Snow in your backyard!

From the hilarious webcomic xkcd.  Well, it is probably more hilarious if you are a physics major, but oh well.  Maybe it has snowed in your garden this weekend.  Keep an eye out for those pesky Higgs Boson tracks.

David Mitchell deals with Climate Change

What do you think about sustainable practices.  Are they fun?  Or are they something we all just have to buckle down with?

Proper Plant Selection

In a world where breeders constantly vie to create new and exciting specimens; where garden centres market the fashionable and forget about the tried and true; where plants are transplanted into new climates that may or may not be appropriate, who will stop the madness?

Yes, it is the adventures of Project Sustainability, and the Fourth Principle of Xeriscaping!

Choose Plants that will Survive the Winter



It is true of garden centres, especially the transient variety that spring up in parking lots of big box stores (and I know from experience), that with each season comes a brilliant new specimen, advertised in magazines and insider's reports as the next big thing.  This may or may not be true; unfortunately, the appropriateness of the plant in a landscape must be determined by time, which the plants are unlikely to have had much of.  Another problem with the box store garden centres in certain locales, is that they get their plant material from a different climate, a more conducive climate for plant growth (more profitable nurseries).  While this is fiscally sound, the plants may not be hardened off to colder zones, or even be suitable for a cooler zone at all. 



For example, a great deal of plant material in Ontario comes from the Niagara region, as it is an ideal microclimate, surrounded on two sides by Lake Ontario and Lake Eire, and by the Niagara Escarpment on the third side.  The majority of the material is headed for Toronto, in any case, as it has the greatest population.  In the five hours it takes to travel from Toronto (5b) to Ottawa (5a), however, you enter a colder zone.  If you cross the river from Ottawa into Gatineau, QC (4b), you drop another zone.  Plants will still show up in garden centre that educated employees will have to steer customers away from.

Native vs. Alien



This versus ...



When choosing plant material, it is important to know your climate and enviroment, and choose plants that are appropriate to both.  Evolution is the process where organisms adapt to conditions dictated by selection pressures: plants have evolved to grow in many different conditions.  You just have to choose the ones that are right for your area.  Such plants that are adapted to your climate should thrive in existing soil, and do quite well on rain alone, minimizing the need for amendments and irrigation.



That



Plant material needn't be native to your area either.  If you are bored with the same-old, investigate what gardiners in similar climates use.  You may be surprised, inspired or both.  However, you may also be surprised that quite a few plants that are common in landscapes are in fact native, just appropriated for artistic purposes.

Planting native material for some represents a return to the wild and natural world; following the Greek representation of Arcadia as opposed to the Roman interpretation.  Of course this is a matter of aesthetics, and personal style.  Whatever your landscape ideal, using sustainable practices, and climate-appropriate plants will help ensure that future generations will have a chance to develop their own fashion.

Top Gear Ground Force part 1 (Or; How Not to Design A Garden)

For those of you who are unfamiliar with these programs, Top Gear is a show by the BBC, that generally focuses on cars.  Ground Force is a gardening program.  This was a charity episode where the presenters of Top Gear tried to do what the presenters of Ground Force do.  With ... interesting results.

The Third Principle of Xeriscaping

Irritation Irrigation

So how can watering your garden, reduce water use in your garden?  Well boys and girls, it is time to learn what the third principle of Xeriscaping is all about!

Today's Post is brought to you by the colour Blue!

The answer is that it is how you water your garden that can reduce the amount that you use.  Overwatering, using water inefficiently and indescriminately are the main problems that can be solved by irrigating wisely.  The goal is to give the plants what they need without wasting water.

The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Plains

Quite Literally

As discussed, the type of soil present greatly affects how quickly the water will be absorbed, and how quickly it will drain away.  Clay soils, where the pores are small, will hold the water longer; however, it takes longer for the water to be absorbed, and if there is a slope present, the water will simply run off.  Sandy soils have a better chance of absorbing the water, but aren't able to hold it for long.  The amount of water that soil will absorb depends on how long the water falls.  A hard and fast summer storm will do little to quench the thirst of your vegetation.  Long and light is the ideal weather.

Be aware of factors such as slope, and local conditions to determine how fast the ground is drying out.  Sun, wind, temperature and local humidity all play a role in how often you need to water.  If you are constructing a garden, use these natural zones to help establish your hydrozoning.  Use or modify the slopes to direct the flow of water into areas that need it, or create terraces to eliminate runoff. 

These practices will maximize the value of every rainfall, reducing the need for additional irrigation.  Catching rain in barrels or containers is also a good practice; this water would likely be lost to the storm sewage system, and eventually the nearest river.  Keeping standing water is a mosquito hazard, unfortunately, so this may not be feasible.

Artificial Water

The best time to water your garden is during the early morning.  This will reduce the volume of water lost to evaporation, as temperature, sun, and air movement are minimal, and humidity is high.  Morning can be a high use time, especially for city neighbourhoods, as the population are getting up for work, and showering.  It is a good idea to know the peak usage times in your area, as well as the capacity of your water supply.  It is possible that the supply is insufficient for both internal and external application, and needs to be staggered.  Using a timer can prevent the need to rise before the sun.

It's hard to see the lake for the trees.

Try to apply water to the soil and not the foliage, as the roots have a better chance of absorbing it there.  Certain plants of the garden can require more water than others, especially when they are young and in the process of establishing themselves.  Trees in the middle of lawns, for example, can experience drought while the grass thrives. 

Irrigation System vs. Hose and Sprinkler

So, is it worth it to install an irrigation system?  These systems are designed to apply optimum amounts of water to specific zones; no more, no less.  They can easily be installed to separate turf and landscape, which have different requirements.  They can even be run on timer programs that can be changed as the season progresses, and the water needs of the plants change.  They take alot of the guesswork away from watering your garden.  Rain gauges exist, that will override the program if there is precipitation.  If it is possible, installing a system is a good idea.  If not, be aware of the different water requirements and zones of your garden, and aim for early morning.

