Landscape to Reduce Waste

Chuck Ingels, Farm & Horticulture Advisor

UC Cooperative Extension, Sacramento County

Landscape to Reduce Waste

Americans generate 4-6 lbs. of trash a day per person

Avg. US household generates 650 lbs. of compostables each year

Garbage handling is 4th largest expense for many cities

CA goal: Divert 50% of organic matter

Landscape to Reduce WasteWhy?

In CA, yard wastes are the largest component of municipal waste

Grass clippings = about half the yard trimmings deposited in state landfills

An average CA lawn produces 300 to 400 lbs. grass clippings / 1,000 sq. ft. annually

Landscape to Reduce WasteWhy?

Design and select plants to reduce pruning Lawns: Reduce area, use alternative

species, grasscycle Prune properly, water & fertilize judiciously Use plant debris for mulch or compost Reduce, recycle, reuse & rebuy

Landscape to Reduce WasteHow?

Select plants to match local conditionsSun exposureTemperaturesRainfallSoils What plants are

native or well

adapted?

Landscape to Reduce WasteDesign and Select Plants to Reduce Pruning

Landscape to Reduce WasteDesign and Select Plants to Reduce Pruning

Select Appropriate PlantsReplace High Maintenance Plantings

Select Appropriate PlantsAvoid Invasive Species

Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce Lawn Areas

Landscape to Reduce WasteChoose Alternative Turf Species

Currently the most promising species:

‘UC Verde’ buffalograss-Buchloe dactyloides

Sedge species-Carex pansa, Carex praegracilis, Carex texensis

Choose Alternative Turf Species‘UC Verde’ Buffalograss

Other varieties available too

(‘Legacy’, ‘Prestige’)

Mowed

Unmowed

Buffalograss native to U.S. UC Verde developed by UC, 2003 Max. height: 4-8 inches Infrequent mowing (2-3 wks.); can be

mowed once a year Highly drought resistant – “Up to 75%

water use reduction” Winter dormancy – Partial; shorter than

bermudagrass

‘UC Verde’ BuffalograssCharacteristics

1 plant per foot (avg.) $0.535 per plug, 128 plugs per tray 4 trays per box = 512 sq. ft. 512 x $0.535 = $274 Boxing = $7.50, Shipping = $20 Total = $301.50 (Tall fescue sod = ~$200-$250) Savings? Less mowing & water

‘UC Verde’ BuffalograssApproximate Price (Florasource, Ltd.)

Landscape to Reduce WasteChoose Alternative Turf Species

Carex pansaCarex praegracilis

Carex texensis (shade)

Choose Alternative Turf SpeciesCarex pansa and C. praegracilis

A web site said Carex pansa (left) & C.

praegracilis (rt.), but natural variations occur

C. praegracilis,mowed & unmowed

Carex Species Used for Turf

C. praegracilis Clustered field sedge C. pansa Sand-dune sedge C. texensis Catlin sedge

-better for shade?

Sedge family (likenutsedge) – triangularStems & seeds

Carex Turf SpeciesCharacteristics

Native throughout U.S. and Calif. Taxonomy is ambiguous; much variation Most in hort. trade were collected from

dunes in Central Calif. coast Some say Greenlee Nursery C. pansa may

be C. praegracilis Very drought tolerant Summer dormancy – Stays green with irrig.

1 plant per 3-4 in. (up to 6 in.)= 4-16 plugs/sq. ft.

Price = $0.35 per plug 512 sq. ft. x 4 plugs = 2,048 plugs 512 sq. ft. x 16 plugs = 8,192 plugs Shipping = $25 (min. order; higher

cost for shipping farther) Total = $717 to $2,867

Carex praegracilisApproximate Price (Native Sons Nursery)

Carex Turf SpeciesKey Nurseries & Info

Native Sons Nursery (Arroyo Grande) Greenlee Nursery (Chino)

Clarification of C. pansa vs. C. praegracilis:Internet search:“A Sedge by Another Name…Is Confusing”

Landscape to Reduce WasteGrasscycle

Landscape to Reduce Waste Prune Selectively and Properly

NO! YES

Landscape to Reduce Waste Water and Fertilize Judiciously

Landscape to Reduce WasteProduce Mulch or Request from Tree

Company

Landscape to Reduce WasteComposting

Leaves (30-80:1)

Straw (40-100:1)

Paper (150-200:1)

Sawdust (100-500:1)

Animal bedding mixed with manure (30-80:1)

High carbon materials such as:

Making CompostBrowns

Vegetable scraps (12-20:1)

Coffee grounds (20:1)

Grass clippings (12-25:1)

Manure– Cow (20:1)

– Horse (25:1)– Poultry (10:1), with litter

(13-18:1)– Hog (5-7:1)

High nitrogen materials such as:

Making CompostGreens

Browns• Decay very slowly

• Coarse browns can keep pile aerated

• Tend to accumulate in the fall

• Tie up nitrogen in soil if not fully composted

• May need to stockpile until can mix with greens

Greens• Decay rapidly

• Poor aeration – may have foul odors if used alone

• Tend to accumulate in spring and summer

• Supply nitrogen for composting

• Best composting if mixed with browns

Making CompostBrowns vs. Greens

Aerobic Composting

Composting with decomposers that need air (oxygen)

The fastest way to make high quality compost

Produces no foul odors Aerobic decomposers

produce heat (140F+)

Is Shredding Necessary?

Smaller particles have greater surface area, decompose faster

Allows microbes to get at more of the food

Many Types of Composters

BinsTumblers

Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy

Reuse & relocateexisting plants

Reuse construction materials

Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy

Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy

Reuse constructionmaterials

Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy

Reuse construction

materials

Rebuy

Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy

Use recycled products (e.g., “Trex”, “Rumber”)

1 ton of source-reduced wood product =1.1 tons of timber saved from harvest

4 tons of harvested trees is about 1 acre of forest

One of the largest tire piles in Calif. measured 40 acres in size and 6 stories deep

Landscape to Reduce WasteReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy

Rebuy

StopWaste.org / Bay-Friendly Landscaping & Gardening

www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=8 River-Friendly Landscaping (Sacramento)

www.msa.saccounty.net/sactostormwater/RFL/ CalRecycle / Sustainable Landscaping (CIWMB)

www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Organics/ EcoLandscape.org

www.ecolandscape.org The Sustainable Sites Initiative

www.sustainablesites.org

Landscape to Reduce WasteResources