

wol

f spi

ders

live

in sh

allo

w u

nder

grou

nd b

urro

ws,

wan

derin

g th

e so

il’s s

urfa

ce

51

West Jefferson Streetscape Revitalization Stewardship PlanSection 3.3: Appendix - Attached Reference Materials

A Glossary of Natural Garden Pest Control Solutions

9/11

/201

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ww

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new

s.co

m/p

rint.a

spx?

id={

1046

278E

-615

C-4

FEE

-A4A

E-1

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BD

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0}#a

xzz3

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ED

3/5

by n

ight

, or s

impl

y w

aitin

g by

thei

r bur

row

for u

nsus

pect

ing

prey

. Per

enni

al h

erbs

that

gro

w in

to lu

shbu

shes

ofte

n m

ake

top-

notc

h sp

ider

con

serv

ator

ies,

and

biod

egra

dabl

e m

ulch

es, s

uch

as st

raw

and

gra

sscl

ippi

ngs,

crea

te a

n id

eal h

abita

t for

adv

anta

geou

s wol

f spi

ders

. (N

ote

that

poi

sono

us sp

ider

s don

’tge

nera

lly fa

vor g

arde

ns.)

Tac

hini

d fly

. Tac

hini

d fli

es a

re g

rues

ome

para

site

s tha

t glu

e th

eir e

ggs o

nto

an in

sect

so th

at, w

hen

the

egg

hatc

hes,

the

mag

got c

an c

onsu

me

its h

ost a

s foo

d. S

ome

spec

ies l

ay e

ggs o

n fo

liage

that

’s fo

od fo

rin

sect

s, an

d th

en th

e eg

gs h

atch

in th

e in

sect

s’ in

nard

s. O

r, th

e fli

es in

ject

egg

s int

o an

othe

r ins

ect’s

bod

yw

ith a

shar

p ov

ipos

itor.

Gar

den

pest

s con

trolle

d by

tach

inid

flie

s inc

lude

arm

ywor

ms,

cabb

agew

orm

s,cu

twor

ms,

gras

shop

pers

, Jap

anes

e be

etle

s, le

af ro

llers

and

squa

sh b

ugs.

Attr

act t

achi

nid

flies

by

grow

ing

plan

ts th

at b

ear u

mbe

ls o

f tin

y flo

wer

s. B

uckw

heat

, car

rots

, cila

ntro

, dill

, Que

en A

nne’

s lac

e an

d sw

eet

clov

er a

re a

mon

g th

e cr

ops t

hat f

it th

is b

ill.

Tri

chog

ram

ma

was

p. T

hese

gna

t-siz

ed w

asps

lay

thei

r egg

s ins

ide

the

eggs

of o

ther

inse

cts,

whe

re th

eyo

ung

trich

ogra

mm

a th

en d

evel

op a

s int

erna

l par

asite

s, br

eaki

ng th

e ho

st’s

life

cyc

le. C

omm

on h

osts

incl

ude

eggs

of c

abba

gew

orm

s, co

dlin

g m

oths

and

Eur

opea

n co

rn b

orer

s. Tr

icho

gram

ma

was

ps a

re to

otin

y to

obs

erve

in th

e ga

rden

; how

ever

, sci

entis

ts h

ave

foun

d th

at fl

ower

nec

tar f

rom

buc

kwhe

at a

ndsw

eet a

lyss

um e

nhan

ced

was

p re

prod

uctio

n in

lab

expe

rimen

ts.

Was

p (s

tingi

ng ty

pes)

. Was

ps c

an b

e gr

eat g

arde

n al

lies b

ecau

se th

ey c

onsu

me

huge

num

bers

of l

eaf-

eatin

g ca

terp

illar

s and

irrit

atin

g fli

es, w

hich

they

feed

to th

eir g

row

ing

larv

ae. T

ake

caut

ion

if ye

llow

jack

ets o

r hor

nets

show

up,

and

mar

k w

asp

nest

s so

you

can

avoi

d di

stur

bing

them

. Pap

er w

asps

are

less

aggr

essi

ve th

an y

ello

w ja

cket

s or h

orne

ts, a

nd a

re h

appy

to n

est i

n bo

ttom

less

bird

hous

es p

lace

d ar

ound

the

gard

en.

Phys

ical

Pes

t Con

trol

Sol

utio

ns

Cle

anup

. Pra

ctic

e go

od g

arde

n sa

nita

tion

for c

erta

in c

rops

at s

easo

n’s e

nd to

dis

rupt

the

life

cycl

e of

pest

s tha

t fee

d on

thos

e cr

ops.

Afte

r you

r cuc

umbe

r and

squa

sh p

lant

s are

spen

t, re

mov

e pl

ant d

ebris

from

the

gard

en a

nd c

hop

it in

to sm

all p

iece

s bef

ore

com

post

ing

it. D

o th

e sa

me

with

asp

arag

us, w

hich

can

host

asp

arag

us b

eetle

s, an

d w

ith b

rocc

oli a

nd c

abba

ge st

umps

, whi

ch c

an h

arbo

r cab

bage

aph

ids.

Ifyo

u ha

ve p

robl

ems w

ith p

ests

that

ove

rwin

ter a

s adu

lts, m

ow d

own

any

wee

dy a

reas

in fa

ll.

Cop

per

stri

ps. S

lugs

rece

ive

an u

nple

asan

t ele

ctric

al jo

lt if

they

cra

wl o

ver c

oppe

r. G

arde

n ce

nter

s sel

lco

pper

strip

ping

that

you

can

pla

ce a

roun

d pa

rticu

lar c

rops

or e

ven

use

to e

ncirc

le e

ntire

gar

den

beds

toke

ep sl

ugs o

ut. T

he st

rips s

houl

d be

at l

east

a fe

w in

ches

wid

e so

slug

s can

’t tra

vers

e th

em u

nsca

thed

.

Cut

wor

m c

olla

rs. P

ush

cylin

dric

al “

colla

rs”

— w

hich

can

be

mad

e fr

om sm

all c

ans,

yogu

rt cu

ps o

rto

ilet p

aper

rolls

— in

to th

e so

il ar

ound

tom

ato,

pep

per a

nd o

ther

tran

spla

nts t

o pr

otec

t the

you

ng p

lant

sfr

om c

utw

orm

dam

age.

Han

dpic

king

. Ultr

a-lo

w-te

ch b

ut e

ffec

tive

for o

rgan

ic g

arde

ners

, han

dpic

king

is ju

st w

hat i

t sou

nds l

ike:

Spot

pes

ts a

nd sq

uish

them

or b

rush

them

into

a p

ail o

f soa

py w

ater

(or c

olle

ct th

em fo

r you

r chi

cken

s).

Kee

ping

a c

lose

eye

on

your

cro

ps a

nd k

now

ing

how

to id

entif

y pe

sts a

re th

e ke

ys to

this

met

hod.

Pes

tsth

at h

aven

’t be

com

e ov

erw

helm

ing

in n

umbe

r and

are

big

eno

ugh

to sp

ot e

asily

, suc

h as

slug

s, to

mat

oho

rnw

orm

s and

oth

er w

orm

-type

pes

ts, a

re p

rime

cand

idat

es fo

r han

dpic

king

.

Poul

try.

Inse

ct-m

unch

ing

fow

l will

dev

our p

ract

ical

ly a

ny in

sect

that

mov

es, i

nclu

ding

tick

s,gr

assh

oppe

rs, C

olor

ado

pota

to b

eetle

s, sl

ugs a

nd m

ore.

Duc

ks a

re re

porte

dly

shar

p sl

ug-s

potte

rs, w

heth

eryo

u le

t the

m w

ork

over

the

gard

en in

sprin

g an

d fa

ll or

enl

ist a

pai

r as y

our a

ssis

tant

s thr

ough

out t

hese

ason

. Chi

cken

s wor

k be

st in

win

ter,

beca

use

thei

r scr

atch

ing

can

dam

age

crop

s dur

ing

the

grow

ing

9/11

/201

4P

rint A

rticl

e

http

://w

ww

.mot

here

arth

new

s.co

m/p

rint.a

spx?

id={

1046

278E

-615

C-4

FEE

-A4A

E-1

AE

BD

5EA

F7D

0}#a

xzz3

D1Y

nWN

ED

4/5

seas

on. (

See

Chi

cken

s in

the

Gar

den:

Org

anic

Pes

t Con

trol f

or re

ader

repo

rts a

bout

how

to m

ost

effe

ctiv

ely

cont

rol p

ests

with

pou

ltry.

)

Row

cov

ers.

A li

ghtw

eigh

t row

cov

er o

r tul

le n

ettin

g w

ill k

eep

som

e cr

ops p

est-f

ree.

Cov

er y

our

cabb

age

patc

h in

this

way

, alo

ng w

ith o

ther

cab

bage

-fam

ily c

rops

, to

keep

cab

bage

wor

m m

oths

from

layi

ng e

ggs o

n yo

ur p

lant

s. U

se h

oops

or b

lunt

stak

es to

hol

d up

the

cove

rs. R

emov

e co

vers

afte

r cro

ps,

such

as s

quas

h, b

egin

to fl

ower

, so

that

pol

linat

ors c

an re

ach

the

flow

ers.

Vac

uum

. Som

e ga

rden

ers r

epor

t suc

cess

fully

con

trolli

ng sq

uash

bug

s and

oth

er p

ests

by

suck

ing

them

up w

ith a

shop

vac

uum

. Got

pou

ltry?

Em

pty

the

vacu

um b

ag in

to th

eir p

en a

nd e

very

body

win

s —ex

cept

the

pest

s, of

cou

rse.

Yel

low

stic

ky tr

aps.

Han

g fla

t, st

icky

trap

s nea

r cuc

umbe

r pla

nts t

o ca

tch

cucu

mbe

r bee

tles.

To sn

are

flea

beet

les,

plac

e tra

ps n

ear e

ggpl

ants

and

oth

er c

rops

suff

erin

g fr

om fl

ea b

eetle

pre

ssur

e. T

hese

pes

tsar

e at

tract

ed to

the

colo

r of t

he tr

aps a

nd w

ill g

et c

augh

t in

the

goo.

Org

anic

Inse

ctic

ides

Bt (

Baci

llus t

hurin

gien

sis).

This

nat

ural

ly o

ccur

ring

bact

eriu

m k

ills c

ater

pilla

rs w

hen

they

eat

leav

esth

at h

ave

been

spra

yed

with

it. A

rmyw

orm

s, ca

bbag

ewor

ms,

corn

ear

wor

ms,

diam

ondb

ack

mot

hs, g

rape

leaf

rolle

rs, m

elon

wor

ms,

tom

ato

frui

twor

ms,

tom

ato

horn

wor

ms,

and

vario

us w

ebw

orm

s and

bud

wor

ms

are

cand

idat

es fo

r Bt t

reat

men

t. B

utte

rfly

larv

ae m

ay a

lso

be k

illed

by

Bt,

so d

on’t

use

it on

but

terf

ly h

ost

plan

ts, s

uch

as p

arsl

ey. A

dditi

onal

stra

ins o

f Bt i

nclu

de o

ne th

at k

ills m

osqu

ito la

rvae

and

one

that

isto

xic

to C

olor

ado

pota

to b

eetle

larv

ae. S

unlig

ht d

egra

des B

t afte

r a fe

w h

ours

, so

appl

y it

late

in th

e da

y.R

eapp

ly a

fter h

eavy

rain

.

Dia

tom

aceo

us e

arth

(DE

). A

pow

der m

ade

from

foss

ilize

d re

mai

ns o

f aqu

atic

org

anis

ms c

alle

d“d

iato

ms,”

DE

has s

harp

edg

es th

at c

ut in

to in

sect

s’ b

odie

s and

cau

se th

em to

die

of d

ehyd

ratio

n. D

E is

less

eff

ectiv

e w

hen

wet

, yet

can

still

be

used

in th

e ga

rden

to m

ake

life

diff

icul

t for

flea

bee

tles a

nd n

ewly

emer

ged

cutw

orm

s and

Japa

nese

bee

tles.

In d

ry w

eath

er, D

E sp

read

ben

eath

pla

nts w

ill re

pel s

lugs

.Li

ghtly

sprin

kle

dry

DE

on th

e so

il’s s

urfa

ce w

here

Japa

nese

bee

tles,

slug

s, or

oth

er p

ests

will

com

e in

todi

rect

con

tact

with

the

dry

parti

cles

. Ren

ew a

fter r

ain

or d

ew.

Hor

ticul

tura

l oils

. Whe

n ap

plie

d di

rect

ly to

pes

ts, h

ortic

ultu

ral o

ils in

terf

ere

with

resp

iratio

n, c

ausi

ngin

sect

s to

suff

ocat

e an

d di

e. T

hese

oils

hel

p co

ntro

l aph

ids,

whi

tefli

es a

nd o

ther

pes

ts, b

ut c

an a

lso

kill

bene

ficia

l mite

s and

inju

re th

e le

aves

of s

ome

plan

ts. F

requ

ent u

se c

an re

duce

yie

lds e

ven

whe

n th

e pe

stis

und

er c

ontro

l. B

est a

pplie

d in

coo

l wea

ther

, hor

ticul

tura

l oils

are

val

uabl

e al

lies i

n or

gani

c or

char

ds,

whe

re th

ey c

an c

ontro

l pes

ts th

at o

verw

inte

r in

bark

cre

vice

s.

Inse

ctic

idal

soap

. Fat

ty a

cids

in in

sect

icid

al so

aps b

reak

dow

n th

e pr

otec

tive

cutic

les o

f sof

t-bod

ied

pest

s, su

ch a

s aph

ids,

whi

ch w

ill th

en q

uick

ly b

ecom

e de

hydr

ated

and

die

. Soa

p sp

rays

hav

e no

resi

dual

effe

ct a

nd o

nly

kill

inse

cts t

hat a

re sp

raye

d di

rect

ly. T

horo

ughl

y w

et b

oth

side

s of l

eave

s and

the

insi

des

of a

ll cr

evic

es. R

epea

t app

licat

ions

may

be

need

ed e

very

wee

k as

new

aph

ids o

r whi

tefli

es h

atch

and

form

col

onie

s. To

mak

e so

ap sp

rays

at h

ome,

mix

1 ta

bles

poon

of d

ishw

ashi

ng li

quid

per

qua

rt of

wat

er.

Purc

hase

d in

sect

icid

al so

aps a

re p

urer

, how

ever

, and

less

like

ly to

inju

re fo

liage

. Fre

quen

t soa

p sp

rays

may

redu

ce th

e yi

elds

of s

ome

crop

s. U

se so

ft or

rain

wat

er w

hen

dilu

ting

soap

con

cent

rate

s.

Iron

pho

spha

te sl

ug b

ait.

Sprin

kle

slug

-bai

t gra

nule

s eve

nly

thro

ugho

ut y

our g

arde

n be

ds, a

nd sl

ugs

will

eat

it in

stea

d of

you

r pla

nts,

then

cra

wl o

ff to

die

. The

bai

t is n

onto

xic

to p

ets a

nd h

uman

s. Sl

uggo

isa

popu

lar b

rand

of t

his t

ype

of b

ait.

52



9/11

/201

4P

rint A

rticl

e

http

://w

ww

.mot

here

arth

new

s.co

m/p

rint.a

spx?

id={

1046

278E

-615

C-4

FEE

-A4A

E-1

AE

BD

5EA

F7D

0}#a

xzz3

D1Y

nWN

ED

5/5

Nee

m. W

hen

appl

ied

to in

sect

s and

the

plan

ts th

ey e

at, n

eem

oil,

whi

ch is

der

ived

from

an

Asi

an tr

ee,

caus

es m

any

inse

cts t

o fe

ed le

ss, g

row

mor

e sl

owly

, mol

t les

s and

stop

layi

ng e

ggs.

Nee

m w

orks

bes

t on

youn

g in

sect

s, pa

rticu

larly

thos

e th

at g

row

rapi

dly,

such

as C

olor

ado

pota

to b

eetle

s, M

exic

an b

ean

beet

les a

nd sq

uash

bug

s. N

eem

can

als

o co

ntro

l aph

ids a

nd le

af-e

atin

g ca

terp

illar

s.

