Landscape

1. Presented by
Dr. Teri Hamlin
Georgia Department of Education
Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
July 2001
Landscape
Management Practices
Mulching, Watering, Staking, Fertilization, Weed Control

2. Mulch
A tree’s best friend
• Insulates soil
• Retains moisture
• Keeps weeds out
• Prevents soil compaction
• Reduces lawn mower / weedeater damage
• Adds an aesthetic touch

3. Mulch

4. Mulch
• Max depth of 2-4”
• Do not touch the trunk
• Mulch too deep can lead
to
– trunk & crown rot
– poor root ball aeration

5. Type of Mulch
• Bark
• Pine Straw
• Grass Clippings
• Leaves
• Rock
• Synthetic Materials

6. Ground Cloth under Mulch ???

7. Irrigation
How much ? How often?
• During establishment
– Minimum of 1” of water per week
• Water between 9 p.m. - 9 a.m.

8. Types of Irrigation
• Sprinkler
• Micro Sprinkler
• Drip Irrigation

9. Drip Irrigation
Uses 30-50% less water
Efficient and effective application
Fewer pest problems
Fewer weeds
No wind effects
Easily automated
Economic to install

10. Drip Irrigation

11. Time Clock

12. Xeriscape
Water Management Practices

13. Staking
• Good - quality trees do not require staking
• When to stake:
– Windy Location
– Top Heavy
– Plants 8’ or taller
– Weak Trunks
– Small Root Ball
– Evergreens

14. Types of Staking
• Support weak
trunk
Root ball
anchorage

15. Staking

16. Staking
• Rubber straps are nicely
suited for attaching stakes to
trunks
• Wire threaded through hose
can girdle plant if left to long
• Never leave a plant staked for
more than one growing season

17. Trunk Protection
• Little protection against insect & disease
• Some sun scald protection for thin bark plants
• Uneven wraps w/exposed bark = temp difference in
trunk tissue
• Products :
– Paper Wrap
– Burlap
– Plastic
– White Latex Paint

18. Trunk Wraps
• If used, wrap from the bottom of the tree
toward the top overlapping material
• Use electrical tape or flexible adhesive
versus string

19. Fertilizer
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
Landscape plants needs should be based on
Soil Sample

20. Forms of Slow-release Nitrogen
Ammoniacal nitrogen
IBDU (Isobutylene diurea)
Sulfur-coated urea
Ureaformaldehyde

21. General Recommendation

22. Types of Fertilizer
• Sources:
– Inorganic
– Organic
• Formation:
– Dry / Granular
– Liquid
– Slow-release

23. How to Apply Fertilizer

24. Fertilizer Burn

25. When to Fertilize
• Main Meal
– Slow Release ( 1 time per year)
– General Purpose (2-3 x per growing season)
• Dessert
– During active growth (Spring-Summer)
– Liquid
• Soil drench
• Foliage Spray

26. Weed Management
• Mechanical
• Chemical
– Pre-emergent Herbicide
• Surflan, Treflan, Ronstar, Balan
– Post-emergent Herbicide
• Selective
– Kills grasses in shrubs & flowers (Poast)
– Kills broadleaf weeds in lawns (MSMA, Trimec)
• Non-Selective (Round up)