Transcript Right Plant / Right Place

Landscape Design
Principles
Planning
Site Analysis
Plant Selection
Trees
Palms
Shrubs
Right Plant,
Right Place
Author: Rebecca McNair
Lawns
Turf
Alternatives
Natives
1
Key to Success
Proper planning and
plant selection:
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Can avoid
problems later
Can save energy,
effort, water,
money, etc.
Makes the
landscape more
enjoyable
Plan First, Plant Once
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This is a process, not a
one-time event!
Have a plan!
Know the plants and what
they require to thrive
Utilize regional gardening
books and magazines
Consult with your UF
County Extension Office
Ask qualified nursery
professionals for advice
How Do You Currently Use
Your Property?
Family Activities?
 Pets?
 Outdoor entertainment?
 Low-maintenance?
 Do you like wildlife?
 Is there a view you
want to hide or enhance?
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What are the site
characteristics?
 Soil
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Sand, silt, clay,
Organic materials
pH
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Sun or shade
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 Light
 Drainage
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Wet or dry
Drainage patterns
 Structures
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and obstructions
Utility lines (overhead and underground)
Sidewalks / driveways
Know Your Plants
 What
is the mature size
of the plant?
 Does it grow well in sun
or shade?
 Does it tolerate flooded
conditions?
 Is it salt tolerant?
 Is it susceptible to pests
which may be difficult to
control?
Helianthus debilis
Beach Daisy
Selecting Plants
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Be familiar with botanical names
 Binomial
nomenclaturea species name has 2 parts:
 Genus and specific epithet
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Buy healthy plants
 Look
for new growth
 Roots are white and fibrous
Jerusalem Thorn
 Avoid pot bound plants
Parkinsonia aculeata
 Avoid diseased or insect
Genus
Specific
infested plants
epithet
Engage The Senses
Scent
Fragrant
Be
flowers, aromatic plants or mulch
mindful of allergens
Sound
Running
water,
wind chimes
Touch
Fuzzy,
waxy, smooth
Taste
Edible
fruits, herbs
The sound of running
water attracts wildlife.
Trees in the Landscape
Provide shade
 Increase property
values
 Add color
 Add texture
 Attract wildlife
 Provide a framework
for the rest of the landscape
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Quercus virginiana
Live Oak
Factors to Consider
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Most trees DO NOT
have taproots
Tree roots grow OUT,
not down
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Incorrect
80 - 90% of a tree root
system is found in the
upper 18 - 24 inches of
the soil.
Roots of trees and
shrubs grow to about 3
times the branch spread.
Correct
Trees
Trees growing in
commercial settings live
an average of 13 years
 Trees in residential areas
average 37 years
 Trees in rural, undisturbed
sites average 150 years
 Some species live longer
than others
 Rapid growth results in
weaker wood and shorter
lifespan
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Quercus nigra
The Water Oak
is a relatively
short-lived tree.
Urban Influences
Compacted
soils
Over-pruning
Limited space for
roots
Improper staking
Mechanical
injuries
Construction
Pedestrian and
vehicle abuse
 Improper
 Improper
planting
fertilization
Construction Issues
 Changing
the soil grade
by as little as 6 inches
can seriously damage
a tree
 When building, remove
a tree that cannot be
adequately protected
and plant several
younger, healthy trees
 When in doubt,
consult an arborist!
More Factors to Consider
 Trees
damaged by
construction may not initially
show symptoms and may
decline slowly for many years
 Topping a tree can create a
dangerous situation
 Trees which are subjected to
stress are more susceptible
to insects and diseases
 Tree paints do not prevent
insects or diseases
Selecting the Right Place
For a Tree
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Know the mature size
Provide adequate space
Trees should be planted at
least 15 ft from the
foundation of a home!
Avoid overhead power lines
Quercus laurifolia
Laurel Oak
Tree Planting Tips
Dig the plant hole the same depth as the
root ball and 2 to 3 times wider
 Do not amend the backfill soil
 Apply 3 to 4 inches of mulch around the tree
to retain moisture, but
avoid contact with the
stem or trunk
 Water regularly
until established
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Transplanting
Container-grown
or “hardened-off”
balled and burlapped trees can be
planted any time of year
Research
indicates
that establishment
time can increase
1-2 months/ inch
of trunk diameter
Fertilizing New Trees
Avoid fertilizing
a tree until it is
established
 Proper irrigation
is important
 Fertilize 4-6 weeks
after planting
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Liriodendron tulipifera
Tulip Poplar
Palms Are Different!