Pyre

thru

m. O

ne o

f the

old

est k

now

n pe

stic

ides

, fas

t-act

ing

pyre

thru

m is

als

o th

e st

rong

est i

nsec

ticid

eal

low

ed u

nder

U.S

. Nat

iona

l Org

anic

Sta

ndar

ds, s

o us

e it

only

afte

r you

’ve

exha

uste

d ot

her m

etho

ds.

Inse

cts,

incl

udin

g be

nefic

ials

, typ

ical

ly b

ecom

e pa

raly

zed

as so

on a

s the

y co

me

into

con

tact

with

pyre

thru

m, w

hich

is m

ade

from

the

drie

d flo

wer

s of t

he d

aisy

Tan

acet

um c

iner

ariif

oliu

m. A

phid

s,ar

myw

orm

s, C

olor

ado

pota

to b

eetle

s, cu

cum

ber b

eetle

s, cu

twor

ms,

leaf

hopp

ers,

squa

sh b

ugs a

ndw

hite

flies

can

ofte

n be

bro

ught

und

er c

ontro

l with

pyr

ethr

um.

Spin

osad

. A b

iolo

gica

l pes

ticid

e, sp

inos

ad is

der

ived

from

the

bact

eriu

m S

acch

arop

olys

pora

spin

osa,

whi

ch p

rodu

ces a

subs

tanc

e th

at w

orks

as a

neu

roto

xin

in m

any

(but

not

all)

inse

cts.

Susc

eptib

le in

sect

spec

ies b

ecom

e ex

cite

d to

the

poin

t of e

xhau

stio

n, st

op e

atin

g, a

nd d

ie w

ithin

two

days

. Spi

nosa

dco

ntro

ls a

ll ty

pes o

f cat

erpi

llars

, Col

orad

o po

tato

bee

tle la

rvae

and

blis

ter b

eetle

s, an

d w

orks

bes

t on

pest

s tha

t con

sum

e a

lot o

f lea

f tis

sue.

Nee

d to

dea

l with

gar

den

pest

s? C

heck

out

the

Top

15 W

orst

Gar

den

Pest

s cha

rt .

Con

trib

utin

g ed

itor B

arba

ra P

leas

ant g

arde

ns in

sout

hwes

t Vir

gini

a, w

here

she

grow

s veg

etab

les,

herb

s,fr

uits

, flo

wer

s and

a fe

w lu

cky

chic

kens

. Con

tact

Bar

bara

by

visi

ting

her w

ebsi

te o

r fin

ding

her

on

Goo

gle+

.

Shel

ley

Ston

ebro

ok is

MO

THER

EAR

TH N

EWS

mag

azin

e’s m

ain

gard

enin

g ed

itor.

She’

s pas

sion

ate

abou

t gro

win

g he

alth

y, su

stai

nabl

e fo

od a

nd ta

king

car

e of

our

env

iron

men

t. Fo

llow

her

on

Twitt

er,

Pint

eres

t and

Goo

gle+

.

53



Com

post

ing

54


Composting

55


Composting

56


Composting

57


Composting

58


Composting

2

Whe

n Ka

thar

ine L

ee B

ates

firs

t wro

tehe

r 189

5 po

em “A

mer

ica t

he B

eaut

iful,”

whi

chha

s sin

ce b

ecom

e one

of o

ur b

est l

oved

pat

riot-

ic so

ngs,

her “

ambe

r wav

es o

f gra

in” a

nd “f

ruit-

ed p

lain

” de

scrib

ed a

n ic

on o

f the

Am

eric

anM

idwe

st th

at w

as fa

st be

com

ing

our

coun

try’s

brea

dbas

ket:

the

prai

rie. H

undr

eds

of th

ou-

sand

s of

squ

are

mile

s of

gra

ssla

nds

cove

red

mor

e th

an a

qua

rter o

f the

con

tinen

tal U

.S. a

ndsu

ppor

ted

an es

timat

ed 6

0 m

illio

n bi

son,

not

tom

entio

n a

whol

e gu

ild o

f gra

ssla

nd b

irds

and

othe

r sp

ecie

s th

at m

ade

up th

e pr

airie

eco

sys-

tem

. Ove

r the

last

cent

ury,

howe

ver,

the p

rairi

essu

ccum

bed

to th

e m

arve

l of a

gric

ultu

re, t

heir

rich

soils

rew

ardi

ng u

s wi

th to

ns o

f whe

at a

ndco

rn. T

oday

, in

stark

con

trast

to th

eir

orig

inal

size,

onl

y 1 p

erce

nt o

f the

orig

inal

pra

iries

are

left,

and

con

serv

atio

nists

are

fac

ed w

ith t

heda

untin

g ch

alle

nge

of h

ow to

pre

serv

e or

re-

store

the r

emna

nts.

Fortu

nate

ly th

ere

is a

resu

rgen

ce o

f int

eres

tin

thes

e dw

indl

ing

gras

sland

eco

syste

ms,

and

Virg

inia

is

no h

oldo

ut.

Alth

ough

we

cann

otho

pe to

rees

tabl

ish a

ll of

the

histo

rical

eco

sys-

tem

s m

issin

g fro

m o

ur n

ow h

ighl

y de

velo

ped

and

popu

late

d la

ndsc

ape,

the

Depa

rtmen

t of

Gam

e an

d In

land

Fish

erie

s ne

verth

eles

s pr

o-m

otes

the

use

of n

ative

war

m se

ason

gra

sses

inm

uch

of it

s ha

bita

t wor

k. T

hese

gra

sses

are

suita

ble

for

both

larg

e-sc

ale

farm

pla

ntin

gs a

swe

ll as

smal

ler m

eado

ws b

rimm

ing w

ith at

trac-

tive

wild

flow

ers.

By c

onve

rting

or

resto

ring

open

land

s to

nativ

e gr

asse

s, we

mim

ic p

rairi

eha

bita

ts an

d ad

dres

s th

e ne

eds

of n

umer

ous

bird

and

mam

mal

spec

ies t

hat r

equi

re p

rairi

e-lik

e con

ditio

ns to

surv

ive.

Gras

slan

d Ha

bita

tsM

uch

of th

e ex

istin

g “g

rass

land

” on

e co

m-

mon

ly se

es in

Virg

inia

’s ru

ral l

ands

cape

is e

i-th

er c

ut fo

r ha

y or

gra

zed

by li

vesto

ck. T

hese

open

fiel

ds a

re p

lant

ed w

ith a

fina

l pro

duct

inm

ind—

gras

s or

fora

ge—

and

the

plan

ts m

ost

by C

arol

A. H

eise

rill

ustr

atio

ns b

y Sp

ike

Knut

h

Switc

hgra

ssIn

dia

ngra

ss

3

frequ

ently

use

d in

clud

e or

char

dgra

ss o

r fe

s-cu

e. L

ando

wne

rs e

spec

ially

app

reci

ate

the

non-

nativ

e fes

cue f

or it

s tou

gh, a

ggre

ssive

qua

l-iti

es th

at e

nsur

e fa

st gr

owth

, red

uced

soil

ero-

sion,

and

the

abili

ty to

with

stand

hea

vy g

razin

g.Un

fortu

nate

ly, th

ere

is a

down

side

to fe

scue

’ste

naci

ty: it

is in

vasiv

e an

d fo

rms

a de

nse

mat

that

effe

ctive

ly ou

t-com

pete

s na

tive

gras

ses,

ther

eby e

xclu

ding

the

plan

t dive

rsity

and

hab

i-ta

t st

ruct

ure

esse

ntia

l to

man

y op

en-la

ndwi

ldlif

e spe

cies

.M

issi

ng f

rom

the

se a

rtifi

cial

gra

ssla

ndm

onoc

ultu

res a

re la

yers

of d

iffer

ent v

eget

atio

nan

d th

e fre

edom

of m

ovem

ent b

etwe

en p

lant

sth

at g

roun

d-fo

ragi

ng b

irds

and

mam

mal

sne

ed to

find

food

and

to e

scap

e pr

edat

ion.

Nativ

e wa

rm se

ason

gra

ss h

abita

ts ar

e m

ore

prod

uctiv

e fo

r wi

ldlif

e be

caus

e th

eir

high

erde

gree

of s

peci

es d

ivers

ity b

esto

ws v

aryin

gpl

ant h

eigh

ts an

d ex

celle

nt co

ver.

The

valu

e of

cov

er c

an n

ot b

e ov

er-e

m-

phas

ized

. Gr

ound

-dw

ellin

g bi

rds

rely

on

ara

nge o

f cov

er ty

pes,

such

as n

est c

over

to in

cu-

bate

egg

s, br

ood

cove

r to

rai

se y

oung

, loa

fing

cove

r to

rest

betw

een

fora

ys, a

nd w

inte

r cov

erag

ains

t th

e el

emen

ts.

War

m s

easo

n gr

asse

ssta

nd u

prig

ht an

d ar

e qui

te ta

ll, fr

om si

x to

eigh

tfe

et. H

eigh

t pro

vides

val

uabl

e ov

erhe

ad c

over

from

pre

dato

rs, l

ike

hawk

s, as

wild

life

mov

esab

out u

nder

neat

h. D

ry g

rass

sta

lks

bend

ove

ran

d fo

rm p

ocke

ts of

pro

tect

ion

even

dur

ing

wint

er, w

hen

othe

r pl

ants

are

com

plet

ely

cov-

ered

by s

now.

Anot

her

adva

ntag

e of

nat

ive w

arm

sea

son

gras

ses i

s tha

t the

y gro

w in

clum

ps o

r bun

ches

.Th

e sp

aces

bet

ween

the

clum

ps a

re e

xpos

edpa

tche

s of b

are

grou

nd, a

nd th

e fir

st six

inch

esab

ove t

he gr

ound

is lo

osel

y stru

ctur

ed an

d fa

ir-ly

open

. In

this

envir

onm

ent,

seed

s and

inse

cts

are

mor

e ac

cess

ible

tobi

rds l

ike

quai

l and

turk

eybr

oods

. W

ildlif

e ca

n al

som

ove

quic

kly

and

easil

y be

-tw

een

the

plan

ts sh

ould

dan

-ge

r stri

ke.

Wild

life

whic

h ke

ys in

on

thes

e op

en, e

arly

stage

s of

plan

t gro

wth

or s

ucce

ssio

nar

e ca

lled

“ear

ly s

ucce

s-sio

nal s

peci

es.”

Of n

atio

n-al

conc

ern

is th

e gra

ssla

ndbi

rd c

omm

unity

tha

t ha

sbe

en e

spec

ially

vul

nera

ble

to i

ncre

asin

g de

velo

pmen

tpr

essu

re a

nd w

hose

num

bers

are

decl

inin

g. I

n ad

ditio

n to

quai

l m

entio

ned

abov

e, o

ther

early

suc

cess

iona

l sp

ecie

s th

atbe

nefit

fro

m n

ativ

e gr

assl

and

man

agem

ent

are

gras

shop

per

spar

row,

dic

kcis

sel,

mea

dow

lark

,se

dge

wren

, and

the

state

thre

aten

ed u

p-la

nd sa

ndpi

per a

nd lo

gger

head

shrik

e.

Switc

hgra

ss, i

ndia

ngra

ss, a

nd b

ig b

lues

tem

are

nat

ive

gra

sses

that

ben

efit

a va

riety

of b

irdsp

ecie

s, in

cludin

g th

e se

dge

wre

n p

erch

edon

foxt

ail g

rass

(rig

ht) a

nd b

obw

hite

quai

l(u

pper

left)

.

Big

blu

este

m

59


Section 3.3: Appendix Grow a Native Grass Meadow

Section 3.3: Appendix - Attached Reference Materials Grow a Native Grass Meadow

4

Reap

ing

Bene

fits

In a

dditi

on to

impr

ovin

g wi

ldlif

e ha

bita

t,th

ere

are

seve

ral o

ther

ben

efits

of u

sing

nativ

egr

asse

s in

the l

ands

cape

. Bec

ause

thei

r hist

ori-

cal o

rigin

is th

e pr

airie

, whe

re c

ondi

tions

are

typic

ally

hot a

nd d

ry d

urin

g th

e gr

owin

g se

a-so

n, n

ative

gras

ses a

re ex

trem

ely d

roug

ht to

ler-

ant a

nd h

ave

a di

stinc

t sur

vival

adv

anta

ge o

ver

non-

nativ

es d

urin

g th

e su

mm

er m

onth

s. In

hot

weat

her,

fesc

ue a

nd o

ther

coo

l sea

son

plan

tswi

lt m

isera

bly

or tu

rn to

bro

wn c

runc

h, w

hile

nativ

e gr

asse

s ar

e gr

owin

g vi

goro

usly

and

show

ing

off t

heir

gree

n—he

nce

thei

r na

me,

“war

m s

easo

n” g

rass

es. N

ative

s lik

e sw

itch-

gras

s, i

ndia

ngra

ss,

little

blu

este

m,

and

big

blue

stem

all h

ave v

ery d

eep

root

s—so

me u

p to

12 to

14

feet

—th

at a

re a

dapt

ed to

find

moi

s-tu

re in

the

soil

and

with

stand

the

effe

cts o

f ex-

tend

ed d

ry s

pells

. The

pla

nts

are

also

ada

pted

to fi

re a

nd w

ill r

espo

nd w

ith r

enew

ed v

igor

afte

r a p

resc

ribed

bur

n.

A b

lue

gro

sbea

k pe

rched

on

sum

ac o

verlo

oks a

nat

ive

gra

ssm

eadow

.

For t

he la

ndow

ner w

ho ra

ises l

ivesto

ck, n

ative

warm

sea

son

gras

ses

fill t

he v

oid

in s

umm

erwh

en o

ther

fora

ges a

re d

ryin

g up.

The

se gr

ass-

es a

re v

ery

pala

tabl

e to

cat

tle, r

equi

re li

ttle

orno

ferti

lizer

, are

dise

ase

resis

tant

, and

do

not

exhi

bit t

he e

ndop

hyte

(fu

ngal

) pr

oble

ms o

ften

asso

ciat

ed w

ith fe

scue

. The

y can

also

be

haye

din

sum

mer

, af

ter

the

peak

nes

ting

time

ofgr

ound

-nes

ting

bird

s, an

d sh

ould

be

mow

edhi

gh (

at 1

0 in

ches

) fo

r pr

oper

man

agem

ent,

whic

h al

so le

aves

subs

tant

ial w

ildlif

e cov

er.

For

the

“far

met

te”

hom

eow

ner

tired

of

mow

ing f

ive ac

res o

f law

n ev

ery s

umm

er, n

ative

gras

ses c

an fo

rm a

n in

tere

sting

land

scap

e el

e-m

ent t

hat p

rovid

es te

xtur

al b

eaut

y and

a p

leas

-in

g bac

kdro

p to

favo

rite w

ildflo

wers

. In

add

ition

, nat

ive g

rass

es c

an b

e us

ed e

f-fe

ctive

ly in

fiel

d bo

rder

s, fil

ter

strip

s, wa

ter-

ways

, and

righ

t-of-w

ays.

Mea

dow

Myt

hsM

idwe

stern

pra

iries

are

con

sider

ed a

cli-

max

pla

nt c

omm

unity

, whi

ch m

eans

that

the

com

mun

ity o

f gra

ssla

nd p

lant

s wh

ich

occu

rth

ere i

s the

last

stage

of s

ucce

ssio

n. Su

cces

sion

is a

term

eco

logi

sts u

se to

des

crib

e th

e gr

adua

lch

ange

of v

eget

ative

type

s ove

r tim

e. H

ere i

n th

eEa

st, in

con

trast,

the

clim

ax c

omm

unity

is fo

r-es

t. Ou

r ope

n fie

lds a

re in

an ea

rly su

cces

siona

lsta

ge w

hich

will

gra

dual

ly re

vert

to a

pre

dom

i-na

nce

of w

oody

pla

nts

and

tree

s ov

er t

ime

(you

’ve p

roba

bly

notic

ed o

n a

drive

thro

ugh

the c

ount

ry h

ow ab

ando

ned

field

s spr

out c

edar

trees

with

in a

few

year

s). T

his m

eans

that

if w

e

5

Plan

ning

a

Mea

dow

: Wha

t to

Buy

Whe

n pl

anni

ng a

mea

dow

of n

ative

war

m-

seas

on g

rass

es, w

heth

er o

r no

t you

cho

ose

toad

d flo

wers

, sel

ect a

site

that

rec

eive

s fu

ll su

nm

ore

than

eig

ht h

ours

a d

ay. A

lso c

onsid

erpl

acem

ent w

ith re

gard

s to

how

or w

heth

er yo

uwi

ll be

able

to b

urn

the f

ield

for f

utur

e man

age-

men

t. Re

mem

ber,

thes

e pl

ants

are

larg

e an

dad

apte

d to

be

out i

n th

e op

en. T

hey w

ill n

eed

alo

t of s

pace

and

are

not

wel

l-sui

ted

to a

sm

all

urba

n or

subu

rban

yard

. At a

very

min

imum

, afu

ll-bl

own

gras

sland

mea

dow

shou

ld b

e at l

east

one

acre

(43

,560

sq. f

t.) to

hav

e so

me

bene

fitfo

r wild

life.

