Landscape Design & Planning tips to Green Your

GardenChuck Martin

Senior Horticulturist

The Dow Gardens

2016 Master Gardener College

Horticulture-Art and Science of Cultivating Plants

Personality“Art”

Plants“Fun”

Place“Science”

Maintenance

Pest Control

Utopia

Personality

Art- “Expression of oneself” What is the reason you want to landscape?

How do you want to use your property?

Making the Landscape enjoyable

Likes/Dislikes Style

Formal

Natural

Edible

Eccentric

Color

Gnomes

Commitment to your Landscape

Time Maintenance

DIY

Maintenance company

Family Values Curb Appeal

Garden to Table

Recreation

Ecology

Place

Right Plant in the Right Place

Analyze your existing site and limitations Soil

Nutrients

Drainage

Light

Water

Temperature

What is your Canvas?

Requirements for Plant Growth

Water

Light

Warmth

Air

Nutrients

Space

Effects on Plant’s Health

DiseasesInsects

Competition

SoilTemperature

NutrientsWater,

DrainageFlora Fauna

Weather and Light

(Current and Last Year)

Genetics and Age

Growth/Health

Defined as the progressive development of an organism. Expressed as dry weight

G=f (X1 * X2 * X3………Xn)

Growth

Time

Soil What is soil?

Composition Mineral or Rock Matter

Sand 2.0-0.05 mm (gravel is >2.0)

Silt 0.05-0.002 mm

Clay <0.002 mm

Organic Matter Living

Dead-Litter, Duff, Leaf Mold

Very Dead-Humus

Water

Air

Soil Health-Physical, Biological, and Chemical

Texture-Amount of sand, silt, and Clay Affects water penetration

Course or light soil-sandy (warm up quickly)

Fine or heavy soil-clay

Structure Grouping of soil particles

Aggregates

Soil Health-Physical, Biological, and Chemical

Organic Matter Derived from living organism

Peat, Leaf Mold, Compost, Animal Manure, Cover Crop

4-6 % in gardens 2-3% in lawns

Benefits Aggregation

Water holding capacity

Provides nutrients and energy to the plants

Life in the soil

Bacteria

Fungi-mycorrhiza

Nematodes

Algae

Protozoa

Macroscopic-Insects, Grubs, Moles, and Earthworms

Functions of Soil Microbes

Decomposition

Recycling of nutrients Transportation

Fixation of nitrogen

Detoxification of Pollutants

Maintain soil structure

Suppression of plant pest

Soil Health-Physical, Biological, and Chemical

Soil test pH

Lime index

Phosphorus

Potassium

Calcium

Magnesium

Micronutrients

CEC

Soil pH

Soil Air and Water

50%

Saturated-All air pores are full Field capacity

Wilting plants

Common Soil Constraints

Soil Compaction

Poor Aggregation and Crusting

Low Water and Nutrient Retention

Taking Care of our soil

Cultivation-Rototilling Structure

Organisms

Oxidation of organic matter Loss of soil fertility

Increase of CO2

Soil Crusting

Compaction Wet soil

Vehicles

Soil testing

MSU Soil and Plant Nutrient Laboratory http://www.spnl.msu.edu/ $25.00 + Shipping and Handling

Chemical

Soil Health Test Cornell

http://soilhealth.cals.cornell.edu/

NutrientsEssential nutrients (elements)

Nutrients that is critical for the completion of a plants life cycle

Limiting factorsCHOPKNS Ca Fe Mg B Mn Mo prefer Zn Cl Cu16 nutrients for most plants

Carbon, Oxygen, HydrogenMacronutrientsMicronutrients

Macronutrients

Primary nutrients Nitrogen N Phosphorus P Potassium K

Secondary nutrients Calcium Ca Magnesium Mg

Sulfur S

Micronutrients

Boron Bo

Chlorine Cl

Copper Cu

Iron Fe

Manganese Mn

Molybdenum Mo

Zinc Zn

Others

Sodium

Cobalt

Vanadium

Silicon

Nitrogen

78% of the world’s atmosphere is N2 Function

Proteins, Amino Acids

Symptoms

Deficiency-Light green to yellow leaves (older leaves), stunted growth

Excess-Dark green foliage, susceptible to disease and insects, reduced flowering

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Deficiency

http://www.ipni.net/ipniweb/portal.nsf/0/9ad9bd18794e8480852573ec000ec596/$FILE/Nitrogen%20deficiency%20tobacco.JPG

Phosphorus

P2O5 Function

ATP, Nucleic Acids

Symptoms Deficiency-leaves may have purple coloration, plant stunted Excess-cause other nutrient deficiency (Iron or Zinc)

Phosphorus Deficiency

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/publications/tomatoproblemsolver/leaf/images/photos/phos.jpg

Potassium

K20 Function

Stomata, Disease Resistance, Ion transport

Symptoms Deficiency- Older leaves turn yellow around margins Excess-Cause deficiency of magnesium and possibly calcium

