Contents

1. Overview
2. 5 Steps to Successful Landscapes
3. Design Phase
4. Building Phase
5. Operations and Management
6. Additional Resources
   
   
   Topic editor

   Sean Foley

   Lead author

   David McDonald

Overview

This guide is divided into sections for the design, building, and operations & management phases of a project, plus Resources.

Landscape professionals from around the Northwest have contributed and tested these ideas for resource-efficient, sustainable, cost-effective landscaping. They can be applied to any landscape design or use, from conventional lawn-and-bed designs to native restorations to innovative urban landscapes. Integrating these ideas from the initial project design stage through construction and into long-term maintenance will reap the most benefits.

Benefits

• More attractive landscapes
• Easier maintenance
• Lower water, waste, and energy bills; less need for fertilizers and pesticides
• Better storm water detention and filtration
• Better air and water quality
• Better habitat for wildlife and people
• Higher property values
  
  

5 Steps to Successful Landscapes

1) Build healthy soil Preserve existing soil and vegetation (especially trees) where possible; amend disturbed soils with compost, and mulch landscapes regularly.

2) Plant right for your site Fit landscape uses to your site's conditions, and chose plants that need less water, have few pests, and thrive in the Northwest climate.

3) Water smart After building healthy soil and selecting low-water use plants, group plants by water need, use more efficient irrigation methods like drip and soakers under mulch, and design and maintain irrigation systems to reduce waste.

4) Think twice before using pesticides Proper plant selection and integrated pest management techniques can practically eliminate the need for weed and bug killers, reducing health risks.

5) Practice natural lawn care Start with less lawn - put turf only where needed. "Grasscycling" (mulchmowing), and proper mowing height, watering and fertilization techniques can save time and money.

Design Phase

Fit the Design to the Site

Start with the Soil

Plan to protect soil around trees and preserved vegetation from compaction. Plan to stockpile and reuse site topsoil, if practical. Plan to amend disturbed soils with compost, prevent re-compaction, and mulch beds after planting (see Building phase). Consider getting a site soil sample, and any imported topsoils, tested at a soil lab. Follow the lab's recommendations, and verify proper installation. Plan to recycle fall leaves and chipped prunings as mulch, and to mulch-mow ("grasscycle") lawns, to maintain long-term soil and plant health. Plan a composting or leaf/chip storage area on site.

Choose the Right Plant for the Right Place

• Plan native and natural "buffer" areas near waterways, slopes, and other sensitive areas.
• Use trees. Generally, plant conifers on north side to block winter winds, and deciduous trees to south for summer shading and winter light. (Consider mature tree size - see "tree selection" in Resources.)
• Select plants with multiple benefits, such as food ("edible landscaping"), habitat, shade, etc. - hardy fruit trees can be wonderful urban amenities.
• Maximize green in dense urban areas - in public spaces, on building walls and roofs, in street tree placement - see Seattle Green Factor urban design guidelines in Resources section.
• Put lawn where it belongs: on sunny, well-drained, moderately sloped areas where needed for play or walking uses. Turf often requires a lot of maintenance and water, so choose other plant groups where turf is not necessary or won't grow well (shady, sloped, or poorly drained sites).
  
  

Slow the Flow: Manage and Reuse Storm Water On-Site

• Use Natural Drainage Systems (see Resources) to slow and filter runoff, such as:
  • Soil amendment with compost
  • Bio-retention swales, "raingardens" and planters
  • Curbless or curb-cut streets flowing to swale
  • Green roofs, green walls, and tree planting
  • Previous paving for parking and paths
  • Other infiltration and natural flow techniques

    Store and reuse stormwater beneficially: Soil amendment and infiltration is the most cost-effective way to store rainfall for landscape use Stormwater detention vaults/cisterns, if required, may be designed to feed filtration and reuse for toilet flushing or vehicle washing, or to store late spring storms for summer landscape irrigation

    
    

Design for Water Conservation

• Have designer prepare a landscape Water Budget, and plan to inspect the system during commissioning to verify efficient performance - to learn more, see Resources section.
  

Make it Last - Naturally

• Write a Landscape Maintenance Plan that specifies integrated pest and weed management, turf and plant maintenance, soil building with mulch and mulch-mowing, and irrigation system inspections and maintenance.
  
  

Building Phase

Minimize Impacts, to Maximize Benefits

Restore Soil Functions

Plant it Right

• Plant in fall for easiest plant establishment, or plant in springtime only if summer irrigation is available.
• Dig holes twice as wide as root ball; spread roots; fill soil to same level on stem as at nursery; tamp soil, then water well to establish good root contact.
• Mulch after planting, stake trees if needed.
• Turf/lawns require at least 6-8 inches of compost-amended soil, whether for seed or sod. Seeding gives better long-term root establishment, hardiness, and drought-tolerance than sod. Single-species sod should be avoided. For best turf establishment, seed April 15May 15 or Sept. 15-Oct. 15, and irrigate through the first dry season. Select a blend of Northwest-adapted grasses, plus broadleaf plants like clover and lawn daisies, for durable turf where a few "weeds" won't look out of place (see Resources).
  