Orde

r yo

ur s

eeds

dire

ctly

from

a s

uppl

ier

who

will

prep

are

a cu

stom

ized

mix

. Thi

s wa

yyo

u’ll

get e

xact

ly th

e sp

ecie

s yo

u wa

nt a

nd th

equ

antit

ies y

ou n

eed,

with

no

extra

frill

s or s

ur-

prise

s. Be

sure

to re

ques

t Pur

e Live

Seed

(PLS

)wh

en o

rder

ing.

PLS

is th

e pe

rcen

tage

of v

iabl

e(l

ive)

seed

that

is c

onta

ined

in a

bag

of b

ulk

seed

, sin

ce m

ost b

ulk

nativ

e gra

ss se

ed co

nsist

sof

oth

er p

lant

par

ts an

d ch

aff.

A ba

g of

bul

kse

ed sh

ould

be a

t lea

st 75

per

cent

PLS

for g

ood

esta

blish

men

t.

On la

rge

acre

ages

, the

follo

wing

is a

goo

d m

ixfo

r wild

life:

2

lbs.

PLS S

witc

hgra

ss (P

anic

um vi

rgat

um)

2 lb

s. PL

S Ind

iang

rass

(Sor

ghas

trm

nut

ans)

or B

ig B

lues

tem

(And

ropo

gon

gera

rdii)

2 lb

s. P

LS L

ittle

Blu

este

m (

Schi

zach

yriu

scop

ariu

m)

TOTA

L=

6 p

ound

s of s

eed

PER

ACRE

If th

e obj

ectiv

e is g

razin

g lan

d fo

r live

stock

:2

lbs.

PLS

Cave

-in-R

ock

Switc

hgra

ss (

Pan-

icum

virg

atum

)3

lbs.

PLS

Big

Blue

stem

(An

drop

ogon

ger

-ar

dii)

2 lb

s. PL

S In

dian

gras

s (S

orgh

astr

um n

u-ta

ns)

TOTA

L =

7 p

ound

s of s

eed

PER

ACRE

If yo

u wa

nt a

gras

sland

mea

dow

with

a fin

e dis-

play

of f

lowe

rs, u

se th

is re

cipe

inste

ad:

2 lb

s. PL

S Li

ttle

Blue

stem

(Sc

hiza

chyr

ium

scop

ariu

m)

1 lb

. PLS

She

lter

or B

lack

well

Switc

hgra

ss(P

anic

um vi

rgat

um)

1 lb

. PLS

Rum

sey

Indi

an G

rass

(So

rgha

s-tr

um n

utan

s)1

lb. P

LS R

ound

Tre

e Bi

g Bl

ueste

m (

Andr

o-po

gon

gera

rdii)

want

to m

aint

ain

an a

rea

as a

n op

en g

rass

land

or m

eado

w, w

e m

ust m

anag

e th

at a

rea

with

burn

ing

and

mow

ing

to k

eep

it in

an

early

suc-

cess

iona

l sta

ge. M

eado

ws a

re, t

here

fore

, nev

er“m

aint

enan

ce fr

ee,”

as t

he p

urve

yors

of m

ead-

ow-in

-a-c

an ty

pe p

rodu

cts

mig

ht h

ave

us b

e-lie

ve. An

othe

r misc

once

ptio

n is

that

a m

eado

w is

mos

tly fl

ower

s. It

woul

d ce

rtain

ly se

em so

, if w

ewe

re to

bas

e our

view

sole

ly on

all t

hose

visu

al-

ly stu

nnin

g pic

ture

s fou

nd in

cata

logs

and

mag

-az

ine a

dver

tisem

ents.

In re

ality

, a h

ealth

y mea

d-ow

is a

t lea

st 50

per

cent

gra

sses

, and

usu

ally

mor

e. T

he “w

ildflo

wer”

mea

dow

is a m

yth, b

e-ca

use h

ere i

n Vi

rgin

ia it

wou

ld b

e ext

rem

ely d

if-fic

ult t

o es

tabl

ish a

nd p

erpe

tuat

e a

larg

e fie

ldso

lely

of fl

ower

s with

out a

hig

h de

gree

of m

ain-

tena

nce.

Wild

flowe

r mix

es th

at p

rom

ise a

burs

tof

col

or th

e ve

ry fi

rst y

ear

are

usua

lly lo

aded

with

annu

als.

The

se p

lant

s will

die

afte

r the

firs

tye

ar o

f gro

wth.

The

y ar

e in

tend

ed to

rew

ard

you

with

initi

al g

ratif

icat

ion

while

you

wai

t for

the

pere

nnia

ls—th

e re

al p

ower

hous

es o

f a

“wild

flow

er”

mea

dow

—to

bec

ome

esta

b-lis

hed

in th

e sec

ond

year

. If y

ou w

ant to

see c

on-

tinua

l spl

ashe

s of c

olor

in a

warm

seas

on gr

ass

mea

dow,

pla

n fo

r a 5

0:50

mix

of n

ative

gra

sses

and

pere

nnia

l wild

flowe

rs a

s a

gene

ral r

ule

(60:

40 w

ould

be

bette

r). F

lowe

rs e

nhan

ce a

mea

dow

habi

tat f

or b

utte

rflie

s and

oth

er n

ecta

rse

eker

s.A

third

misc

once

ptio

n is

that

if th

e gro

und

iscl

eare

d do

wn to

bar

e so

il, th

en n

ew g

rass

es

and

flow

ers

plan

ted

ther

e w

ill a

utom

atic

ally

have

a h

ead

start

over

any

wee

ds, a

nd th

ere

shou

ldn’

t be a

wee

d pr

oble

m. H

owev

er, k

eep

inm

ind

that

dist

urbi

ng th

e soi

l dur

ing p

repa

ratio

nfo

r pl

antin

g wi

ll br

ing

dorm

ant w

eed

seed

s to

the

surfa

ce, a

nd th

e m

ajor

ity o

f the

m a

re w

ell-

adap

ted

to th

rive

in th

e co

nditi

ons y

ou ju

st cr

e-at

ed (

that

’s be

caus

e th

ey’re

ear

ly su

cces

siona

lsp

ecie

s, to

o). A

lso, s

ince

gra

sses

gro

w fro

m th

eba

se o

f the

pla

nt o

r fro

m u

nder

grou

nd s

tem

sca

lled

rhizo

mes

, any

bits

of l

iving

gra

ss ro

ots o

rste

ms r

emai

ning

in th

e so

il at

pla

ntin

g tim

e wi

llal

read

y ha

ve a

foot

hold

for

stiff

com

petit

ion.

This

mea

ns th

at if

you

wan

t a n

ew m

eado

w to

grow

succ

essfu

lly, y

ou c

an’t

just

walk

awa

y afte

rth

e se

eds o

r plu

gs a

re in

the

grou

nd a

nd fo

rget

abou

t the

m. G

rowi

ng a

mea

dow

is lik

e any

oth

ertyp

e of

gar

deni

ng o

r far

min

g: i

t req

uire

s som

em

aint

enan

ce.

One

mus

t exe

rcise

pat

ienc

e af

ter

plan

ting

nativ

e wa

rm s

easo

n gr

asse

s, be

caus

e th

ey r

e-qu

ire a

t lea

st tw

o gr

owin

g se

ason

s (so

met

imes

thre

e) to

bec

ome f

ully

esta

blish

ed. T

he m

ost i

n-va

luab

le p

oint

to ta

ke h

ome

when

pla

nnin

g a

mea

dow

of n

ative

war

m s

easo

n gr

asse

s is

that

fesc

ue a

nd a

ny o

ther

pre

-exi

sting

pla

nts

mus

tbe

com

plet

ely

kille

d fir

st, o

r you

will

be

wast-

ing y

our t

ime,

and

prob

ably

mon

ey, t

oo.

60


Grow a Native Grass Meadow

6

2 lb

s. of

a M

IX o

f nat

ive p

eren

nial

flow

ers t

hat a

re tr

ue sp

ecie

s typ

es,

not c

ultiv

ars.

Choo

se fr

om th

e fo

llowi

ng li

st, b

ased

on

your

pre

fer-

ence

s an

d po

cket

book

, to

mak

e up

2 p

ound

s of

see

d: b

lack

-eye

dSu

san

(mak

e sur

e it’s

the p

eren

nial

kin

d); p

artri

dge p

ea (a

ctua

lly a

bi-a

nnua

l, bu

t it r

esee

ds it

self

like

a pe

renn

ial)

; lan

ce-le

af c

oreo

p-sis

; “su

nflo

wer”

hel

iops

is; p

urpl

e con

eflo

wer;

Gaill

ardi

a(b

lank

et-

flowe

r); M

axim

illia

n su

nflo

wer (

gets

3 to

6 fe

et ta

ll wi

th n

umer

ous

yello

w flo

wers

on

the

top

third

of t

he p

lant

); b

utte

rfly

milk

weed

;Ne

w En

glan

d as

ter;

Liat

ris(

gayfe

athe

r).

TOTA

L =

7 p

ound

s of s

eed

PER

ACRE

[Not

e:th

e ter

ms “

Cave

-in-R

ock,

” “Sh

elte

r,” “B

lack

well,

” “Ru

mse

y,”an

d “R

ound

Tre

e” li

sted

abov

e re

fer t

o pa

rticu

lar g

rass

varie

ties y

oush

ould

sele

ct.] Plan

ting

and

Fut

ure

Mai

nten

ance

To p

repa

re a

larg

e are

a for

pla

ntin

g, tr

eat t

he si

te in

the f

all (

Octo

-be

r) w

ith an

her

bici

de th

at w

ill k

ill ex

istin

g veg

etat

ion;

a se

cond

ap-

plic

atio

n m

ay b

e ne

eded

the

follo

wing

sprin

g fo

r max

imum

ef-

fect

. A c

onve

ntio

nal t

ill m

etho

d wi

thou

t che

mic

als

can

beus

ed in

stead

to tu

rn u

nder

the e

xisti

ng so

d. H

owev

er, th

ere

will

likel

y be

futu

re h

eada

ches

with

per

siste

nt p

lant

sun

less

the a

rea i

s till

ed m

ore t

han

once

and

the s

ec-

ond

tillin

g is

done

at t

he r

ight

tim

e af

ter

the

first

flush

of n

ew w

eeds

.Th

e se

edbe

d m

ust b

e fir

m w

hen

you

plan

t,an

d se

eds s

houl

d be

pla

nted

at a

dep

th o

f 1⁄2-

inch

. Con

trol w

eeds

dur

ing

the

esta

blish

men

t yea

r by

mow

ing

them

when

they

firs

t rea

ch 1

8 in

ches

, tak

ing c

are t

hat t

he m

ower

bla

de is

set

abov

e the

war

m-s

easo

n gr

ass s

eedl

ings

.In

subs

eque

nt ye

ars w

hen

hayin

g or

gra

zing—

or a

t any

time

dur-

ing

the

grow

ing

seas

on—

do n

ot c

ut w

arm

-sea

son

gras

ses b

elow

10

inch

es. T

he fi

rst g

rowt

h no

de o

f the

se g

rass

es o

ccur

s at

10

inch

esab

ove

the

grou

nd, a

nd c

uttin

g be

low

this

poin

t dur

ing

the

grow

ing

seas

on w

ill fo

rce

the

plan

ts to

use

valu

able

ene

rgy s

tore

d in

the

root

s.Re

peat

ed c

uttin

gs b

elow

10

inch

es a

t thi

s tim

e of

year

will

eve

ntua

llyki

ll th

e pla

nts.

Also

, do

not m

ow o

r gra

ze af

ter S

epte

mbe

r 1, a

s thi

s is

the

time

when

the

plan

ts ar

e m

ovin

g nu

trien

ts fro

m th

e le

aves

toth

e roo

ts in

pre

para

tion

for w

inte

r dor

man

cy.

If yo

u do

not

pla

n to

take

hay

or g

raze

your

mea

dow

but

inste

ad le

ave

it fo

r wi

ldlif

e, th

en y

ou w

ill n

eed

tom

anag

e the

gras

s sta

nd b

y bur

ning

or m

owin

g.Pr

escr

ibed

bur

ning

is p

refe

rred

ove

r m

owin

g be

caus

e fir

e re

-m

oves

the

build

-up

of th

atch

and

pla

nt li

tter

on th

e gr

ound

that

will

grad

ually

occ

ur. U

nten

ded,

that

ch re

duce

s pla

nt vi

gor a

nd e

vent

ually

caus

es th

e sta

nd to

thin

out

, whi

ch a

lso le

aves

it m

ore

susc

eptib

le to

fresh

wee

d in

vasio

n. T

here

fore

, in

the

third

yea

r of

you

r m

eado

w,be

gin

a pr

escr

ibed

fire

rota

tion

by b

urni

ng o

nly o

ne-th

ird o

f the

fiel

din

late

Mar

ch o

r ear

ly Ap

ril, w

hen

the

warm

seas

on g

rass

es h

ave

only

one

to tw

o in

ches

of n

ew re

grow

th (

at th

is ea

rly st

age

of th

e gr

owin

gse

ason

, the

“10

inch

rule

” doe

s not

appl

y).

Burn

ing

only

one-

third

of t

he fi

eld

at a

tim

e ea

ch y

ear

ensu

res

max

imum

hab

itat e

ffect

. The

mos

t rec

ently

bur

ned

area

will

be

open

,

A g

rass

hop

per s

parr

ow sw

ays

back

and fo

rth o

n a

thin

ste

mof

sw

itchgra

ss.

Mar

ch

2003

whic

h is

bette

r hab

itat f

or re

arin

g yo

ung

and

find-

ing

seed

s. Th

ere

is al

so a

muc

h hi

gher

ava

ilabi

lity

of in

sect

s in

the

first

year

afte

r a

burn

. In

the

un-

burn

ed p

arts

of th

e fie

ld th

at h

ave

olde

r pla

nt m

a-te

rial,

song

bird

s, ra

bbits

, qua

il, a

nd o

ther

wild

life

use t

he d

ead

litte

r for

nes

t con

struc

tion

and

cove

r.

Need

Equ

ipm

ent?

It’s a

lway

s bes

t to

use

the

right

equ

ipm

ent f

orth

e rig

ht jo

b. If

you

are

pla

ntin

g a

smal

l are

a by

hand

, you

mig

ht u

se a

Bril

lion

seed

er, a

mac

hine

drill

er th

at is

typi

cally

use

d to

pla

nt la

wns.

Howe

v-er

, if t

he sp

ecie

s you

’ve se

lect

ed h

ave

very

“flu

ffy”

seed

s, th

ey m

ight

clo

g th

is typ

e of

see

der.

In th

isca

se yo

u m

ight

sim

ply b

road

cast

with

a c

hest

bag,

starti

ng w

ith th

e big

seed

s firs

t and

then

goin

g bac

kov

er w

ith o

ther

, sm

alle

r se

eds.

Chec

k yo

ur lo

cal

lawn

and

gard

en su

pplie

r for

thes

e typ

es o

f equ

ip-

men

t. For

larg

e sc

ale

plan

ting

proj

ects

on s

ever

alac

res o

r a fa

rm, t

he V

irgin

ia D

epar

tmen

t of G

ame

and

Inla

nd F

isher

ies

offe

rs tw

o in

valu

able

pie

ces

of la

rge

equi

pmen

t, bo

th a

vaila

ble

at n

o ch

arge

.Th

e fir

st is

a gr

ass d

rill t

o do

the

plan

ting.