Mitchell and Webb Look - Gardens

The Second Principle of Xeriscaping - Soil Amendment




And then the bears ate her.

 

As discussed last week, the second step of creating a low-water garden is to address your soil, possibly adding components that will decrease water usage.  Depending on the quality of your soil, or the type of plants you are incorporating into the landscape, soil amendment may not be necessary.  Check the soil.  Ideally, farmers desired a soil profile called 'Loam'.  Loam falls into the Goldilocks Zone of soil particle size.  It is not too sandy, it is not clay.  Loam is just right.  If you are lucky enough to possess loamy soil, then congratulations!  You can go home early and skip this lecture.

Alternatively, you may decide to use plants that are best suited for the soil profile you have.  (This is part of the 4th principle, and will be addressed later.)  If this is the case, then amendments aren't as crucial.  If you have zoned your garden, consider amending the soil to the zone's water requirements.  The low-water zones won't need nearly as much as the oasis zones. 

The goal of amending soil is to make gardening a more sustainable process.  With that in mind, I shall look at a different strategies, and discuss the pros and cons of each.  Not every amendment is truly sustainable, and it is possible that a balance will have to be reached - one between adding to the ground, and preventing water loss.

Inorganic Amendments

Amending the soil through inorganic amendments is basically just changing the soil profile.  This may take a great volume of material, making it a somewhat impractible, and not the most sustainable practice. The materials have to come from somewhere, so by adding them to your ground, you are merely taking the ground from a different location.  Consider also the carbon footprint created from transportation.

Disregarding fertilizer for the moment, these type of amendments rarely offer any nutrient value.  The main reason to add inorganic material is to improve drainage of the existing soil, and gain a better overall texture.  This can be obtained with Sand, Perlite or Vermiculite.  Large quantities of all are needed to effect a change.  Perlite and Vermiculite are quite expensive, and are only short term solutions in the outdoor environment.  Their best use is in a greenhouse environment.

Hydrogels are a relatively new product for soil amendment.  They are polymers designed to increase the water capacity of the soil.  However, the long term consequences of this addition are unknown, and the effect only lasts a few years before the hydrogels are broken down.  Also, addition of hydrogels won't decrease water requirements, only frequency of irrigation.

Fertilizer can be classified as a soil amendment; you do add it to the ground.  Fertilizer adds macro and micro nutrients alike for the plants to take up.  They tend to be water soluble, which means that the plant can absorb them quickly, but also means that they can be washed away.  Unless slow release fertilizers are used, the plant's growth response may be rapid initially, and then slow when the food runs out.  This can be dangerous is some plants; hasty, stretching growth may leave it weak and vulnerable in critical aras.  Fertilizers need to be added at least once a season (depending on the type), and may increase the salinity of the soil.

Organic Amendments



A Carbon-based Life Form



Organic has become a buzzword over the past two decades.  Agriculture and horticulture has embraced the term to an extent.  So has the film industry, though that is neither here nor there.  Chemically speaking, organic refers to anything with carbon in it.  Biologically, this planet has produced carbon-based lifeforms.  In terms of soil amendments, organic means that it was once alive, but is now dead, and broken down.

Specifically, organic matter is in the process of breaking down, and eventually, its effect will be lost, requiring continuous applications.  Still, organic matter comes from natural sources, so it hasn't lost the sustainable hat just yet.

"Cats have Pos"
 Cations are positive ions

The benefits using organic matter for soil amendments include the nutrients they contain, the aggregate-forming properties that improves the workablity of soil.  Organic material can improve the Cation Exchage Capacity, or the ability of soil to attract and store nutrients.  Adding organic matter may also improve the soil's water capacity.  However, that is not confirmed at this point in time.

A compost pile is an excellent source of organic matter, and is inexpensive, as material can come from your home and garden.  This is also a good way to reduce waste.  The important thing to remember when composting is the proper construction of of the pile.  The breakdown of the organic material is done by organisms, and they require certain conditions to survive. 

Be careful not to put diseased plants in the compost pile, as the disease might be able to survive, and then be spread around your garden.

Manure is one of the traditional organic amendments; however, these days, it is not produced in traditional methods, and this has lessened its value.  Fresh manure can burn a landscape, it should be composted or aged before applying it.  As a nutrient source, manure is better than an equal quantitiy of fertilizer, however, the quality of the product depends on many factors, such as the age, the type of animal, and the animal's food source.



Caution: May Contain Pixies
or Bowser
(Photo by Michael Maggs)



Peat Moss will improve the soil structure, however, it is acidic in nature.  It is useful for plants that thrive in acidic environments, though it can be expensive.  Topsoil can be added to the garden, though not all topsoil is equal, and harvesting topsoil is not sustainable.  There is also the possilbility of herbicide contamination, which should be tested for.

Mushroom compost is the material used to grow mushrooms in.  Adding mushroom compost in the fall, before winterizing the garden will help improve the soil's structure, though the mushrooms will have already taken up most of the nutrients. 

Cultural Practices

Simply tilling the soil can have an effect.  Tilling improves aeration and loosens the soil, allowing roots to spread through the soil more easily.  Be careful not to overwork the soil, however, as this will break down aggregates.  The frequency of tilling may also hasten the break down of organic material, necessitating further amendments.

What Does it all Mean?

By properly amending the soil, it is possible to improve the way water moves through it, hopefully decreasing the amount of water you need to maintain your garden.  It is also possible to improve the health of your plants, and healthy plants are better able to survive whatever conditions nature throws at them.