 Transplant palms in
have only ONE
spring and summer
terminal growing point
 Palms do not increase in
diameter as they mature
 Palm roots grow longer
but do not increase in
diameter
 Many palms are
harvested from the wild
 Palms
Acoelorraphe wrightii
Paurotis Palm
Shrubs
Shrubs are woody
plants usually with
multiple trunks
and branches
arising from near
the roots
 They provide
structure,
texture and color
to a landscape
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Many shrubs can be
pruned to form hedges
and topiary figures
Serenoa repens
Saw Palmetto
Keep It Simple
 Don’t
plant shrubs too close together.
Space them according to how far they
will spread.
 Plant in large groups
for continuity and
increased visual
impact
 Don’t place too many
different species in
the same area
Strelitzia reginae Bird of Paradise has a
clumping habit; in time, it will fill an area.
Planting Shrubs
Plant in beds
 Incorporate organic
matter in the bed
 Group according to water
and maintenance needs
 Apply 3 to 4 inches of
mulch, but do not
allow mulch to rest
against the plant stems
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Major Turfgrass
Species in Florida
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St. Augustinegrass
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Very salt tolerant
Bermudagrass
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Very drought tolerant
Bahiagras
s
Seashore paspalum
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The most popular
Bahiagrass
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St.
Augustinegra
ss
Used on golf courses
Centipedegrass
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Common in the Panhandle
Bermudagra
ss
St. Augustinegrass-Varieties
Floratam
 Poor shade and cold tolerance
 Coarse texture
 Resistant to chinch bugs
 Reddish colored stolons
 Sheds foliage coming
out of dormancy
 Excellent heat tolerance
 Best mowed at
3 - 4 inches
Delmar
Improved shadetolerance
Dwarf variety
Good cold- tolerance
Susceptible to chinch
bugs and sod webworms
Slow growth means it
takes longer to establish
Mow at 2.5 - 4 inches
A Shady Spot
Even the shade tolerant varieties will
do well only up to about 50% shade.
St. Augustinegrass
Varieties for Semi-Shade
Bitterblue
 Improved cold- and
shade-tolerance
 Finer, denser texture
than Floratam
 Susceptible to chinch
bugs
 Darker green than
other varieties
 Mow at 3 - 4 inches
Seville
 Does well in partial
shade
 Semi-dwarf type,
mow at 2 - 3 inches
 Susceptible to chinch
bugs (more in sun than
in shade)
 More prone to thatch
formation than other
varieties
Drought Tolerant Varieties
Bahiagrass
Argentine
Seashore paspalum
‘SeaIsle 1’
 Excellent salt and
drought tolerance
 Tolerates flooding and
some shade
 Fine textured, dense,
dark green growth
 Disease and pest
resistant
 Moderate thatch
 Mow at 1 – 2 inches
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Good cold and
drought tolerance
Poor salt and shade
tolerance
Coarse textured,
dense growth
Dormant in winter
Wear tolerant
Mow at 3 - 4 inches
Turf areas should be functional
and easy to maintain!
Alternatives To Turf
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Landscaping beds require
less effort and cost less
to maintain than turf
Consider low-maintenance
ground covers, mulched
landscape beds, and
pathways
Native Plants
Native Plants are adapted to Florida’s environment
 Many non-native species are also appropriate for a
“Florida-Friendly Landscape”
 Visit garden stores and ask
about low maintenance
and native plants
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Association of Florida
Native Nurseries
www.afnn.org
Search for a specific plant
and locate the native plant
nurseries that sell it!
www.floridata.com
Zamia floridana
Coontie
A Few Natives
Calicarpa americana
Beautyberry
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Needle Palm
www.floridata.com
Passiflora edulis
Passion Vine
Erythrina herbacea
Cherokee Bean
Environmentally
Friendly Landscaping
Your yard is an integral part of
the protection and preservation of
Florida’s environment.
The collective decisions we make about
our landscapes have a profound impact
on the quality of surface and ground
water supplies, and ultimately,
our quality of life.
With a little thought, our landscapes
can combine beauty, function and
environmental protection.
Further Reading
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu
Circular
536 Basic Principles of
Landscape Design
ENH-15
Budgeting For a Better Landscape
ENH-25
Native Florida Plants for
Home Landscapes
SS-ENH-901
Florida,
Botany Handbook for
Revised Edition
Thanks for your attention!
The following presentation was made possible
through a grant from FL DEP and EPA. Special
thanks to the following reviewers for their valued
contributions:
FL114 ELM Design Team and the FYN Subcommittee
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, UF
Agriculture Education and Communication Department
Environmental Horticulture Department
Entomology and Nematology Department
Soil and Water Sciences Department
Florida Cooperative Extension Service in: Alachua, Broward, Clay,
Hillsborough, Lake, Miami-Dade, Orange, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Volusia Counties
Florida Organics Recycling Center for Excellence
The Center For Wetlands, UF
United States Department of Agriculture
FL Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences: Division of Plant Industry