Thi

s is

spec

ially

out

fitte

d to

pla

nt n

ative

war

m s

easo

ngr

ass s

eed,

whi

ch d

oes n

ot o

rdin

arily

flow

thro

ugh

conv

entio

nal n

o-til

l dril

ls. T

he s

econ

d is

a “b

urn

traile

r,” if

you

are

pre

pare

d to

con

duct

a p

re-

scrib

ed b

urn

on y

our

own.

The

trai

ler—

whic

hca

n be

pul

led

behi

nd a

pic

kup

truc

k—is

equi

pped

with

drip

tor

ches

, ha

nd t

ools,

a f

irewe

athe

r ki

t, an

d a

150

gallo

n sp

ray

rig ta

nk. C

all

the

Powh

atan

fiel

d of

fice

of V

DGIF

at (

804)

598

-37

06 to

rese

rve

or a

sk q

uesti

ons a

bout

the

equi

p-m

ent. Ta

king

Init

iati

veIn

an

effo

rt to

add

ress

the

cont

inui

ng d

eclin

eof

ear

ly su

cces

siona

l bird

spec

ies,

a m

anag

emen

tpl

an c

alle

d th

e No

rther

n Bo

bwhi

te C

onse

rvat

ion

Initi

ative

(NBC

I) w

as w

ritte

n in

Mar

ch 2

002

by b

i-ol

ogist

s, la

nd m

anag

ers,

and

othe

r re

sear

cher

s.Th

e wo

rd “

bobw

hite

” in

the

nam

e is

som

ewha

tm

islea

ding

, bec

ause

qua

il ar

e no

t the

onl

y bi

rds

that

ben

efit f

rom

thes

e effo

rts. R

athe

r, al

l ear

ly su

c-ce

ssio

nal s

peci

es re

ap th

e re

ward

s of l

ands

cape

-sc

ale

habi

tat r

esto

ratio

n th

at th

e pl

an o

utlin

es.

Also

, the

initi

ative

is in

tegr

ated

with

oth

er sp

ecie

sm

anag

emen

t pla

ns th

at h

ave

para

llel o

bjec

tives

,su

ch a

s Par

tner

s in

Flig

ht a

nd th

e No

rth A

mer

ican

Wat

erfo

wl M

anag

emen

t Pla

n. M

ore

info

rmat

ion

abou

t the

NBC

I is a

vaila

ble a

t ww

w.qu

.org

/se

qsg/

nbci

/nbc

i.cfm

.

Lear

ning

Mor

e…Na

tive W

arm

Seas

on G

rass

es fo

r Vir

gini

a an

dNo

rth

Caro

lina

is a

book

let t

hat l

ists

the

deta

iled

spec

ifica

tions

for

prep

arin

g an

d pl

antin

g a

mea

d-ow

. Con

tact

the

Virg

inia

Dep

artm

ent o

f Gam

e an

dIn

land

Fish

erie

s at (

804)

367

-090

4 fo

r a fr

ee co

py.

Virg

inia

Nat

ive P

lant

Soci

ety,

ww

w.vn

ps.o

rg.

Land

scap

ing w

ith N

ativ

ePl

ants

, an

EPA

page

writ

ten

for

the G

reat

Lake

s reg

ion

but w

ithgo

od li

nks a

nd in

form

atio

n us

eful

to V

irgin

ians

, at w

ww.

epa.

gov/

gree

nacr

es/.

Wild

One

sNat

ural

Land

scap

-er

s Ltd

., a n

onpr

ofit

that

pro

-m

otes

envir

onm

enta

lly so

und

land

scap

ing p

ract

ices

, at

ww

w.fo

r-w

ild.o

rg/.

See t

heir

onlin

e Han

dboo

kfo

r lan

dsca

p-in

g with

gras

ses a

nd o

ther

nat

ives.

Prai

ries

Fore

ver

ww

w.pr

airi

es.o

rg, a

non

prof

itde

dica

ted

to p

rom

otin

g the

eco-

logi

cal a

nd cu

ltura

l sig

nific

ance

of th

e Am

eric

an p

rairi

e

Seed

Supp

liers

—se

vera

l see

dco

mpa

nies

offe

r fac

t she

ets o

rhe

lpfu

l tip

s and

tech

niqu

es fo

rpl

antin

g a gr

ass a

nd w

ildflo

wer

mea

dow .

Her

e is a

sam

plin

g (no

tan

endo

rsem

ent)

:w

ww.

prai

rien

urse

ry.c

om

ww

w.sh

arps

eed.

com

ww

w.st

ocks

eed.

com

ww

w.er

nsts

eed.

com

ww

w.pr

airi

esou

rce.

com

A d

ickc

isse

l lou

dly

chirp

shis p

rese

nce

from

ato

p th

eflo

wer

of a

com

mon

mulle

in p

lant.

61


Grow a Native Grass Meadow

62


Growing Apple Trees in the Home Garden

63



64



Secti

on

VI

Ensuri

ng

Conti

nued

Success

Thi

sse

ctio

npr

ovid

esst

rate

gies

for

ensu

ring

the

long

-ter

msu

stai

nabi

lity

ofyo

urSc

hool

yard

Hab

itats

proj

ect.

Cre

atin

ga

Mai

nten

ance

Plan

Cre

atin

ga

Fiel

dan

dC

are

Gui

deM

onito

ring

Proj

ects

Pare

ntIn

volv

emen

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hool

yard

Hab

itats

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tifica

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INT

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hool

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mai

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ace

befo

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mm

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eak

will

help

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sure

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this

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tatw

illbe

thriv

ing

whe

nth

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hool

com

mun

ityre

turn

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clas

sesi

nth

efa

ll.T

hem

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itats

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ebe

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ing

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blish

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Arra

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Can

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65


Ensuring Continued Success

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Consider

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ular

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67



Am

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ques

tions

abou

tthe

irle

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tin

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heir

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htsi

nto

succ

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Scho

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perc

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ents

surv

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atit

is“e

xtre

mel

yim

port

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fort

hem

tobe

invo

lved

inth

eirc

hild

ren’s

scho

ols.

How

ever

,not

allp

aren

tsar

eab

leto

beas

invo

lved

asth

eyw

ould

like.

The

surv

eyid

entif

ied

seve

ralk

eyba

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invo

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ent,

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mos

tfre

quen

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ted

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hich

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rent

sla

ckof

avai

labi

lity

durin

gsc

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hour

s.Se

vera

loth

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rrie

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ted

incl

ude:

inad

equa

teco

mm

unic

atio

nbe

twee

nth

esc

hool

and

pare

nts;

lack

oftra

nspo

rtat

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orch

ildca

re;p

aren

tsun

cert

aint

yas

toth

ew

aysi

nw

hich

they

can

cont

ribut

e;la

ngua

gean

dcu

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ldiff

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ces;

and

pare

ntsf

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gun

wel

com

ean

d/or

intim

idat

edby

thei

rchi

ld’s

scho

ol.T

he#1

resp

onse

inan

swer

toth

equ

estio

nof

how

scho

olsc

ould

impr

ove

thei

reffo

rtst

oge

tpar

ents

invo

lved

was

“mor

ean

dbe

tterc

omm

unic

atio

nbe

twee

nsc

hool

sand

pare

nts.”

Wha

tdoe

sthi

stel

lusi

nlig

htof

plan

ning

and

carr

ying

outS

choo

lyar

dH

abita

tsw

ork?

Firs

t,re

mem

bert

hatm

ostp

aren

tsdo

wan

tto

bein

volv

edin

thei

rchi

ld’s

educ

atio

n.R

emov

eth

eba

rrie

rsth

atfre

quen

tlyth

war

tint

eres

ted

pare

ntsf

rom

volu

ntee

ring

and

cont

ribut

ing

toth

elif

eof

the

scho

ol.

Reg

ular

lyup

date

the

pare

ntco

mm

unity

abou

tthe

statu

soft

heSc

hool

yard

Hab

itats

proj

ect.

Man

yim

port

antt

asks

nece

ssar

yfo

rthe

succ

esso

fSch

ooly

ard

Hab

itats

proj

ects

can

beac

com

plish

edin

the

late

afte

rnoo

nsan

don

the

wee

kend

s,w

hich

are

mor

eco

nven

ient

times

forp

aren

tsw

orki

ngdu

ring

scho

olho

urs.

Iden

tify

the

skill

snee

ded

atea

chsta

geof

the

proj

ect,

and

publ

icize

thes

esh

orta

ndlo

ng-te

rmop

port

uniti

esfo

rvol

unte

erin

gan

dco

ntrib

utin

g.T

hink

crea

tivel

yw

hen

asse

ssin

gth

epo

ssib

ilitie

sfor

pare

ntsc

ontri

butio

ns:

fori

nsta

nce,

isth

ere

abi

lingu

alpa

rent

who

wou

ldbe

will

ing

totra

nsla

teyo

urSc

hool

yard

Hab

itats

upda

tesf

orno

n-En

glish

spea

king

pare

nts?

Whi

chpa

rent

hast

hew

oodw

orki

ngsk

illsy

ouar

ese

ekin

gto

help

with

build

ing

nest

boxe

s?A

surv

eyof

rele

vant

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ntsk

illsa

ndin

tere

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lpco

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tpar

ents

with

appr

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tepr

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ts.

Bepr

oact

ive

inid

entif

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and

rem

ovin

gba

rrie

rsfo

rpar

ents.

Con

sider

:will

prov

idin

gan

hour

ofch

ildca

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lpm

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pare

nts

atte

ndH

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ttea

mm

eetin

gs?W

illpr

ovid

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busp

asse

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pm

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pare

ntsp

artic

ipat

ein

your

upco

min

gw

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ndpl

antin

gda

y?Pa

rent

sun

ders

tand

that

volu

ntee

ring

mat

ters

:let

them

know

they

are

wel

com

e,th

atth

eyha

veva

luab

lesk

illsa

ndkn

owle

dge

toco

ntrib

ute,

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that

the

scho

olis

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ing

tota

keex

traste

psto

help

them

get

invo

lved

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pco

mm

unic

atio

nw

ithpa

rent

s—an

dth

een

tire

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mm

unity

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ear,

acce

ssib

lean

dco

nsist

ent,

and

ever

yone

will

bene

fit.

Pare

nt

Involv

em

ent

68



|1

61

SC

HO

OLY

AR

DH

AB

ITA

TS

CE

RT

IFIC

AT

ION

We

stron

gly

enco

urag

esc

hool

sto

cert

ifyth

eir

Scho

olya

rdH

abita

tspr

ojec

tsw

ithth

eN

atio

nalW

ildlif

eFe

dera

tion.

We

wan

tto

hear

abou

tyou

rpro

ject

and

give

you

the

reco

gniti

onyo

uan

dyo

ursc

hool

com

mun

ityde

serv

e.W

elo

okfo

rwar

dto

rece

ivin

gyo

urap

plic

atio

nfo

rcer

tific

atio

nas

anof

ficia

lSch

ooly

ard

Hab

itats

sites

,an

dto

wel

com

ing

your

scho

olin

toou

rdyn

amic

netw

ork

ofce

rtifi

edsc

hool

s.

Fre

quentl

yasked

questi

ons

ab

out

the

cert

ificati

on

pro

cess

How

doIk

now

whe

nI’m

read

yto

cert

ifym

yha

bita

tpro

ject

?

You

are

read

yto

cert

ifyaf

tera

team

hasb

een

invo

lved

inpl

anni

ngan

dpr

ovid

ing

atle

asta

few

type

soff

ood,

wat

er,c

over

,and

plac

esto

raise

youn

gon

your

scho

olgr

ound

s,an

dw

hen

the

site

isbe

ing

used

asa

teac

hing

tool

.

Wha

tare

the

bene

fitso

fcer

tifyi

ng?

Cer

tifyi

ngyo

ursit

ew

illbr

ing

med

iaat

tent

ion

and

natio

nalr

ecog

nitio

nfo

ryou

rsc

hool

com

mun

ity’s

hard

wor

k.Al

so,o

nce

you

are

cert

ified

,you

can

enjo

yth

eSc

hool

yard

Hab

itats

listse

rvan

dqu

arte

rlyne

wsle

tter,

and

beel

igib

leto

orde

raSc

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yard

Hab

itats

sign

fory

ouro

utdo

orcl

assr

oom

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tific

atio

nbr

ings

your

scho

olin

toa

dyna

mic

netw

ork

ofce

rtifi

edsc

hool

s,an

dgi

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cess

tosp

ecia

lres

ourc

esan

din

form

atio

nfro

mth

eN

atio

nalW

ildlif

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dera

tion.

How

man

yot

her

peop

leha

vece

rtifi

edth

eir

scho

olgr

ound

s?

Ove

r3,0

00sc

hool

s,re

pres

entin

gth

ousa

ndso

fstu

dent

s,pa

rent

s,te

ache

rs,

adm

inist

rato

rs,a

ndco

mm

unity

mem

bers

,are

curr

ently

cert

ified

asof

ficia

lSc

hool

yard

Hab

itats

sites

,rep

rese

ntin

g50

state

sand

afe

wsit

esab

road

.

How

doIa

pply

?

Sim

ply

fillo

utth

eap

plic

atio

nan

dm

aili

tin

toou

roffi

ce.B

esu

reto

incl

ude

phot

os,i

fava

ilabl

e.(A

pplic

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nal

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ithin

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elo

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itats

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Food

Nativeplants

providewild

life

withnectar,s

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citing

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Feeders

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urces

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Water

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imalsneedwaterto

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ecial

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There

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Visit

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ildlife

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greattipsonattractingwildlife!

5Sim

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164| w

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HabitatCertifica

tionApplica

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Use

this

form

toce

rtifyawild

lifefriendly

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ein

yourya

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ywhere

inyo

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Whatis

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life.

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canbeuse

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asu

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PlantFo

ods:

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Berries

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70



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PLACESFORCOVER:Wild

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SoilandWaterConse

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Organic

Practices

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166| w

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71



72


Source: City of Chicago

How to Install and Maintain a Rain Barrel

Placing your rain barrel

• Choose a downspout on your house or garage that is close to the plants and garden you water most. Your other downspouts can be disconnected and directed into your yard.

• Choose a downspout where your rain barrel’s overflow will soak into your own yard, and not your neighbors’ property.

• Place your rain barrel on a pervious (e.g. landscaped) surface that allows overflow from your rain barrel to soak into the ground. If placed on an impervious (e.g. paved) surface, rain barrel water overflow during heavy rains could pool or seep into your house or garage foundation. Make sure overflow does not go onto your neighbors’ property.

• You may want to place the rain barrel on concrete blocks if you are going to use a hose to direct water to your garden (gravity will help move the water), or if you want to fill up a watering can from the spigot (so the can fits underneath the spigot).

Connecting your downspout to your rain barrel

Tools: Rain barrel. Hacksaw. Aluminum downspouts: 6 screws and a screwdriver. PVC downspouts: PVC cement.

1. Place your barrel near the downspout you have selected, and plan out how you will direct the downspout.

2. Disconnect your downspout from the line leading to the storm drain or curb drain by sawing the downspout above where the top of the rain barrel will be, leaving room for the elbow to be attached.

3. Attach a downspout elbow to the end of your downspout so that water from your downspout is directed into the rain barrel through the plastic screen vent on top.

4. If you have an aluminum downspout, secure it to the elbow with screws. 5. If you have a PVC downspout, secure it to the elbow with PVC cement. 6. Place your rain barrel under the downspout elbow. 7. Optional: Attach a hose to the spigot, and/or to the overflow hole on the top-side of the barrel. Make

sure that the overflow is directed into your own yard.

Using Rain Barrel Water

• Use the water collected in your rain barrel! • Water your flowers, trees, shrubs, and lawn. • Wash your car or pets. Rinse hands and feet, tools, or muddy boots. • Keep your rain barrel lid on tight at all times to prevent children and animals from entering or falling

in.• DO NOT DRINK WATER from your rain barrel.

Section 3.3: Appendix - Attached Reference Materials How to Install and Maintain a Rain Barrel

73


Source: City of Chicago

Maintaining your rain barrel

• Keep your rain barrel spigot closed when you are not using the water so that the rain barrel can collect water. Overflow water will spill from the black vent on the top and the overflow hole on the side near the top.

• Regularly check your gutters, downspouts, rain barrel water intake screen, rain barrel mosquito screen and rain barrel spigot for leaks, obstructions or debris.

