Louisiana Yards & Neighborhoods Introduction Planning Your Louisiana-Friendly Yard

About the LY&N Program The goal is to encourage homeowners to create and maintain landscapes in ways that minimize environmental damage/impact through educational programs and outreach activities. Implemented through parish LSU AgCenter Extension agents with the support of LSU AgCenter Louisiana Master Gardener volunteers. The goal is to encourage homeowners to create and maintain landscapes in ways that minimize environmental damage/impact through educational programs and outreach activities. Implemented through parish LSU AgCenter Extension agents with the support of LSU AgCenter Louisiana Master Gardener volunteers.

There are 7 interrelated principles 1.Right plant, right place 2.Water efficiently 3.Maximize mulch and recycling yard waste 4.Fertilize appropriately 5.Manage yard pests 6.Protect surface waters and wetlands 7.Provide for beneficial wildlife habitat 1.Right plant, right place 2.Water efficiently 3.Maximize mulch and recycling yard waste 4.Fertilize appropriately 5.Manage yard pests 6.Protect surface waters and wetlands 7.Provide for beneficial wildlife habitat

Using the Handbook It is organized into two sections –The first introductory section contains background information and will be covered in this training session. –The second offers detailed descriptions of the 7 basic LY&N principles. It is organized into two sections –The first introductory section contains background information and will be covered in this training session. –The second offers detailed descriptions of the 7 basic LY&N principles.

From Yard to Waterway Rain that falls on yards, roads and parking lots can wash into waterways or leach into ground water, carrying pollutants. In particular, improperly applied fertilizers and pesticides from urban and suburban residential areas can play a role in polluting Louisiana’s waters. Rain that falls on yards, roads and parking lots can wash into waterways or leach into ground water, carrying pollutants. In particular, improperly applied fertilizers and pesticides from urban and suburban residential areas can play a role in polluting Louisiana’s waters.

The ideal Louisiana-Friendly Yard should reflect the beauty of natural habitats and ecosystems in our state. To be effective, landscapes should be created and maintained by practices that have a low impact on the environment, such as –

Cooperate with pre-existing natural conditions instead of altering them or changing them to suit the desires of the gardener or needs of plants not suited for those conditions. Conserve water and energy. Use more native species, like Louisiana irises. And plant native and non-native plants that require minimal water, fertilizers and pesticides in the right growing conditions. Cooperate with pre-existing natural conditions instead of altering them or changing them to suit the desires of the gardener or needs of plants not suited for those conditions. Conserve water and energy. Use more native species, like Louisiana irises. And plant native and non-native plants that require minimal water, fertilizers and pesticides in the right growing conditions.

Louisiana Irises Iris spp. and hybrids About 2’ to 5’ Very showy colorful flowers March through April Tolerant of standing water or drier conditions Active growth fall through spring Spreads slowly by rhizome About 2’ to 5’ Very showy colorful flowers March through April Tolerant of standing water or drier conditions Active growth fall through spring Spreads slowly by rhizome

Choose plants that are appropriate and attractive but also provide environmental benefits, such as food for wildlife. Tolerate some pest damage in the landscape and focus on gardening techniques that reduce pest problems. Use pesticides only when necessary, follow label directions and choose the least toxic products that will do the job. Choose plants that are appropriate and attractive but also provide environmental benefits, such as food for wildlife. Tolerate some pest damage in the landscape and focus on gardening techniques that reduce pest problems. Use pesticides only when necessary, follow label directions and choose the least toxic products that will do the job.

Creating Louisiana-Friendly Yards When designing a landscape more in harmony with the environment, you should consider: 1.Your family’s needs and desires. 2.The conditions of your site. 3.Maintaining a healthy environment. When designing a landscape more in harmony with the environment, you should consider: 1.Your family’s needs and desires. 2.The conditions of your site. 3.Maintaining a healthy environment.

Proper Planning is Critical Selecting the style –Guides the esthetic aspects of the design –Should be influenced by the architecture of the house For the LY&N program, informal, naturalistic or ecological (appropriate for Louisiana) styles would be most appropriate. Avoid formal styles as they increase maintenance. Selecting the style –Guides the esthetic aspects of the design –Should be influenced by the architecture of the house For the LY&N program, informal, naturalistic or ecological (appropriate for Louisiana) styles would be most appropriate. Avoid formal styles as they increase maintenance.

Naturalistic/Ecological Use of native plants and well adapted introduced plants in a setting that duplicates naturalistic settings, such as woodlands, meadows, ponds, bogs, etc. Uses natural settings as an example to follow. Use of native plants and well adapted introduced plants in a setting that duplicates naturalistic settings, such as woodlands, meadows, ponds, bogs, etc. Uses natural settings as an example to follow.

Informal Relaxed style that makes use of graceful curving lines and naturalistic shapes. Plants are allowed to develop more natural forms. Lower maintenance. Casual building materials and styles. Relaxed style that makes use of graceful curving lines and naturalistic shapes. Plants are allowed to develop more natural forms. Lower maintenance. Casual building materials and styles.