Potassium Deficiency

http://www.winsfordwalledgarden.com/data/images/General/Pottasium_deficiency.jpg

Calcium

Function Cell wall component

Symptoms Deficiency-reduced growth and death of tips, blossom-end rot of tomato

Excess-deficiency of magnesium or potassium

Calcium Deficiency

http://thegrowingconnection.org/ahs/uploaded_images/TGC71006BER-730389.jpg

Precipitation

Drizzle, rain, snow or hailPrecipitation Cycle

EvaporationTemperature, wind,

TransportationMoisture laden air masses

Condensationparticles

Precipitation

Water Absorption

Absorption Mainly by roots

Bromeliads-leaf hairs

Certain conifers-needles

Roots Larger than once thought

http://www.ars.usda.gov/images/docs/7647_7841/2005-X-PlantRoot.jpg

Root penetration

Affected by Water table

Hardpan

Soil aeration

Soil compaction

http://soils.usda.gov/education/resources/K_12/lessons/profile/profile.jpg

Water uptake

Root hairs

Mycorrhizae

Soil temperature

Solutes (Salt) in soil

http://www.greenmanconservation.co.uk/Images/Photos/Web%20Ready/Mycorrhiza/Roots.jpg

Water Movement

Xylem Osmosis

Root Pressure

Transpiration Pull

http://www.occc.edu/biologylabs/Images/Cells_Membranes/osmosis.gif

Transpiration

Cooling effect

Increase absorption of nutrients

Exchange of CO2 and O2

Stomata Cuticle

Guard Cells

Location

http://www.sydneyr.det.nsw.edu.au/support/curriculum/ict/menai/transpiration.gif

http://biology4isc.weebly.com/uploads/9/0/8/0/9080078/1633689.jpg?378

Factors Influencing Transpiration

Irradiance

Temperature

Wind Speed

Availability of water to roots

Water vapor pressure

Plant Characteristics

Irrigation

Salts

Cool season grass-dormant

Overwatering Insects, weeds, diseases

Plants wilt

Less root system

Temperature Biological activities of plants occur in a range of temperatures

Cool season plants

Intermediate season plants

Warm season plants

Temperature Effects

Plant Growth Rate Optimum Growth of most plants 68-86˚

Maturity

Flowering

Fruit Ripening

Seed germination Stratification

Crop Quality

http://www.wmin.ac.uk/sls/images/FruitVeg.jpg

Degree Days

Degree Days = Average Day Temp – Base TempExample-high of 65 low of 40

base of 50(65+40)/2-50=2.5 degree days

http://www.gddtracker.net/

MSU Turf grass

http://www.gddtracker.net/

2012 Lo(F)

Hi(F)

GDD22

GDD32

GDD42

GDD50

GDD55

03-10 21° 43° 336 96 15 4 003-11 35° 64° 363 114 23 4 003-12 46° 59° 394 134 33 7 003-13 48° 64° 428 158 48 13 103-14 38° 67° 459 179 58 16 103-15 54° 74° 501 211 80 30 1003-16 53° 67° 539 240 99 40 1603-17 51° 75° 580 270 119 53 2303-18 50° 73° 620 300 139 65 3003-19 52° 72° 660 330 159 76 3703-20 57° 78° 705 365 184 94 49

Sugar and Starch

Warm Temperature Sugar is converted to Starch

Cool Temperature Starch is converted to Sugar

Cold Hardiness

3 Components Acclimation

Mid-Winter Hardiness

Deacclimation

Cold Acclimation

Initiated by Photoperiod Growth stops

By October

Lower temperature Increase sugar concentration

Winter low temperatures January-peak hardiness

The inside story

Cells Apoplast

Fibers and vessels-empty

Dead tissue

Symplast Living tissue- contain a cytoplasm

Surrounded by a membrane

Contain lipid

Plant tissue

Water Movement

Inhibiting Hardiness in Plants

Saturated Soils High water content in symplast

Drought Need water in apoplast

Promotion of Succulent Growth Pruning and Fertilizing (N)

Low Carbohydrates in symplast

Provenance

The origin of a plant

Affects how it acclimates to the winter

Example-Red Maple Native range Minnesota to Florida

Hardiness of Plant Parts

Roots-least hardy

Leaves

Flower buds

Vegetative buds

Stems

Types of Cold Injury

Blackheart

Flower bud kill

Sunscald and Frost Cracking

Heaving

Snow Injury

Winter burn

Frost Damage

Reducing Winter Damage

Proper Plant Selection

Plant Health

Watering

Fertilizing

Mulching and Ground Covers

Anti-Transparents

Light Photosynthesis

Chlorophyll ability to absorb radiate energy from the sun and convert it into chemical energy contained in simple sugars.

The essential connecting link between nearly all living organisms.

/www.osovo.com/diagram/photosynthesisdiagrams.htm

Light requirements

Full Sun-6 hours

Part Sun-4-6 hours

Part Shade/Shade Dark Shade-Under evergreens

Medium Shade-Under evergreen

Light Shade-Moving shade produced by a building

Plants

Right Plant in the right Place

Native (?)

Pest resistant

Non-invasive

Slow Growing

Drought resistant

Adapted to low fertilization

Selection Process

AestheticsFunction Plants toleranceMaintenance

Ornamental Qualities of Shrubs

ColorFlowersFruitFoliage Twigs and bark

Form or habit TextureSeasonal effects Composition (how is it going to fit into the

landscape)

FunctionMature sizeGrowth rateFormHabit

Culture Requirements

Hardiness

Sun/Shade

Water

Soil

Wind Protection

Pollutants

Invasiveness

Maintenance

Pruning Watering Fertilizing Mowing Mulching Composting Insect/disease control Winter protection Invade drains Interfere with other plant growth Establishment