• Keep your rain barrel lid sealed. • Drain your rain barrel before temperatures drop below freezing. • In the winter, keep your rain barrel spigot open so that water does not accumulate in the rain barrel

and freeze. You can also turn it upside-down or bring it inside to ensure no water accumulates in the barrel.

Preventing Mosquitoes

Your rain barrel should be equipped with a mosquito-proof screen under the lid and inside the overflow hole to keep mosquitoes and other insects out.

• Place your barrel on a pervious (landscaped) surface, so that overflow water soaks into the ground instead of pooling on paved surfaces.

• Keep your rain barrel lid sealed. • Keep your barrel free of organic material. • During the rainy season, every 3-4 days use your hand to splash off any water that may collect on

the top of the barrel. Mosquitoes need at least 4 days of standing water to develop as larva. • If you believe mosquitoes are breeding in your rain barrel, empty your barrel completely. This will

kill all mosquito larvae that may be in your barrel. If your mosquito netting is intact and there are no leaks where mosquitoes can enter the barrel, your rain barrel should be mosquito-free.

Controlling barrel overflow:

• Adjust your downspout so it is slightly above the barrel’s mesh screen. We recommend using an elbow and rest the downspout on the mesh. The downspout does not fit into the barrel or have a specific place on the barrel. Adjust it as you wish.

• For increased water pressure, elevate your barrel on a stand or bricks. • Make sure that all hoses extending from the barrel are directed away from your foundation.

Section 3.3: Appendix - Attached Reference Materials How to Install and Maintain a Rain Barrel

74


Maintenance and Rules

75



76



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ater

, an

d co

ntr

ol w

eeds

.

Mul

ch w

alki

ng

area

s an

d tr

ee b

eds

wit

h la

rge

size

w

ood

chip

s, to

red

uce

wee

ds a

nd

prov

ide

food

for

w

orm

s an

d bu

gs.

Veg

etab

le p

lan

tin

g an

d te

ndi

ng

in d

esig

nat

ed a

rea

by

su

mm

er s

choo

l pro

gram

. Est

ablis

h a

n a

s-n

eede

d w

ater

ing

sch

edu

le w

ith

par

ents

an

d n

eigh

bors

.

FALL

/ S

EP

TE

MB

ER

-NO

VE

MB

ER

Rec

ord

obse

rvat

ion

s at

beg

inn

ing

of th

e sc

hoo

l yea

r th

rou

gh s

ketc

hes

an

d w

riti

ng.

Beg

in f

all O

C lo

g bo

ok.

Pul

l new

wee

ds in

bed

s w

hen

gro

un

d is

moi

st a

nd

befo

re th

ey d

evel

op d

eep

root

s.

Cle

ar u

nw

ante

d gr

owth

an

d co

mpo

st it

for

spr

ing.

K

eep

com

post

pile

as

moi

st a

s a

wru

ng-

out s

pon

ge.

Ch

eck

com

post

pile

tem

pera

ture

.

Mul

ch p

lan

tin

g be

ds w

ith

leav

es o

r co

mpo

st to

red

uce

w

inte

r w

eeds

an

d fe

ed th

e so

il. P

repa

re n

ew p

lan

tin

g be

ds b

y m

ixin

g in

com

post

; top

dre

ss w

ith

bar

k m

ulc

h.

Pre

pare

for

spr

ing

bulb

s: O

rder

in S

epte

mbe

r. P

lan

t in

Oct

ober

an

d ea

rly

Nov

embe

r. Se

lect

tulip

s fo

r

Jou

rney

Nor

th P

roje

ct o

r ea

rly

spri

ng

bulb

s su

ch a

s cr

ocu

s an

d n

arci

ssu

s.

WIN

TE

R /

DE

CE

MB

ER

-FE

BR

UA

RY

Tuck

in g

arde

n b

eds

for

win

ter

rake

win

ter

leaf

m

ulc

h b

ack

onto

bed

s if

win

ds b

low

it o

ff. R

emov

e an

y re

mai

nin

g w

eeds

to p

reve

nt t

hem

fro

m g

oin

g to

see

d.

Rem

ove

blow

n tr

ash

and

rake

gra

vel a

s n

eede

d.

Obs

erve

an

d do

cum

ent w

inte

r co

ndi

tion

s an

d ch

ange

s w

ith

ske

tch

es a

nd

wri

tin

g. A

dd to

log

book

an

d di

spla

y.

Pru

ne

woo

dy tr

ees

and

shru

bs w

hen

do

rman

t bet

wee

n D

ecem

ber

and

Febr

uar

y.

©2013 Christian Phillips Photography

BO

ST

ON

SC

HO

OLY

AR

D I

NIT

IAT

IVE

14

OU

TD

OO

R C

LA

SS

RO

OM

US

ER

’S G

UID

E

Wh

at to

do

Wit

h a

ll of

Th

ose

Leav

es?

A le

af c

age

is a

wir

e co

nta

iner

for

leav

es c

olle

cted

fro

m f

all a

nd

spri

ng

clea

n-u

ps.

Use

s of

the

leaf

cag

e: T

o m

ake

leaf

com

post

(cal

led

leaf

mol

d); t

o ob

serv

e de

com

posi

tion

; to

fin

d is

opod

s,

wor

ms

and

inse

cts;

to m

easu

re, c

olle

ct d

ata,

an

d

obse

rve

chan

ges

over

tim

e; to

use

for

impr

ovin

g so

il an

d h

oldi

ng

moi

stu

re in

pla

nti

ng

beds

; to

use

as

mu

lch

in

the

woo

dlan

d ar

ea to

hol

d do

wn

wee

ds.

Intr

oduc

tion

to c

ompo

stin

g: R

ake

leav

es a

nd

plac

e

insi

de w

ire

cage

. Mea

sure

hei

ght,

not

e m

oist

ure

leve

ls,

reco

rd c

olor

an

d co

ndi

tion

of

leav

es. A

dd w

eeds

fro

m

plan

tin

g be

ds a

nd

path

way

s (n

o st

ems,

woo

dy s

tick

s,

pape

r, or

tras

h).

Do

not

add

wee

ds th

at h

ave

form

ed

seed

s - t

hey

may

pro

mot

e m

ore

wee

ds in

the

futu

re.

Mai

nta

inin

g th

e le

af c

age:

Rem

ove

all t

rash

. Add

leav

es

from

fal

l an

d sp

rin

g cl

ean

ups

, an

d th

rou

ghou

t th

e gr

owin

g se

ason

. If

ther

e ar

e ex

tra

sch

ooly

ard

leav

es to

m

anag

e in

the

fall

use

pap

er le

af b

ags

and

wor

k w

ith

th

e sc

hoo

l dep

artm

ent t

o ar

ran

ge p

ick-

up.

Usi

ng

the

leaf

mol

d: E

very

spr

ing

afte

r a

year

of

acti

ve

com

post

ing

rem

ove

the

deco

mpo

sed

leav

es (a

bro

wn

cr

um

blin

g so

il-lik

e m

ass)

. Th

ere

may

be

rem

ain

ing

leaf

m

ater

ial a

fter

on

e ye

ar, a

s it

take

s 2

year

s fo

r le

aves

to

brea

k do

wn

bey

ond

reco

gnit

ion

. Th

ey w

ill c

onti

nu

e to

br

eak

dow

n a

s m

ulc

h. C

ompo

sted

leav

es a

re a

cidi

c an

d as

they

con

tin

ue

to b

reak

dow

n th

ey u

se u

p n

itro

gen

—

if a

dded

to p

lan

tin

g be

ds, a

ddit

ion

al f

erti

lizer

may

be

nee

ded

to g

row

veg

etab

les.

Any

dec

iduo

us le

aves

can

be

use

d, a

va

riet

y is

eve

n be

tter.

Leaf

mol

d ke

eps d

ecom

posi

ng th

roug

h th

e w

inte

r an

d in

to sp

ring

.Tu

rn a

nd st

ir th

e le

af m

ixtu

re to

hel

p th

e br

eakd

own.

Rak

e le

aves

to fi

ll th

e le

af c

age.

A m

easu

ring

stic

k re

cord

s the

cha

ngin

g he

ight

of t

he le

af p

ile d

urin

g th

e pr

oces

s.

One

or t

wo

year

s lat

er, l

eaf m

old

is re

ady

to sp

read

on

gard

en b

eds.

In d

ry c

ondi

-tio

ns it

may

take

seve

ral y

ears

to c

reat

e le

af

mol

d th

at is

as d

ark

and

rich

as s

how

n.

77


School Stewardship

BO

ST

ON

SC

HO

OLY

AR

D I

NIT

IAT

IVE

15

OU

TD

OO

R C

LA

SS

RO

OM

US

ER

’S G

UID

E

Wee

ds h

appe

n. O

nce

an

ou

tdoo

r cl

assr

oom

lan

dsca

pe

is c

reat

ed, i

t sta

rts

to p

rovi

de a

fer

tile

livi

ng

hab

itat

. It

is e

asy

for

wee

ds to

be

intr

odu

ced

by th

e w

ind

and

by

bird

s. S

eeds

can

eve

n b

e tr

acke

d in

on

peo

ple’

s fe

et.

Ou

r de

fin

itio

n o

f a

wee

d is

cu

ltu

rally

det

erm

ined

: it’s

an

y pl

ant t

hat

we

feel

is o

ut o

f pl

ace.

Wee

ds o

ften

are

ro

bust

pla

nts

, abl

e to

est

ablis

h th

emse

lves

in p

oor

soil,

w

ith

irre

gula

r w

ater

an

d su

n c

ondi

tion

s.

In th

e ou

tdoo

r cl

assr

oom

we

rem

ove

cert

ain

wee

ds to

re

duce

com

peti

tion

an

d al

low

a d

iver

sity

of

plan

ts th

at

hav

e sp

ecifi

c ed

uca

tion

al u

ses

to fl

ouri

sh. W

eedi

ng

al

so k

eeps

the

foot

pat

hw

ays

and

wor

k ar

eas

clea

r an

d in

viti

ng.

If w

eeds

are

rem

oved

on

an

on

goin

g ba

sis,

the

pr

oces

s is

eas

y. I

t is

best

to r

emov

e w

eeds

bef

ore

th

e se

eds

mat

ure

. Rem

ove

wee

ds f

rom

all

path

way

s

and

gath

erin

g an

d w

ork

area

s.

If w

eedi

ng

is n

egle

cted

for

mon

ths

at a

tim

e, w

eeds

w

ill b

ecom

e m

ore

perm

anen

t in

hab

itan

ts o

f th

e

outd

oor

clas

sroo

m a

s th

ey d

ispe

rse

thei

r se

eds

and

spre

ad th

eir

root

s u

nde

rgro

un

d.

Ple

ase

note

: som

e pl

ants

that

look

like

“w

eeds

” in

the

urb

an m

eado

w a

rea

are

inte

nti

onal

ly p

lan

ted

or le

ft

to g

row

as

hab

itat

; for

this

rea

son

the

urb

an m

eado

w

is n

orm

ally

not

wee

ded

exce

pt b

y th

e B

SI h

orti

cult

ure

st

aff.

It i

s ok

, how

ever

, to

wee

d th

e pa

thw

ays

goin

g th

rou

gh th

e m

eado

w.

HO

W T

O R

EM

OV

E W

EE

DS

• P

ull

wee

ds o

ut b

y h

and

(be

care

ful t

o re

mov

e al

l of

the

root

s) a

nd

plac

e th

em in

the

leaf

cag

e to

de

com

pose

an

d m

ake

new

soi

l.

• W

hen

wee

ds a

re r

emov

ed o

n a

n o

ngo

ing

basi

s,

the

proc

ess

beco

mes

eas

ier

year

aft

er y

ear.

• I

t is

impo

rtan

t to

rem

ove

wee

ds b

efor

e th

eir

se

eds

mat

ure

, dis

pers

e, a

nd

mak

e m

ore

wee

ds!

Wee

ds in

the

Ou

tdoo

r C

lass

room

Wee

ds r

eady

to b

e re

mov

ed in

cra

cks b

etw

een

pa

vers

in a

gat

heri

ng a

rea.

Wee

ds e

ncro

achi

ng o

n a

desi

gnat

e pa

thw

ays -

thes

e w

eeds

look

smal

l in

May

or

Jun

e, y

et c

an ta

ke o

ver

a si

te, a

nd c

ompl

etel

y hi

de a

pat

hway

, if l

eft a

lone

un

til S

epte

mbe

r.

Invo

lvin

g st

uden

ts in

out

door

cla

ssro

om s

tew

ards

hip

can

be v

ery

rew

ardi

ng, a

lthou

gh te

achi

ng th

em to

diff

eren

tiate

betw

een

wee

ds a

nd p

lant

s th

at s

houl

d be

left

alo

ne c

an b

e ch

alle

ngin

g. S

ome

teac

hers

hav

e ea

ch g

rade

lear

n to

iden

tify

a

sing

le w

eed

whi

ch th

ey a

re r

espo

nsib

le fo

r pu

lling

out

whe

reve

r th

ey s

ee it

. Als

o co

nsid

er g

ivin

g ea

ch g

rade

thei

r ow

n ou

t-

door

cla

ssro

om ta

sk: f

or e

xam

ple,

one

gra

de w

eeds

the

path

way

, ano

ther

wee

ds a

long

the

fenc

e, a

noth

er p

icks

up

tras

h, e

tc.

BO

ST

ON

SC

HO

OLY

AR

D I

NIT

IAT

IVE

16

OU

TD

OO

R C

LA

SS

RO

OM

US

ER

’S G

UID

E

Bu

lb P

lan

tin

gLa

te f

all i

s th

e ti

me

to p

repa

re f

or s

prin

g by

pla

nti

ng

bulb

s. P

lan

tin

g ca

n ta

ke p

lace

as

lon

g as

the

grou

nd

is

not

fro

zen

.

In M

arch

an

d A

pril,

a m

onth

bef

ore

mos

t oth

er p

lan

ts

flow

er, t

he

bulb

’s le

aves

an

d fl

ower

bu

ds p

ush

ou

t of

the

eart

h. A

few

wee

ks la

ter

blos

som

s ar

e re

ady

to d

is-

cove

r an

d ob

serv

e.

On

ce p

lan

ted,

bu

lbs

mu

ltip

ly a

nd

will

blo

om y

ear

afte

r ye

ar. P

lan

t bu

lbs

in p

rote

cted

sch

ooly

ard

and

outd

oor

clas

sroo

m a

reas

. Bu

lbs

are

wel

l su

ited

for

un

der

tree

s,

alon

g ed

ges

of b

uild

ings

, or

in th

e ou

tdoo

r cl

assr

oom

w

oodl

and

or m

eado

w. P

lan

tin

g be

ds a

re n

ot th

e id

eal

plac

e fo

r bu

lbs,

bec

ause

they

are

spe

cial

ly b

uilt

for

an

nu

al e

xper

imen

tal p

lan

tin

gs a

nd

vege

tabl

es. B

ulb

s pl

ante

d in

the

rais

ed p

lan

tin

g be

ds m

ay c

onfl

ict w

ith

th

ese

oth

er s

tude

nt u

ses.

Bu

lbs

are

avai

labl

e fr

om lo

cal g

arde

n c

ente

rs,

har

dwar

e st

ores

, an

d m

any

mai

l ord

er c

atal

ogu

es.

TY

PE

S O

F B

ULB

S

Cro

cus

— s

mal

l blo

ssom

s in

ver

y ea

rly

spri

ng

Nar

ciss

us

(daf

fodi

l) —

ear

ly b

loom

, will

be

10”-

12”

tall

Hya

cin

ths

— w

onde

rfu

l fra

gran

ce in

spr

ing

Alli

um

s —

late

spr

ing

bloo

m, d

ram

atic

40

” h

igh

fl

ower

hea

ds

Tulip

s —

larg

e bl

osso

m, s

prin

g bl

oom

ED

UC

AT

ION

AL

OP

PO

RT

UN

ITIE

S Jo

urn

ey N

orth

Pro

ject

— e

nga

gin

g cl

ass

prog

ram

to

part

icip

ate

wit

h o

ther

sch

ools

an

d ob

serv

e bu

lbs

as a

to

ol to

ch

art s

easo

nal

ch

ange

acr

oss

the

cou

ntr

y.