Formal Straight lines and strict geometric shapes. Plants clipped and pruned into architectural geometric shapes. Symmetry. Crisp, formal building materials such as milled, painted wood, brick, flagstones, etc. Higher maintenance. Straight lines and strict geometric shapes. Plants clipped and pruned into architectural geometric shapes. Symmetry. Crisp, formal building materials such as milled, painted wood, brick, flagstones, etc. Higher maintenance.

Landscape Design Landscape design combines art and science to create a functional, aesthetically pleasing and ecologically sound landscape that meets the needs of the family and complements the home and other structures. Elements of art, such as color, form, line and texture, interact with design principles of unity, balance, simplicity and focus. Landscape design combines art and science to create a functional, aesthetically pleasing and ecologically sound landscape that meets the needs of the family and complements the home and other structures. Elements of art, such as color, form, line and texture, interact with design principles of unity, balance, simplicity and focus.

Decide what your landscape should provide for your family’s needs, and include those in the plan. Examples of needs include: –Play area –Shade –Privacy –Flowers/Color –Outdoor living: patio, deck –Utility/Work area, compost –Look at what you need; it will be different for each family Examples of needs include: –Play area –Shade –Privacy –Flowers/Color –Outdoor living: patio, deck –Utility/Work area, compost –Look at what you need; it will be different for each family

In the LY&N program, other needs might include: Habitat for wildlife Food for wildlife Water for wildlife Minimize maintenance Reduce water runoff Habitat for wildlife Food for wildlife Water for wildlife Minimize maintenance Reduce water runoff

SOIL The foundation of healthy plants

Improving the soil Organic Matter –Compost, aged manure, leaf mold, composted pine bark, soil conditioner Sand Fertilizer Lime Have soil tested Choose plants adapted to the type of soil you have. Organic Matter –Compost, aged manure, leaf mold, composted pine bark, soil conditioner Sand Fertilizer Lime Have soil tested Choose plants adapted to the type of soil you have.

Deciding which plants to keep when redesigning an existing landscape. You do not have to leave a plant in a landscape simply because it is there. But you should consider very carefully before removing plants, particularly trees and shrubs. If you decide to make changes or redesign your landscape, it’s important to determine what you will keep and what will be removed/replaced. Here are some guidelines. You do not have to leave a plant in a landscape simply because it is there. But you should consider very carefully before removing plants, particularly trees and shrubs. If you decide to make changes or redesign your landscape, it’s important to determine what you will keep and what will be removed/replaced. Here are some guidelines.

Keep healthy plants that show good form and are in desirable locations. Prune overgrown trees and shrubs if necessary to make them more suitable for the new landscape.

When developing a lot with existing trees: Retain trees with long life spans, such as live oaks, Southern magnolia and bald cypress. Mature short-lived trees are less desirable, such as water oaks, silver maple and flowering pears.

Also, when developing a wooded lot save clusters of trees and the plants growing beneath them rather than individual trees. Clusters of trees are more resistant to high winds and are usually more attractive. Avoid damaging trees during construction.

Proper Tree Planting

Look Up Check for overhead wires, power lines, security lights and buildings that a tree could interfere with as it grows larger. You must anticipate the MATURE SIZE of the tree when choosing a species and deciding on a spot for it in the landscape. Check for overhead wires, power lines, security lights and buildings that a tree could interfere with as it grows larger. You must anticipate the MATURE SIZE of the tree when choosing a species and deciding on a spot for it in the landscape.

Dig The Hole Find The Root Flare Place the Tree into the Hole Fill the Planting Hole with Backfill Soil Generously Water the Tree In Mulch Around the Tree Stake the Tree, if Necessary Dig The Hole Find The Root Flare Place the Tree into the Hole Fill the Planting Hole with Backfill Soil Generously Water the Tree In Mulch Around the Tree Stake the Tree, if Necessary

Watering New Trees Most critical the first summer after planting. Water two to three times a week during hot, dry weather (consider rainfall). At each watering, apply about 1-2 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter directly to the root ball. Add water slowly so that it seeps into the root ball. Watch for drought stress symptoms, such as wilting, scorched leaf edges, poor color and leaf drop. Most critical the first summer after planting. Water two to three times a week during hot, dry weather (consider rainfall). At each watering, apply about 1-2 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter directly to the root ball. Add water slowly so that it seeps into the root ball. Watch for drought stress symptoms, such as wilting, scorched leaf edges, poor color and leaf drop.

Hire Reputable Professionals Must be licensed by the state –Horticulture License –Landscape Contractors License –Landscape Architect License –Commercial Pesticide Applicators License, Category 3 Ornamentals and Turf Must be licensed by the state –Horticulture License –Landscape Contractors License –Landscape Architect License –Commercial Pesticide Applicators License, Category 3 Ornamentals and Turf