  

Verify Proper Installation

• Verify proper soil preparation by inspecting delivery tickets for compost, digging a few test holes to verify blending, and pushing a bar in to verify uncompacted soil to at least 12 inch depth.
• Verify plants are installed and grouped according to the design, and fit their appropriate irrigation hydrozones.
• Verify proper irrigation system installation and pressure-test while trenches are still open.
• Test (audit) irrigation system after installation to verify:
  • Uniform coverage in each zone
  • Application rates match design and Water Budget
  • No overspray onto pavement or dissimilar plant zones - replace or adjust heads as needed.
• Set irrigation controllers to match designed Water Budget and tested application rates. Set up ET (evapotranspiration) based scheduling, or provide managers with manual scheduling to match application rates to seasonal needs - apply less in spring and fall or during cooler weather (see Resources for more irrigation tips).
  
  

Train End-Users for Sustainable Care

• Provide a Maintenance Budget Impact Statement as part of that plan that estimates staff, material, and equipment costs required, both during the establishment period and for the long-term.
• Build essential maintenance equipment (such as mulching lawn mowers and chippers) into the construction budget, or ensure that maintenance budget will provide them.
• Ensure that follow-up training will be provided as maintenance and operations staff change.
  
  

Operations and Management

Start right: Plant Establishment

• New landscapes need extra care during the establishment period (first 2-5 years):
  • More regular watering until roots go deep
  • Weeding and mulching until plants fill in
  • Replacement of unhealthy plants, or plants that don't grow well in their site conditions
  • Troubleshooting problems with plants, irrigation, drainage, pests, and public use of landscape
• Budget and plan for these extra needs. Educate public and staff to build their ownership and care.
  
  

Build the Soil for Healthier Plants

• Recycle landscape "wastes" back into the site: fall leaves as mulch or compost, chipped prunings as mulch, grass clippings through mulch-mowing.

  Mulch tree and shrub beds every 1-2 years with arborist wood chips, shredded fall leaves, coarse bark, nut or coffee hulls, etc. to control weeds, conserve water in summer and prevent erosion/compaction in winter, reduce runoff, and slowly feed the soil. Mulch annual beds with non-woody materials like compost or shredded leaves. Poor soil can be improved by: Tilling in compost and replanting, or Mulching with compost to feed the soil, then covering with a woody mulch for weed control Topdressing turf with compost (see below) Fertilize only if needed. Usually trees and shrubs get all the nutrients they need from compost-amended soil and regular mulching. Lawns and specialty plants like roses may need some fertilization - select slow-release or natural organic fertilizers for healthier plants, less pest problems, and less runoff pollution. Get a soil test if plant problems appear; correct any pH, lime, or mineral deficiencies found. Watch drainage patterns in winter - soggy soils or excess runoff may require drainage solutions, or replanting with more wet-adapted plants.

  
  

Use Integrated Pest, Disease and Weed Management

• IPM steps include:
  1) Prevention first: plant vigorous, pest-resistant, site-adapted varieties.
  2) Identify/know the pest (weed, etc.) life cycle.
  3) Set action thresholds - tolerate some damage.
  4) Monitor regularly (keep records of monitoring).
  5) Try cultural controls first.
  6) When pests exceed threshold, use control method with the least non-target impact. (Try cultural, physical, or biological methods first. As a last resort, use spot applications of least toxic chemical.) Only treat when the pest is most vulnerable and its natural enemies are in their least susceptible life stage.
  7) Keep records of control methods and results, evaluate, and adapt cultural practices.
  8) Replace problem plants/designs with more pest, disease, and weed-resistant varieties.
  
  

• Weed Control Methods:
  • Crowd out weeds with dense healthy plantings, ground covers and shade canopies.
  • Accept a few weeds - target the problem ones.
  • Mulch beds in fall, winter, or early spring.
  • Control weeds before they go to seed.
  • Hoe, pull, mow, or till (its easy to hoe in mulch).
  • Use flame or radiant heat weeders over pavement, cracks, fencelines, and building edges, or over mulch on rainy days (use fire precautions as per equipment labeling).
  • Use barriers: newspaper or cardboard covered with mulch, root barriers for spreading plants (landscape fabric can create problems as weeds grow through it - paper or cardboard are better).
  • Don't over-fertilize - it promotes weeds. -Least-toxic chemicals, spot applied (e.g. soap and vinegar-based weed killers, cut-and-paint stems with systemic herbicide - minimize non-weed impacts).
    
    
• If a pesticide must be used, always post signs for at least 24 hours stating: area affected; date/time applied; specific pesticide used; re-entry cautions (from label); and phone # to call with questions. Always follow label for application and protection. Professional appliers must be licensed by State law, see here
  
  

• See Resources for more IPM methods, pesticide hazard tier tables, and alternative controls.
  
  

Replace Problem Plants

• If a plant has repeated pest or disease problems, or isn't thriving in its site, it's cheaper in the long run to replace it with a better-adapted variety.
• Sometimes entire landscapes, or portions, don't fit site conditions or end-uses well, resulting in high maintenance needs and poor performance. They can often be converted to better-adapted plants or designs in sections or phases, during the annual maintenance cycles, or when staff has time.
  