Stud

ent p

roje

ct id

eas:

w

ww

.lear

ner

.org

/jn

orth

/tu

lip/i

nde

x.h

tml

Bul

b pl

anti

ng

tips

:w

ww

.lear

ner

.org

/jn

orth

/tm

/tu

lips/

Pla

nti

ng.

htm

l

Out

door

wri

ting

- obs

ervi

ng tu

lips a

nd d

affo

dils.

Cro

cus

Nar

ciss

us

Alli

ums

78


School Stewardship

STEP

SEV

EN:

Crea

te a

M

aint

enan

ce P

lan

Scho

olya

rd H

abit

at p

roje

cts

are

gene

rally

lo

wer

mai

nten

ance

land

scap

es if

eco

logi

cally

so

und.

Mos

t m

aint

enan

ce in

volv

es c

ontr

ollin

g un

wan

ted

plan

ts, m

aint

aini

ng s

truc

ture

s,

rem

ovin

g tr

ash

and

pres

ervi

ng a

esth

etic

s.

Cho

ose

how

muc

h yo

u w

ant

to m

aint

ain

base

d on

the

ava

ilabi

lity

of y

our

team

mem

bers

’ ti

me

and

the

mai

nten

ance

req

uire

men

ts o

f the

di

ffere

nt fe

atur

es. F

or e

xam

ple,

if y

ou h

ave

a tw

o ac

re w

oodl

and

rest

orat

ion

wit

h a

trai

l, yo

u m

ight

hav

e a

mor

e in

tens

ive

mai

nten

ance

pla

n fo

r th

e en

tran

ce t

o th

e tr

ail t

han

you

do fo

r th

e m

ajor

ity

of t

he fo

rest

.

The

re a

re e

ssen

tial

ly t

wo

leve

ls o

f car

e th

at

ever

y pr

ojec

t ne

eds.

Sho

rt-t

erm

mai

nten

ance

in

clud

es w

ater

ing,

mul

chin

g, b

orde

rs, w

eedi

ng

and

repl

anti

ng. L

ong-

term

mai

nten

ance

in

clud

es in

vasi

ve n

on-n

ativ

e sp

ecie

s re

mov

al,

care

of s

truc

ture

s an

d ot

her

proj

ect

feat

ures

. All

mai

nten

ance

pro

vide

s an

opp

ortu

nity

to

enga

ge

stud

ents

in le

arni

ng m

ore

abou

t th

eir

natu

ral

envi

ronm

ent.

Acc

ompl

ishm

ents

® ® ® ® ® ® ® Task

s

® ®

Comm

itted

to S

tart

ing

a Pro

ject

Form

ed a

Team

Devel

oped

a Ma

ster

Plan

Asse

ssed

Pro

ject S

iteDe

signe

d Pr

oject

Decid

ed M

oney

Mat

ters

Inst

alled

Pro

ject

Cons

ider s

hort

-ter

m

maint

enan

ce

Cons

ider l

ong-

term

ma

inten

ance

Wat

erin

gW

ater

ing

is t

he m

ost

impo

rtan

t sh

ort-

term

mai

nten

ance

tas

k. P

lan

to m

onit

or t

he r

ainf

all a

nd a

ugm

ent

wit

h w

ater

ing

or ir

riga

tion

w

hen

need

ed fo

r at

leas

t th

e fir

st t

wo

year

s of

you

r pr

ojec

t. T

his

is

espe

cial

ly im

port

ant

duri

ng h

ot, d

ry s

umm

er m

onth

s w

hen

staf

f and

st

uden

ts a

re n

ot a

t sc

hool

. Wat

er s

uffic

ient

ly a

nd d

eepl

y bu

t no

t to

o of

ten.

Tho

roug

h w

ater

ing

prom

otes

str

onge

r ro

ot s

yste

ms,

ena

blin

g pl

ants

to

find

wat

er o

n th

eir

own

once

est

ablis

hed.

Your

wat

erin

g pl

an c

ould

invo

lve

as m

uch

as in

stal

ling

drip

irri

gati

on

or a

spr

inkl

er s

yste

m, o

r as

litt

le a

s la

ying

a s

oake

r ho

se o

r us

ing

a ho

se w

ith

a sp

rink

ler

atta

chm

ent.

Est

ablis

h a

wat

erin

g sc

hedu

le

wit

h ad

vice

from

the

nur

sery

from

whi

ch y

ou a

cqui

red

the

plan

ts. O

n av

erag

e, a

new

ly p

lant

ed h

abit

at n

eeds

one

inch

of w

ater

per

wee

k fo

r th

e fir

st o

ne t

o tw

o ye

ars.

Your

sch

ool’s

mai

nten

ance

sta

ff s

houl

d be

par

t of

the

tea

m t

o en

sure

th

ere

is a

cces

s to

wat

er e

spec

ially

for

the

sum

mer

. Man

y sc

hool

s re

quir

e a

spec

ial w

ater

key

to

oper

ate

outd

oor

spig

ots;

the

se c

an

be fo

und

in t

he p

lum

bing

sec

tion

of y

our

loca

l har

dwar

e st

ore.

You

m

ay w

ant

to in

stal

l a s

impl

e ra

in g

auge

at

your

pro

ject

sit

e to

hel

p m

onit

or w

ater

ing

need

s. T

rees

and

shr

ubs

need

to

be w

ater

ed

thro

ugh

the

first

tw

o ye

ars.

Man

y ho

me

and

gard

en s

tore

s se

ll ir

riga

tion

bag

s, o

ften

cal

led

tree

gat

ors,

spe

cific

ally

for

tree

s an

d sh

rubs

. The

y ca

n be

fille

d w

ith

a ho

se o

nce

a w

eek

and

prov

ide

a sl

ow

drip

irri

gati

on t

o th

e pl

ant.

Mul

chin

gO

nce

plan

ts a

re e

stab

lishe

d th

e ne

ed fo

r m

ulch

bec

omes

obs

olet

e.

In m

any

natu

raliz

ed a

reas

the

ann

ual d

eadf

all w

ill a

ct a

s na

tura

l m

ulch

. If y

ou c

hoos

e to

add

mul

ch fo

r ae

sthe

tic

reas

ons,

ref

er t

o th

e ca

lcul

atio

ns in

Ste

p 4

to fi

nd o

ut h

ow m

uch

you

will

nee

d. K

eep

in m

ind

that

too

thi

ck a

laye

r of

mul

ch w

ill p

reve

nt m

oist

ure

from

re

achi

ng t

he g

roun

d.

Cons

ider

Sho

rt-t

erm

Mai

nten

ance

The

firs

t tw

o ye

ars

afte

r in

stal

lati

on a

re t

he m

ost

crit

ical

and

labo

r in

tens

ive

tim

e fo

r m

aint

enan

ce.

A m

aint

enan

ce p

lan

for

the

first

tw

o ye

ars

shou

ld in

clud

e sp

ecifi

c ta

sks

and

indi

cate

who

will

be

resp

onsi

ble

for

them

. Thi

s is

a g

ood

tim

e to

rec

ruit

new

mem

bers

to y

our

team

. Bel

ow a

re a

spec

ts t

o co

nsid

er w

hen

crea

ting

you

r pl

an.

STEP

SEV

EN: C

REAT

E A

MAI

NTE

NAN

CE P

LAN

EPSEPSAE

SCH

OO

LYA

RD H

AB

ITAT

PRO

JECT

GU

IDE

94

79


Section 3.3: Appendix Create a Maintenance Plan

Section 3.3: Appendix - Attached Reference Materials Create a Maintenance Plan

Bor

ders

One

of t

he m

ost c

omm

on fr

ustr

atio

ns fo

r a

Scho

olya

rd

Hab

itat

pro

ject

occ

urs

whe

n it

is a

ccid

entl

y m

owed

. It

is h

elpf

ul to

mar

k of

f the

are

a of

you

r pr

ojec

t to

let t

he

mai

nten

ance

team

and

vis

itor

s kn

ow th

e bo

unda

ries

. To

indi

cate

the

boun

dari

es o

f you

r pr

ojec

t, yo

u ca

n us

e fe

ncin

g, e

dgin

g or

nat

ural

mat

eria

ls. F

ind

out i

f the

m

aint

enan

ce p

erso

nnel

cha

nges

in th

e su

mm

er s

o th

at a

ll st

aff a

re a

war

e of

the

proj

ect.

Wee

ding

To

impr

ove

the

wild

life

habi

tat o

f you

r sc

hool

gro

unds

, it i

s im

pera

tive

that

you

elim

inat

e in

vasi

ve n

on-n

ativ

e pl

ants

. W

eedi

ng y

our

proj

ect c

an s

omet

imes

see

m d

aunt

ing,

es

peci

ally

whe

n na

tive

spe

cies

are

you

ng a

nd h

ard

to

reco

gniz

e. K

eep

in m

ind

that

not

eve

ry s

peci

es th

at s

prin

gs

up in

to y

our

proj

ect i

s un

wan

ted.

Som

e pl

ants

that

are

nat

ive

to th

e ar

ea c

ould

col

oniz

e th

e pr

ojec

t sit

e. A

s lo

ng a

s th

e co

loni

zing

pla

nts

are

not i

nvas

ive,

it is

fine

to

leav

e th

em a

lone

.

The

pro

blem

occ

urs

whe

n in

vasi

ve n

on-n

ativ

e sp

ecie

s ar

e fo

und

in y

our

habi

tat.

The

se s

peci

es w

ill

take

ove

r an

d m

ust

be r

emov

ed a

s qu

ickl

y as

pos

sibl

e. T

his

web

site

http

://w

ww

.aph

is.u

sda.

gov

prov

ides

a

list

of fe

dera

lly p

rohi

bite

d pl

ants

. You

can

cro

ss r

efer

ence

any

new

pla

nts

you

find

wit

h th

is li

st a

nd

othe

r lo

cal n

ativ

e pl

ant

guid

es. I

t ca

n al

so b

e he

lpfu

l to

have

you

r pl

anti

ng m

ap a

cces

sibl

e du

ring

w

eedi

ng.

Repl

antin

gT

he s

urvi

val r

ate

of y

our

plan

ts w

ill n

eed

to b

e ev

alua

ted

in t

he fi

rst

few

mon

ths.

Som

e pl

ant

loss

ca

n be

exp

ecte

d. R

epla

ntin

g m

akes

sen

se if

the

pla

nt lo

ss w

as c

ause

d by

som

ethi

ng u

nlik

ely

to o

ccur

ag

ain

such

as

an e

xtre

me

wea

ther

eve

nt. I

f pla

nt lo

ss is

mor

e th

an 5

0%, e

valu

ate

the

reas

on fo

r th

e lo

ss b

efor

e re

plan

ting

to

max

imiz

e fu

ture

suc

cess

. The

nat

ural

res

ourc

e pr

ofes

sion

al o

n yo

ur t

eam

can

ev

alua

te y

our

site

and

off

er s

ugge

stio

ns fo

r su

cces

sful

futu

re p

lant

ings

.

Sum

mer

wee

ding

and

wat

erin

g ar

e co

mm

on

chal

leng

es o

f Sch

ooly

ard

Hab

itat

pro

ject

s.

Be

sure

you

hav

e a

plan

in p

lace

to a

ddre

ss

this

cha

lleng

e.

For m

ore

info

rmat

ion

abou

t inv

asiv

e sp

ecie

s re

fer t

o th

e

Inva

sive

Pla

nt A

tlas

of th

e Un

ited

Stat

es h

ttp://

ww

w.in

vasi

vepl

anta

tlas.

org

or

the

Nat

iona

l Par

k Se

rvic

e w

ww

.nps

.gov

/pla

nts/

alie

n/fa

ctm

ain.

htm

AE

U.S

. FIS

H A

ND

WIL

DLI

FE S

ERVI

CE95

STEP

SEV

EN: C

REAT

E A

MAI

NTE

NAN

CE P

LAN

Cons

ider

Lon

g-te

rm M

aint

enan

ceFo

r as

long

as

the

prop

erty

rem

ains

a S

choo

lyar

d H

abit

at, s

ome

leve

l of m

aint

enan

ce m

ust b

e do

ne.

Inva

sive

Non

-Nat

ive

Spec

ies

Rem

oval

The

bes

t m

etho

d fo

r ke

epin

g in

vasi

ve p

lant

s ou

t of

you

r pr

ojec

t ar

ea is

ear

ly d

etec

tion

and

im

med

iate

rem

oval

. Com

mon

con

trol

met

hods

incl

ude

hand

pul

ling,

mow

ing,

che

mic

al s

pray

ing

or

sola

rizi

ng. Y

our

inva

sive

non

-nat

ive

spec

ies

mai

nten

ance

pla

n w

ill d

epen

d on

the

spe

cifi

c in

vasi

ve

plan

t, t

he s

ize

of t

he p

atch

and

the

am

ount

of

surr

ound

ing

nati

ve v

eget

atio

n. C

onta

ct y

our

loca

l m

aste

r ga

rden

ers’

gro

up o

r co

unty

ext

ensi

on o

ffic

e to

fin

d a

wee

d co

ntro

l spe

cial

ist

to h

elp

wit

h as

sess

men

t an

d tr

eatm

ent

opti

ons.

Mai

nten

ance

tips

for i

nvas

ive

non-

nativ

es:

Cre

ate

a “M

ost

Unw

ante

d” s

peci

es li

sts

wit

h id

enti

ficat

ion

feat

ures

of t

he p

lant

s to

hel

p kn

ow w

hich

pl

ants

to

rem

ove.

F

or m

ost

wee

ds, h

and

pulli

ng is

eno

ugh.

Be

sure

to

rem

ove

the

enti

re p

lant

bot

h ab

ove

and

belo

w t

he

grou

nd p

rior

to

the

plan

t go

ing

to s

eed.

C

hem

ical

met

hods

for

rem

ovin

g in

vasi

ve n

on-n

ativ

e pl

ants

incl

ude

a br

oadc

ast

spra

y w

hich

will

kill

all

plan

ts

in a

larg

e ar

ea o

r sp

ot t

reat

men

t w

hich

is a

pplie

d to

a

spec

ific

prob

lem

pla

nt o

nly.

Mos

t sc

hool

sys

tem

s ha

ve

prot

ocol

s an

d lic

ense

d pe

rson

nel f

or h

erbi

cide

app

licat

ions

.

I

f you

r pr

ojec

t si

te h

as b

ecom

e ov

ergr

own

wit

h un

wan

ted

plan

ts, y

ou m

ay w

ant

to t

ag s

peci

es

wor

th s

avin

g an

d ha

ve v

olun

teer

s w

eed

arou

nd t

he b

ase

of t

hese

pla

nts

to a

llow

roo

m fo

r gr

owth

.

Stru

ctur

es a

nd o

ther

feat

ures

C

heck

feed

ers,

bir

dbat

hs, w

ater

pum

ps, a

rtifi

cial

str

uctu

res,

ben

ches

and

sig

ns t

o m

ake

sure

m

echa

nism

s ar

e fu

ncti

onin

g pr

oper

ly a

nd v

anda

lism

has

not

com

prom

ised

the

inte

grit

y of

the

feat

ure.

W

ith

vand

alis

m, t

rash

and

oth

er is

sues

, con

stan

t vi

gila

nce

keep

s an

are

a lo

okin

g go

od. T

he b

est

way

to

dec

reas

e th

e lik

elih

ood

that

the

sit

e w

ill b

e va

ndal

ized

is t

o in

crea

se t

he s

uppo

rt a

nd p

arti

cipa

tion

of

the

stu

dent

s an

d co

mm

unit

y. C

reat

ing

a se

nse

of s

hare

d ow

ners

hip

and

resp

onsi

bilit

y w

ill p

rovi

de

mul

tipl

e be

nefit

s fo

r th

e pr

ojec

t.

