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Rules for an Effective Landscape

Yvonne McCormick, ISU Extension HorticulturistYvonne@iastate.edu

Volunteers Serving Their University

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Which do you prefer…

• Formal or Informal landscape designs?

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Principles of Landscape Design

As they relate to:

•Line

•Form

•Texture

•Color

• Unity

• Scale

• Balance

• Simplicity

• Variety

• Emphasis

• Sequence

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Add Empathsis

• Focal point

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Avoid “Zipper” plantings

• Use of same elements – repeated over and over again

• Monotonous

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Pair opposites• Fine/Course

• Short/Tall

• Round/Upright

• Thugs/Dainty

• Small/Large

• Color contrasts

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To grow healthy plants…

• You need healthy soil!

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What is “Healthy” Soil?

It depends..

Dr. Jeff Iles

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Soil vs. Dirt

Dirt is misplaced

Soil

Dr. Jeff Iles

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What is “Healthy” Soil?

• Healthy soils = Healthy plants

• Soil health = Soil quality

• Soil fertility is only one component of soil quality

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Remember:

Overuse of chemical fertilizer may lead to ground and surface water contamination!

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Micro and Macronutrients

• Some plants need certain nutrients in large amounts, like nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium (N-P-K)

• Other nutrients, like boron and manganese, plants only need in very small amounts (Micronutrients)

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Soil Testing

• For pH results

• Fertility levels– levels of phosphorus

and potassium

• Yearly soil tests are not necessary– test every three or

four yearsST 0011

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Soil pH affects plant growth

• If soil has a pH of 7, soil is neutral– Most Iowa soils are neutral or slightly

alkaline

• Optimum pH is between 6 – 7 for most plants

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How to get your soil healthy?

PM 0820

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Other planting concerns

• Analyze the site– Soil, slope, drainage– Sun & wind– House & structures– Existing plants

• Any special family needs?• Maintenance considerations

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Plan options for obstacles

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Don’t forget to plan your views

• Do a property walk– Standing on your front

step, do you have a pleasant view?

– What do you see from the backyard deck?

– Note recurring objectionable noises

– Think about what your neighbors will see

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Before planting - make the call!

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Oops!

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No – No – No!

• Topped trees

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No – No – No!

• Topped trees

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What’s wrong with this picture?

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Use mulch for sustainable landscape

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Mulch occurs naturally in forests

• Decaying organic matter

• Use mulch in landscapes

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Mulch trees to dripline• Tree roots near the

soil surface

• Dripline = area directly below tree canopy

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Avoid mulch volcanos

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Use Mulch for Healthy Soil

• Controls weeds

• Conserves moisture

• Aids disease control

• Use organic mulch to improve soil

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Why use Organic Mulch?

• Organic matter improves soil quality…– Also known as humus

• Results from decomposition of vegetative & animal matter

• Makes up smallest % of soil by volume but is essential for good garden soil

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Which Mulch is better?

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Free Compost and Wood Mulch

• Available at local municipal yard waste compost sites

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Use mulch in containers

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Avoid rings of death!

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Avoid rings of death!

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If tree dies…you can always do this

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Downy Mildew of Impatiens

• Does not affect New Guinea types

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Garden Transplants

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Transplants must be hardened-off

• Gradually expose to outside environment – So acclimated

enough to tolerate stresses

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What does hardening-off do?

• Slows down vigorous growth

• Builds protective cuticle

• Stores up sugars & starch

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To Reduce Transplant Shock

• Choose cloudy day or early evening

• Use coverings as needed– Newspaper tents, etc

• Fertilize wisely

• Tear or break down peat pots and cover with soil– Lip of peat pot acts like a wick, allowing

moisture to escape!

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Never work wet soils

Soil too wet >

• < Soil ready for tilling

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Soil Sanitation for Healthy Soil

• Remove diseased plants

• Burn / bury / trash

www.plantpath.wisc.edu/

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Garden Soil

• Most Iowa soils are well suited for vegetables, flowers & turf

• But special problems need correction before planting:– Too wet/poor drainage– Difficult to till/high clay content– Dry out too quickly/large amount of

sand

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Garden Soil Correction

• These problems can be corrected by same technique – Add Organic Matter!

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Other tips for healthy plants…

• Rotate annual plants

• Choose varieties meant to grow in the area you live

• Spread an inch or two of compost over lawns & gardens before planting

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For ISU Pubs

Visit the ISU Extension Store at:

http://store.extension.iastate.edu

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Questions?