  

Prune Less, Thin and Mulch More

• Minimize pruning by choosing plants that will fit at their mature size. Pruned hedges are very labor-intensive - using fence and/or mature sized plants is more sustainable.
• Prune for plant health - avoid topping cuts.
• Recycle prunings as chips for mulch.
• Thin excess plants as the landscape matures, to allow adequate room for full growth.
• Keep on mulching until ground covers and canopy close completely - weeds love bare soil.
  
  

Maintain Turf Sustainably

• Improve poor lawn areas by aerating, overseeding with a locally adapted grass seed blend, and top-dressing with ½ inch of compost, in spring or fall.
• Manage weeds by maintaining dense turf with proper mowing, fertilization, and overseeding. Accept some broadleaf plants in lawns, such as clover which is beneficial to turf. Decide which species are a problem, and just target those. Avoid broadcast herbicides like "weed & feed" - use manual control or spot applications instead.
• Consider changing turf areas that don't grow well (in shade, slopes, poorly drained soil, etc.) to other better-adapted plants.
• See Resources for complete Lawn Care manual.
  
  

Water Smart for Irrigation Savings

• Over-watering is a common cause of plant disease problems. Under-watering stresses plants. Know the plant's needs, and water just enough.
• Water deeply, to moisten the plant's whole root zone, but less frequently. Water annuals at the first sign of wilting, but perennials and turf only need water if they stay droopy after it cools off in the evening. Trees and shrubs in good soil with mulch rarely need water after establishment (2-5 years) except in extremely dry summers.
• Make every drop of water count, by:
  • Building soil with compost
  • Mulching regularly (re-mulch every 1-2 years)
  • Mulch-mowing lawns, at proper height
  • Choosing low water use plants
  • Grouping plants by water need, and matching to irrigation zones (with turf on separate zones) -Using soaker or drip systems in beds, covered with mulch, to reduce evaporation -Preventing runoff by slowing application rate -Watering early or late, to avoid mid-day evaporation losses (50% is wasted at mid-day!)
• Use automatic irrigation systems efficiently:
  • Schedule per Water Budget, then adjust downward to minimum needed for plant health.
  • Record schedule for reuse and fine-tuning.
  • Adjust schedule every few weeks based on seasonal need (less in spring and fall, or if it rains), or use an ET-based computer controller.
  • Visually check spray patterns every few weeks - look for broken or misaligned heads.
• Inspect irrigation systems annually:
  • Run system, walk through looking for problems.
  • Check for broken, sunken, or misaligned heads.
  • Test backflow and check valves.
  • Test rain sensor and flow sensor (line break) shutoffs.
  • Replace parts with identical parts (e.g. heads).
  • Audit system completely (test flow rates, uniform application) every 1-2 years. See Resources for more on irrigation and watering.
    
    

Make Space for Nature

Train and Support Staff and Users, for Long-Term Success

• Involve maintenance staff in planning, equipment selection, and redesign of problem areas.
• Provide or pay for annual training opportunities in Integrated Pest Management, turf and tree care, irrigation systems, soil building and composting, etc. to build skills and stewardship.
• Regularly review and update the Landscape Maintenance Plan, so that it guides practices.
• Ensure training for new staff and managers.
• Educate users/public about the landscape's benefits: low pesticide, fertilizer and water use, benefits to wildlife, water quality and public health - and how a few weeds, bugs, mulch, etc. help create those benefits.
  
  

Photo Credits
Photos courtesy of: front cover (houses) Pt. Blakely Communities; page 2 (site plan) Stenn Design; page 3 (diagram) AHBL Planning; page 4 (fenced tree) Seattle Department of Transportation; page 5 (irrigation trench) Seattle Center; all others Seattle Public Utilities.

Additional Resources

• Soil best practices, design specs, examples, Soil BMP Manual, compost and mulch sources, soil testing labs, and more.
  
  
• Natural lawn & garden design and maintenance for the general public and for professionals
  
  
• See the Integrated Pest Management, plant selection and soil sections, example landscape maintenance plans, and the Ecologically Sound Lawn Care manual. Expert advice is available at the Natural Lawn & Garden Hotline, call (206) 633-0224 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (206) 633-0224      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or e-mail info@lawnandgardenhotline.org.
  
  
• Pesticide risk reduction tier tables and City of Seattle landscape guidelines
  
  
• For alternative, less toxic weed, pest and disease control methods see the IPM section above
  
  
• Resource-efficient Natural Landscaping: Design - Build - Maintain
  
  
• Water conservation by design, operations, and efficient irrigation systems
  
  
• Natural Drainage Systems design guidelines, examples, and related links in the Seattle Stormwater Code
  
  
• Tree selection for streets and other space-limited sites, City codes, tree maintenance, arborist mulch sources
  
  
• Seattle Green Factor guidelines for maximizing landscape values in urban development
  
  
• Green building information (green roofs, landscape materials, etc.)
  
  

©2007 Seattle Public Utilities