Frank Marsden

SCH

OO

LYA

RD H

AB

ITAT

PRO

JECT

GU

IDE

96

80


Create a Maintenance Plan

FIRS

T TW

O Y

EARS

Cate

gory

Task

sRe

spon

sibl

e As

sist

Cons

ult

Wat

erM

onito

r wee

kly

rain

fall

Mrs

. Jon

es’s

6th

grad

e cl

ass

and

Mrs

. Hog

an’s

Sum

mer

Hab

itat S

cout

s

PTA

mem

bers

Mai

nten

ance

sup

ervi

sor a

nd

Assi

stan

t Prin

cipa

l

Mon

thly

che

ck o

n irr

igat

ion

equi

pmen

t inc

ludi

ng ti

mer

s an

d ho

ses

Mai

nten

ance

sup

ervi

sor

Assi

stan

t Pr

inci

pal

Scho

olya

rd H

abita

t Tea

m

Plan

tsM

onth

ly m

onito

ring

an

d re

mov

al o

f inv

asiv

e no

n-na

tives

Mrs

. Jon

es’s

6th

grad

e cl

ass

and

Mrs

. Hog

an’s

Sum

mer

Hab

itat S

cout

s

Scho

olya

rd

Habi

tat T

eam

Mai

nten

ance

sup

ervi

sor a

nd

Assi

stan

t Prin

cipa

l

Ever

y sp

ring

new

tree

s ar

e pl

ante

d to

repl

ace

any

mor

talit

y fro

m p

revi

ous

year

Mr.

Case

y’s 8

th g

rade

cl

ass

Scho

olya

rd

Habi

tat T

eam

Mai

nten

ance

sup

ervi

sor a

nd

Assi

stan

t Prin

cipa

l

Stru

ctur

eM

onth

ly m

onito

ring

and

repo

rting

of a

ny v

anda

lism

is

sues

Scho

olya

rd H

abita

t Te

amPT

A m

embe

rsAs

sist

ant P

rinci

pal

ON

GO

ING

Cate

gory

Task

sRe

spon

sibl

eAs

sist

Cons

ult

Plan

tsM

onth

ly m

onito

ring

an

d re

mov

al o

f inv

asiv

e no

n-na

tives

Mrs

. Jon

es’s

6th

grad

e cl

ass

and

Mrs

. Hog

an’s

Sum

mer

Hab

itat S

cout

s

Scho

olya

rd

Habi

tat T

eam

Mai

nten

ance

sup

ervi

sor a

nd

Assi

stan

t Prin

cipa

l

Stru

ctur

eBe

nche

s, s

ign

and

fenc

e ar

e re

paire

d as

nee

ded

Mai

nten

ance

sup

ervi

sor

Assi

stan

t Pr

inci

pal

Scho

olya

rd H

abita

t Tea

m

Trai

l hea

d is

mul

ched

and

tra

il m

aps

are

in s

tock

Mrs

. Hog

an’s

Sum

mer

Ha

bita

t Sco

uts

Scho

olya

rd

Habi

tat T

eam

Assi

stan

t Prin

cipa

l

In th

is s

ampl

e, th

e re

spon

sibl

e pa

rty

is e

nsur

ing

that

the

task

wil

l be

com

plet

ed, t

he a

ssis

ting

par

ty w

ill h

elp

com

plet

e th

e ta

sk a

nd th

e co

nsul

ting

par

ty w

ould

be

part

of a

ny d

ecis

ion

mak

ing

rega

rdin

g th

at ta

sk.

Sam

ple

Mai

nten

ance

Pla

nsE

xact

tim

ing

and

spec

ific

task

s w

ill b

e de

term

ined

by

your

pro

ject

typ

e an

d lo

cati

on. B

elow

you

w

ill fi

nd s

ome

sam

ple

mai

nten

ance

pla

ns t

o he

lp fi

gure

out

you

r an

nual

mai

nten

ance

nee

ds a

nd

help

del

inea

te t

he r

oles

of e

ach

mem

ber

of t

he S

choo

lyar

d H

abit

at t

eam

onc

e th

e pr

ojec

t is

in

the

grou

nd.

U.S

. FIS

H A

ND

WIL

DLI

FE S

ERVI

CE97

STEP

SEV

EN: C

REAT

E A

MAI

NTE

NAN

CE P

LAN

In th

is s

ampl

e, m

aint

enan

ce n

eeds

are

laid

out

by

tim

e of

yea

r. Sh

ort-

term

nee

ds s

houl

d be

com

plet

ed fo

r th

e fir

st tw

o ye

ars,

and

long

-ter

m n

eeds

ext

end

thro

ugh

the

life

of t

he p

roje

ct.

SHO

RT-T

ERM

MO

NTH

LON

G-T

ERM

Wat

er a

s ne

cess

ary.

Janu

ary

Clea

n ou

t nes

t box

es.

Wat

er a

s ne

cess

ary.

Febr

uary

Wee

d, re

mov

e in

vasi

ve s

peci

es. W

ater

as

nece

ssar

y.M

arch

Mon

itor a

nd re

mov

e in

vasi

ve s

peci

es.

Mon

itor s

peci

es s

urvi

val r

ates

. Wat

er a

s ne

cess

ary.

April

Wee

d an

d ad

d m

ulch

if n

eede

d. W

ater

as

nece

ssar

y.M

ay

Wat

er a

s ne

cess

ary.

June

Wat

er a

s ne

cess

ary.

July

Mon

itor f

or d

roug

ht.

Wat

er a

s ne

cess

ary.

Augu

st

Wee

d an

d re

mov

e in

vasi

ve s

peci

es.

Wat

er a

s ne

cess

ary.

Sept

embe

rM

onito

r and

rem

ove

inva

sive

spe

cies

.

Mon

itor s

peci

es s

urvi

val r

ates

and

pre

pare

for

addi

tiona

l pla

ntin

g if

nece

ssar

y. W

ater

as

nece

ssar

y.Oc

tobe

r

Wat

er a

s ne

cess

ary.

Nov

embe

rM

ow h

alf o

f mea

dow

.

Wat

er a

s ne

cess

ary.

Dece

mbe

r

SCH

OO

LYA

RD H

AB

ITAT

PRO

JECT

GU

IDE

98

81


Create a Maintenance Plan

Wat

erin

g Is

sues

for

Nat

ive

Plan

ts

New

ly p

lant

ed t

rees

and

shr

ubs

will

nee

d su

mm

er w

ater

ing

unti

l th

ey b

ecom

ees

tabl

ishe

d (a

ppro

x. t

hree

yea

rs).

Wil

dflo

wer

sus

ually

nee

d w

ater

ing

for

the

firs

t ye

ar t

o de

velo

p a

good

roo

t sy

stem

.

On-g

oing

wat

erin

gaf

ter

thes

e ti

me

peri

ods

will

dep

end

on t

he s

uita

bilit

y of

the

vege

tati

on f

or y

our

site

. Co

nsul

t w

ith

your

loca

l ar

bori

st o

r tr

ee n

urse

ry f

orre

com

men

dati

ons

re:

how

muc

h w

ater

ing

your

tre

es n

eed

(i.e

. sl

ow t

rick

le f

or t

hree

hour

s tw

o ti

mes

per

wee

k).

Even

est

abli

shed

pla

nts

may

nee

d as

sist

ance

dur

ing

peri

ods

of e

xtre

me

drou

ght.

34

WH

EN M

AKIN

G YO

UR

MAI

NTE

NAN

CE

PLAN

CON

SIDE

R TH

E FO

LLOW

ING:

1. I

nclu

de g

ood

qual

ity

mai

nten

ance

too

lsin

you

r gr

ant

appl

icat

ions

(i.e

. sh

ovel

s, w

heel

barr

ows,

gar

deni

ng g

love

s,

hose

s, h

ose

reel

s, b

ucke

ts,

clip

pers

, tr

ee g

uard

s, w

eedi

ng

tool

s an

d ed

ging

too

ls).

2. C

ompa

ctio

n st

rate

gy (

see

Choo

sing

Wild

flow

ers,

Tre

es

and

Shru

bs,

Ch.

4)

3. P

rote

ctio

n fr

om p

ests

suc

h as

rod

ents

—pr

otec

t yo

ung

tree

s w

ith

tree

gua

rds.

4. M

oist

ure

stra

tegy

(w

ater

ing

and

mul

chin

g)—

Mak

e su

re y

ou h

ave

a w

ater

ing

sche

dule

to

ensu

re t

rees

,sh

rubs

and

pla

nts

get

enou

gh (

see

Wat

erin

g Is

sues

). M

aint

ain

a 15

cm t

hick

laye

r of

mul

ch a

roun

d th

e ba

seof

you

r pl

ants

. M

ulch

ing

will

ret

ain

moi

stur

e an

d im

prov

e th

e or

gani

c co

nten

t of

the

soi

l.

A w

ell-pl

anne

d an

d or

gani

zed

mai

nten

ance

str

ateg

y w

ill p

rote

ct

your

inv

estm

ent

of e

nerg

y, r

esou

rces

,m

oney

and

tim

e.

COv

er t

ime,

the

nee

d fo

r m

aint

enan

ce w

ill d

ecre

ase—

but

the

mor

e yo

u pl

an f

or i

t in

the

begi

nnin

g, t

he le

ss w

ork

ther

e w

ill b

e la

ter.

CH

ave

one

pers

on o

vers

ee t

he m

aint

enan

ce p

lan

to e

nsur

e th

e w

ork

is d

one.

C

Real

ize

that

ass

essm

ent

of m

aint

enan

ce n

eeds

is

on-g

oing

as

cond

itio

ns c

hang

e.

Mai

Nte

naN

cE

Stra

Tegy

Laura Berman

35

5. W

eed

cont

rol

stra

tegy

(m

ulch

ing

and

hand

wee

ding

)—M

ulch

ing

will

als

o ke

ep w

eeds

to

a m

inim

um.

How

ever

, m

ake

sure

you

hav

e a

wor

k sc

hedu

le t

o ha

nd p

ull

any

wee

ds b

efor

e th

ey s

prea

d. I

f yo

u ke

ep o

nto

p of

it,

wee

ding

is

quic

k an

d ea

sy.

6.Re

plac

ing

dam

aged

pla

nts—

If y

ou c

an k

eep

your

pro

ject

in g

ood

shap

e, p

eopl

e w

ill t

end

to s

how

it m

ore

resp

ect

than

if it

look

sbe

aten

-up

and

dam

aged

. Rep

lace

or

rem

ove

any

dam

aged

pla

ntm

ater

ial r

ight

aw

ay.

7. M

aint

aini

ng t

rail

s—A

noth

er w

ay o

f av

oidi

ng p

ossi

ble

dam

age.

Kee

p pa

ths

clea

r an

d w

ell

mar

ked

so p

eopl

e w

illus

e th

em -

not

mak

e ne

w o

nes!

If

new

pat

hs d

evel

opin

dica

ting

a u

sage

pat

tern

, co

nsid

er m

akin

g th

e pa

th a

perm

anen

t on

e.

8. M

ulch

ing,

trim

min

g an

dpr

unin

g—Sc

hedu

ling

thes

e ac

tivi

ties

will

kee

p yo

urpl

ants

hea

lthy

and

pro

tect

ed.

Mul

chin

the

spr

ing,

pru

nein

Feb

ruar

y an

d tr

imw

hen

the

tree

or

shru

b is

not

in

atr

ansi

tion

al p

erio

d (i

.e.

tran

siti

on p

erio

ds a

re e

arly

spr

ing

and

late

fal

l).

9. O

n-go

ing

gene

ral

clea

n-up

—If

you

wan

t ot

hers

to

show

you

rpr

ojec

t re

spec

t, le

ad b

y ex

ampl

e. P

rovi

de g

arba

ge b

ins

and

empt

y re

gula

rly.

Kee

p lit

ter

pick

ed u

p. M

aint

ain

sign

age,

seat

ing

and

fenc

ing.

10.

Plan

an

annu

al s

prin

g cl

eanu

p an

d ga

rden

clo

sing

in

the

fall.

This

mak

es g

ood

use

of a

vaila

ble

stud

ent

pow

er.

In t

he f

all,

don’

t fo

rget

to

drai

n yo

ur h

oses

.

11.

Seed

col

lect

ion—

Colle

cted

nat

ive

plan

ts a

nd h

erit

age

vege

tabl

e se

eds

can

be s

catt

ered

in

diff

eren

tar

eas

or p

acka

ged

and

sold

as

a fu

ndra

iser

. Th

ey c

an a

lso

be s

hare

d w

ith

the

com

mun

ity

thro

ugh

the

Nor

th A

mer

ican

Nat

ive

Plan

t So

ciet

yse

ed e

xcha

nge

prog

ram

(w

ww

.nan

ps.o

rg)

or S

eeds

of

Dive

rsit

y(w

ww

.see

ds.c

a).

12.

Ease

of

mai

nten

ance

—Tr

ees

and

shru

bs a

re e

asie

r to

mai

ntai

n th

an w

ildflow

ers.

Wild

flow

ers

will

alw

ays

need

mor

e m

aint

enan

ce.

WH

AT T

O DO

DU

RIN

G TH

E SU

MM

ER M

ONTH

SIt

may

see

m a

lit

tle

earl

y to

be

wor

ryin

g ab

out

sum

mer

mai

nten

ance

pla

ns,

but

figu

ring

out

who

is

avai

labl

e fo

r w

ater

ing

and

regu

lar

upke

ep n

ow,

will

sav

e yo

u fr

om l

ast

min

ute

scra

mbl

ing

late

r.

CM

ake

sure

mai

nten

ance

tea

ms

have

acc

ess

to a

n ou

tdoo

r ta

p, w

hich

may

req

uire

a s

peci

al k

ey.

Arr

ange

for

the

key

to

be k

ept

in a

cen

tral

loca

tion

.C

Orga

nize

stu

dent

vol

unte

ers

to w

ater

and

mai

ntai

n th

e ar

ea f

or o

ne-w

eek

peri

ods

duri

ng t

he

TIPS

TIPS

• W

eed

befo

re t

hey

form

se

ed h

eads

!

• Pu

ll th

e w

hole

pla

nt—

root

s to

o!

• Re

mem

ber:

it’s

eas

ier

to

wee

d af

ter

it r

ains

!

• W

eeds

on

path

way

s ca

n be

ki

lled

by p

ullin

g, c

utti

ng b

ack

or m

owin

g an

d th

en a

pply

ing

boili

ng w

ater

or

vin

egar

.

Don Morton

82


Section 3.3: Appendix Maintenance Strategy

Section 3.3: Appendix - Attached Reference Materials Maintenance Strategy

36

sum

mer

. Re

war

d th

eir

tim

e w

ith

a sh

are

of f

ruit

s, v

eget

able

s or

flo

wer

s at

har

vest

tim

e. B

e su

re

to h

ave

this

org

aniz

ed b

y m

id M

ay.

CH

ave

a ge

t-to

geth

er B

BQ i

n Se

ptem

ber

for

thos

e w

ho h

elpe

d.C

Ask

nei

ghbo

urs

and

com

mun

ity

grou

psi.e

. Gu

ides

and

Sco

uts

for

a he

lpin

g ha

nd.

CIn

vite

a l

ocal

gar

deni

ngor

con

serv

atio

n or

gani

zati

on t

o do

nate

som

e ti

me

and

ener

gy.

CCo

ordi

nate

wit

h su

mm

er s

choo

l/re

crea

tion

pro

gram

sto

inc

orpo

rate

use

and

mai

nten

ance

int

o th

eir

prog

ram

s.

COr

gani

ze w

ork

part

ies.

Thi

s is

a f

un w

ay t

o sh

are

the

load

.C

Hir

e a

stud

ent.

Fun

drai

sing

and

mat

chin

ggo

vern

men

t gr

ants

can

ass

ist

wit

h hi

ring

a p

art-

tim

e st

uden

t to

wee

d an

d w

ater

.C

Som

e sc

hool

s re

cogn

ize

plan

ting

vol

unte

ers

wit

h a

nati

ve w

ildflow

er t

o gr

ow a

t ho

me.

Thi

sre

cogn

izes

the

ir c

ontr

ibut

ion

and

crea

tes

a se

edba

nk i

n th

e co

mm

unit

y fo

r na

tura

l re

gene

rati

onan

d ba

ckup

sho

uld

you

have

a c

rop

failu

re.

CEn

list

the

help

of

scho

ol t

eam

s or

clu

bsto

com

eou

t an

d vo

lunt

eer

thei

r ti

me

each

yea

r.C

A m

aint

enan

ce l

ogw

ill h

elp

keep

tra

ck o

f w

hat

was

don

e an

d pr

ovid

e su

gges

tion

s fo

r th

e ne

xtro

und

of m

aint

enan

ce.

CCa

reta

kers

and

off

ice

staf

fm

ay b

e w

illin

g to

help

wit

h su

mm

er w

ater

ing.

CSm

all

area

s ca

n be

ass

igne

d to

ind

ivid

uals

or

smal

l te

ams

who

can

com

e at

a t

ime

that

sui

tsth

em.

Volu

ntee

rs r

arel

y lik

e to

wor

k al

one.

Cons

ider

the

bud

dy s

yste

m s

o th

eyca

n he

lp e

ach

othe

r ou

t. A

cal

enda

rw

ith

nam

es a

nd p

hone

#’s

faci

litat

esco

llabo

rati

on.

Star

t w

ork

part

ies

earl

y in

the

AM

whi

le i

t is

coo

l. Pl

an a

bre

akfa

stbr

eak

wit

h fr

esh

frui

t, b

agel

s,m

uffi

ns a

nd j

uice

to

mak

e it

afe

stiv

e w

ork

part

y.

All

Han

ds i

n th

e Di

rtp.

34

has

a ye

ar r

ound

cal

enda

r ca

lled

A Y

ear

in t

he O

utdo

or C

lass

room

.U

se t

his

as a

gui

de f

or e

ach

seas

on t

o ge

t th

e m

ost

out

of y

our

proj

ect.

Duri

ng t

he s

umm

er,

ther

e ar

e fe

w p

eopl

e to

do

the

wor

k bu

t th

e de

man

ds a

re g

reat

est

in t

erm

s of

wat

erin

g an

d w

eedi

ng.

Her

e ar

e so

me

crea

tive

sol

utio

ns:

83


Maintenance Strategy

Common Plants and Their Toxicity The following list covers common plants often encountered and questioned for toxicity. Plants are listed alphabetically by common name, followed by botanical names. Match the number following each plant with the toxicity rating descriptions below. If you have any questions or a plant is not included on this list, please call the Poison Center at 1-800-876-4766 or 1-800-8-POISON.

Note: In general, plants considered poisonous to humans are considered poisonous to animals. However, in some cases animals have been poisoned by plants considered safe for humans. Even if a plant is listed as having major toxicity, a very small amount ingested may not result in symptoms. Call the poison center before initiating any treatment. A plant listed as being non-toxic may still cause problems: if a child bites off a piece of the plant and it sticks to the throat, chocking or gagging may result.

1. Non–toxic: Either these plants have proven non–poisonous or there is no record of a toxic exposure. Exposure to these plants is not expected to cause any symptoms.

2. Oxalates: The juice or sap of these plants contains oxalate crystals. Chewing these plants may cause pain and irritation of the mouth, lips, and tongue. Swelling of the throat may cause breathing difficulties.

3. Minor toxicity: Ingestion may cause some minor symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea. Ingestions of small amounts may not cause any symptoms at all.

4. Major toxicity: Ingestion of these plants, especially in large amounts, is expected to cause serious effects to major organs such as the heart, liver or kidneys. If these plants are ingested call the Poison Control Center immediately.

5. Dermatitis: Exposure to juice or sap from the plant or a puncture would from the thorns may produce skin irritation or rash. Skin wounds from some plants can be extremely painful.

6. Possibly toxic: Although information about these plants is incomplete, ingestion of small amounts would not be expected to cause serious problems.

7. Animal toxicity: These plants are known to have caused problems in animals.

University of California, Davis, Medical Center, Regional Poison Control Center. ©UC Regents. All rights reserved.

84


Common Plants and Their Toxicity

Com

mon

Pla

nts

and

Thei

r Tox

icity

- U

C D

avis

Med

ical

Cen

ter R

egio

nal P

oiso

n C

ontro

l Cen

ter

Afri

can

Vio

let S

aint

paul

ia1

Jade

Pla

nt C

rass

ula

arge

ntea

1

Aga

pant

hus

3, 5

Jequ

erity

Bea

n A

rbus

pre

cato

rius

4A

gapa

nthu

s, P

ink

Ner

ine

bow

deni

i3,

7Je

rusa

lem

Che

rry

Sol

anum

pse

udoc

apsi

cum

4

Alb

izzi

a1

Jim

son

Wee

d D

atur

a st

ram

oniu

m

4A

loe

Ver

a3

Juni

per J

unip

erus

spe

cies

3,

5, 7

A

lum

inum

Pla

nt P

ilea

cadi

erei

1K

atan

choe

1

Aly

ssum

1La

dy S

lippe

r Orc

hid

Cyp

riped

ium

5

Am

aryl

lis b

ella

donn

a3

Lant

ana

cam

ara

4, 7

A

pple

Tre

e M

alus

spe

cies

4, 7

Lark

spur

Del

phin

ium

spe

cies

4

Apr

icot

Tre

e P

runu

s ar

men

iaca

4, 7

Lico

rice

Pla

nt

Ara

lia J

apan

ese

Fats

ia ja

poni

ca1

Gly

cyrr

hizi

an le

pida

ta

4, 7

A

rrow

head

Vin

e S

yngo

nium

pod

ophy

llum

2Li

lac

Syr

inga

1

Asp

arag

us F

ern

Asp

arag

us s

etac

eus

or s

pren

geri

1Li

ly o

f the

Nile

Aga

pant

hus

afric

anus

5

Avo

cado

Per

sea

amer

ican

a6,

7Li

ly o

f the

Val

ley

Con

valla

ria s

peci

es

4A

zale

a R

hodo

dend

ron

occi

dent

ale

4Li

pstic

k P

lant

Aes

chyn

onth

us lo

bbia

nus

1B

aby

Tear

s H

elxi

ne s

olei

rolii

1Li

quid

amba

r 1

Bab

y's

Bre

ath

Gyp

soph

yla

1Lo

belia

Spe

cies

4,

5

Bac

helo

r But

tons

Cen

taur

ea c

yanu

s1

Lupi

ne L

upin

us

4, 7

B

egon

ia B

egon

ia s

peci

es2

Mag

nolia

ste

llata

1

Birc

h Tr

ee B

etul

a sp

ecie

s3,

5M

anza

nita

Arc

tost

aphy

los

1B

ird o

f Par

adis

e S

telit

zia

regi

nae

6M

aple

Tre

e A

cer s

peci

es

1, 7

B

ird's

Nes

t Fer

n A

sple

nium

nid

us1

Mar

ble

Que

en P

otho

s S

cund

apsu

s au

reus

2

Bla

ck A

caci

a R

obin

ia p

seud

oaca

cia

4, 7

Mar

igol

ds C

alen

dula

or T

aget

s 1

Bla

ck L

ocus

t Rob

inia

pse

udoa

caci

a4,

7M

imos

a P

udic

a 1

Bos

ton

Fern

Nep

hrol

epsi

s ex

alta

1M

istle

toe

Pho

rade

ndro

n fla

vesc

ens

6B

ottle

Bru

sh C

allis

tem

on s

peci

es1

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85



Com

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86



Com

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Thei

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Med

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87



Com

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and

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- U

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Med

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c 7

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mal

Tox

icity

88



PoisonousPlantsintheLandscapeRobert R. Westerfield and Gary L. Wade, Extension Horticulturists

While most of us are familiar with common poisonous plants that cause dermatitis (skin irritations) such as Poison Ivy or Poison Oak, we fail to recognize common ornamental plants in the landscape that may cause internal poisoning when ingested. Although most adults would not intentionally eat the leaves or fruit of ornamental plants in the landscape, young children or pets sometimes do.

The purpose of this publication is to familiarize you with some of the common landscape plants known to have poisonous properties when ingested. You may be surprised to learn just how many of our common plants, such as azaleas, hydrangeas, boxwood and English ivy, are known to have poisonous properties.

Please note, however, that the term “POISONOUS” used in this publication does not imply that the plant is fatal. Some plants may be only mildly toxic and may cause stomach ache or mild irritation of the mouth and throat when ingested. There are also a number of variables that determine how severe the poisoning symptoms may be, such as the age, weight and health status of a person in relationship to the quantity of the plant ingested as well as the form that the plant was in at the time of ingestion (i.e. cooked versus raw, ripe fruit versus unripe fruit, etc.).

It is not the intent of this publication to discourage you from planting any of the plants on the list, but to make you aware of their potential hazard when used in landscapes frequented by young children, domestic animals or mentally challenged adults. As the saying goes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Prevention is the best medicine to prevent toxic plant poisoning.

Internalpoisonsareagroupofchemicallydifferentsubstancesthat,wheningested:• Act on the brain causing narcotic reactions and other mental disturbances.• Affect the spinal cord resulting in paralysis and convulsions.• Act as heart depressants and stimulants.• Irritate the digestive tract and nervous system.

• Tohelppreventplantpoisonings,followthesesafetytips:

• Knowthenamesofalltheplantsinyourlandscape.Ifyouneedhelpidentifyingaplant,takeapieceofit

toanursery,floristoryourcountyextensionagent.

• Labelallofyourplantswiththeirnamessoyoucanidentifyaplantthathasbeeneaten.

• Keepplants,seeds,andbulbsoutofthereachandsightofchildrenandpets.

• Donoteatwildplantsormushrooms.Cookingpoisonousplantsdoesnotmakethemsafetoeat.

• Donotconsumemushroomsgrowinginyourlandscape.

• Keepweedandinsectkillersinalockedcabinet,outofthereachofchildrenandpets.Neverputthemin

bottlesusedfordrinking.

• Keepchildrenandpetsawayfromlawnsnewlysprayedwithgardenchemicals.

• Teachyourchildrentoneverputanypartofaplantintotheirmouths.

89


Poisonous Plants in the Landscape

WhattoDoinaPoisonEmergency In the event of a poison emergency call the Georgia Poison Center. Keep the number near your telephone.

Call24HoursaDay,7DaysaWeek:

InMetroAtlantaCall:4046169000

OutsideMetroAtlantaCall:18002825846

Teletypeforthedeafandhearingimpairedonly:TDD4046162987 If a poisoning occurs and the person is having trouble breathing, experiencing seizures, or will not wake up, CALL 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately. Be prepared to give:

1. the attending physician the name of plant, if known, or description (save uneaten parts). 2. how long ago it was eaten. 3. how much and which parts were eaten. 4. age of individual. 5. symptoms.

If hospitalization is required, take a portion of the suspect plant with you for positive identification. The attached table lists common ornamental plants known to be toxic when ingested. While this is not a complete list, it contains many plants commonly found in home landscapes in Georgia.

OrnamentalplantsreportedtobetoxicwheningestedbyhumansPlantName BotanicalName ToxicPlantPart SymptomsAirpotato Dioscoreabulbifera rawfruit abdominalpain,nauseaAlgerianIvy** Hederacanariensis allparts diarrhea,nervousness,laboredrespiration,

convulsionsAllamanda Allamandaspp. allparts nausea,hightemperature,drynessofthemouthAmaryllis Amaryllisspp. bulbsandseeds gastrointestinalproblems,vomiting,diarrheaAmericanArborvitae** Thujaoccidentalis leaves lowbloodpressure,convulsionsAngel’sTrumpet** Daturaspp. allparts blurringofvision,deliriumAnise‐tree** Illiciumfloridanum,

Illiciumanisatumleaves abdominalpain,vomiting,convulsions,death

Azalea Rhododendronspp. allparts nausea,vomiting,weakness,dizziness,breathing

difficulty,comaBarberry Berberisspp. allparts depressantactionontheheartmuscleBlackLocust Robiniapseudoacacia bark,seeds nausea,weakness,depressionBoxwood Buxussempervirens leaves gastric,vomitingBuckeye Aesculusspp. allparts digestiveirritant,nausea,vomitingCaladium Caladiumbicolor allparts burninginmouthandthroat,vomitingCalla‐lily Zantedeschiaspp. allparts burningandinflammationofthemouthandthroatCastorbean Ricinuscommunis seeds burninginmouthandthroat,gastricand intestinal

problemsCenturyPlant Agaveamericana leaves vomiting,diarrheaCherry(allspecies) Prunusspp. leaves,bark,seeds gasping,nervousdisorderClematis Clematisspp. allparts gastrointestinalirritationCrinumLily Crinumspp. bulb vomiting,diarrheaDelphinium** Delphiniumspp. allparts digestiveupset,nervousexcitementordepressionElderberry Sambucuscanadensis root,bark,stem,

leavesHascausednauseaandvomitinginchildrenwhohave

usedstemsastoys.Rawberriesmaycausenausea.

Fruitcommonlymadeintopies,jellyandwine‐not

harmfulwhencooked. ElephantEar** Colocasiaesculenta allparts intenseburningandirritationofthetongueEnglishIvy** Hederahelix leaves,stems,fruits headache,fever,anxiety,breathingdifficulty,comaEucalyptus** Eucalyptusspp. leaves nausea,vomiting,diarrhea,weakness,respiratory

difficulty

90



FalseIndigo** Baptisiaspp. allparts paralysisFirethorn Pyracanthaspp. berries stomachache,blisteringoftongue,vomitingFour‐o‐clock Mirabilisjalpa root,seeds vomiting,diarrhea,abdominalpainGinkgo(female) Ginkgobiloba fruit violentstomachpain,kidneydisordersGloriosaLily Gloriosasuperba allparts numbnessoflips,tongueandthroat,nervoussystem

paralysisHolly Ilexspp. Berries vomiting,diarrheaHoneysuckle,Japaneseand

Trumpet**Lonicerajaponica,

Lonicerasempervirensallparts diarrhea,pupildilation,irregularheartbeat,

respiratoryfailure,comaHydrangea,Oakleaf

Hydrangea,Bigleaf

Hydrangea,Smooth

Hydrangeaquercifolia,

Hydrangeamacrophylla

Hydrangeaarborescens

leaves,bark gastric,intestinal,convulsions

Impatiens,balsam Impatiensspp. stem,leaves,root vomiting,diarrheaIris Irisspp. undergroundstems severedigestivetractdiscomfortJack‐in‐the‐Pulpit Arisaemaspp. allparts mouthandthroatirritation,vomitingJuniper Juniperusspp. berry‐likeseeds kidneydamageLantana** Lantanaspp. fruit gastric,vomiting,diarrhea,circulatorycollapseLily‐of‐the‐Valley Convallariamajalis allparts nausea,vomiting,diarrhea,irregularheartbeatand

pulse,mentalconfusionLilies**(RainLily,Atamasco

Lily,EasterLily)Zephyranthusspp. allparts dizziness,stomachpain,collapse,fataltolivestock

Mahonia Mahoniaspp. allparts depressantactionontheheartmuscleMimosa Albizziaspp. allparts intestinalirritationMorningGlory Ipomoeaspp. seeds,root hallucinations,vomiting,diarrhea,muscletightnessMountainLaurel** Kalmialatifolia leaves,twigs,flowers gastric,paralysis,convulsionsOleander** NeriumoleanderL. allparts dizziness,irregularheartbeat,nausea,convulsions,

death.Thisisoneofthemosttoxicornamentalplants

inthesoutheastOrnamentalTobacco** Nicotianaspp. allparts weakness,diarrhea,abdominalpain,paralysisPeriwinkle(vine) Vincaminor allparts intestinalirritationPeriwinkle(annual) Catharanthusroseus allparts hallucinations,damagetoliver,kidney,nervoussystemPlumbago Plumbagospp. leaves,stems stomachpainPrivet Ligustrumspp. fruit nausea,headache,abdominalpain,vomiting,diarrhea,

lowbloodpressureSagoPalm Cycasrevoluta seeds,roots,trunk

pithheadache,vomiting,stomachdisorders

Sweetshrub Calycanthusfloridus seeds affectscentralnervoussystem,spasms,increased

heartrateTrumpetCreeper(Chalice

Vine)Campsisradicans allpartsexceptfruit gastricirritation,dilatedpupils,numbnessinhands

VirginiaCreeper(Woodbine) Parthenocissusquinquefolia

berries,leaves nausea,bloodyvomiting,abdominalpain,kidney

damage,headacheWisteria Wisteriaspp. pods,seeds stomachpain,diarrhea,nausea,vomitingYew** Taxusspp. berries,foliage foliagemoretoxicthanberries, deathcanbesudden

withoutsymptoms

References: Perkins, Kent D. and Payne, Willard. Guide to Poisonous and Irritant Plants of Florida, Circular 441, Florida

Cooperative Extension Service. Westbrooks, Randy G., & James W. Preacher. 1986. Poisonous Plants of Eastern North America. Texas A&M University Web Site, “Poisonous Plants.” Mississippi State Extension Web Site, “Poisonous Plants.” Georgia Poison Control Center fact sheet.

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