Cheon, 4 ep ed CgTABLE OF CONTENTS Sastainable Landscapes & Gardens Unit 1: Armchair Science Chapter 1 An Introduction — Why You Need This Book Chaprer2 Scientific Literacy ~ Becoming a Citizen Scientist Chapter 3 Sustainability — Application in Landscapes & Gardens Chapter 4 Basie Plant Science ~Structures & Functions Chapter 5 Identifying Plants - Using Keys & Keen Observation, Glossary Unit 2: Before You Plant Chapter 6 Urban Soil ~ Management Chapter’? ‘The Lay of the Land — Site Analysis & Soil Preparation Chaprer8 Plant Choices ~ Natives or Introductions? Chapter) Invasive Omamentals — When Good Plants Go Bad Chapter 10 Plant Propagation ~ Techniques & Nurseries Unit 3: Planting - Taking The Plunge Chapter II Selecting Quality Plants ~ Better Long-Term Value & Satisfaction ‘Chapter 12 Installation andl Aftercare — Permanent Landscapes Chapter 13 Plant Nutrition ~ Mineral Function & Fertilizer Application Chapter [4 WaterWise Landscaping — Protecting Resources & Your Wallet Chapter 15 Sustainable Pruning ~ Woody Landscape Plants Unit 4: What's Wrong With My Plant? ‘Chapter 16 Using IPM in Yardscapes — Responsible Pest Management Chapter 1? Diagnosing Plant Stress— Living & Nonliving Causes ‘Chapter {8 Understanding Pesticides - To Spray or Not to Spray ‘Chapter 19 Plane Diseases ~ Diagnosis & Treatment Unit 5: Bugs, Varmints & Weeds Chapter 20” Basic Entomology ~ Anatomy, Development & Identification Chapter 21 Managing Verrebrates— tn the Garden & Landscape Chapter 22 Weeds ~ Managing “Out of Place” Plants [supplemental Unit S11 1 Agricultural Soils 2. Compesting 3 Mulches [supplemental Unit S2] 1 Berries, Grapes and Sanall Fruits 2. Greenhouse Management 3 Home Orchards 4 Vegetable Gardens [supplemental Unit 3] 1 Annual Plants 2. Herbaceous Ornamentals 3 Lawn and Tun 4 Fire-wise Landscapes 5 Tree Hazards COVER PHOTO: Versatile ferns add cool color and intricate textures to landscapes.Selecting Quality Plants Better Long Term Value & Satisfaction Linda ChalkerScott Rita L. Hummel Washing State Univrsiy Washington Sate Uriverscy hhoosing quality plant material must begin with choosing a qual- ity nursery. Although you may still find poor quality stock in any nursery, those that are owned and managed by horticulture pro- fessionals are more likely to refund your money or otherwise ad- dress your problems. Most retail nurseries do not have their own production facilities and therefore purchase plant material from whole- sale producers. Good nurseries usually have experienced plant buyers who travel to the production nursery and select plants to be shipped to their ‘own nursery forsale to the public. Untrained people who own and manage nhutseries asa bobby or an investment are not likely to understand much of the soil and plant sciences related to selecting, installing, and managing landscape plant materials. ‘When visiting 2 nutsery for the first time, you should first get the "big picture” view before looking for your favorite plants. Walk around the different areas of the nursery: Are the grounds well maintained, or are there signifcane numbers of weeds in walkways, beds, or containers? Have plants fallen over and not been set upright within a reasonable petiod of time? Signs of neglect on a large scale will almost guarantee that plant material will be likewise neglected to the extent that plants may not be watered, fertilized, or potted up at appropriate times. Finally, take a closer look at individual plants of various sizes and spe- cies. Do they appear to be properly watered and fertilized (eg. is the soil moist and does the foliage appear healthy)? Are they free of disease ot insect pests? While you don't want to be purchasing infested materials, the complete absence of insects can also signify overuse of pesticides in the nursery Assessing shoot quality ‘You will most likely be purchasing either containerized or balled- and-burlapped (B&B) plant materials, though bare-root and povin-pot ‘materials are becoming inereasingly common. In any case, you will need ‘to assess several trunk and crown characteristics that can help ensure a healthy plant. First, observe the entite plant, noting especially the height relative to the container size (Figure 1). There is no magie ratio, but be aware that taller plants have larger root volumes, and those found in small pots will usually reveal root systems that have structural defects (discussed helow). Inother words, plants that have nor been potted up ina timely manner will have the appearance of being top-heavy and should be avoided if possible. Tn your overall assessment, look closely for signs of damage (Figure 2a) or disease (Figure 2b). Though usually culled by the nursery, such specimens can occasionally be found and should not be purchased. SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES & GARDENS a Flanting—Taking he Plunge In This Chapter Assessing shoot quality Assessing r00t quality Figare 1 “This sapling sto tal containes andi likely thatthe roots wl already be circling Selecting Quatty Plants. 1 AFigure Z Figare 3 The trunk of this grafted tree Vine maple isa good example of a ay have been damaged (a) dur- naturally multi-tunked species. ing shipping and should not be purchased. It also has disease at the grafting point (b).. es develop included bark where branches fuse to each other. Figare 4 “Topping this pine has resulted in rulple new leaders sprouting 11-2 Selecting Quatity Plants Planing—Taking the Panga Look at the overall shape of your tree of shrub, Unless it is naturally a multitrunked species (Figure 3), it should not have multiple Tead- cers (Figure 4). Multiple leaders, ex pecially those with acute branch angles, can develop included bark (Figure 5). While it might seem that the fusion of bark would make a sturier tee, in reality this is avery weak attachment and suseeptible to breaking as the tree becomes larg et (The supplemental chapter Tree Hazards discusses this further) In stead, it should have a strong cen- tral leader with branches well dis- tributed along the crunk (Figure 6). ‘Aree that has been obvious ly topped during nursery produc- tion should be avoided at all costs (Figure 7). Left uncorrected, this common pruning practice induces ‘excessive sprouting (Figure 8), de- stroys the natural growth habit of the plant, and is widely discredited by certified arborists and other hor ticuleural professionals. Young trees ave often exeuerent in growth form, developing decurrent character. istics only as they mature (refer 10 Chapter 4 for photographs of these tree forms). Unless you are practicing bonsai or some other high-maintenance pruning technique (Chapter 15), you should never alter normal tree development to create miniature adults. Trees treated in this man- net, unless they are correctively pruned and restored, cannot regain their normal form and will become a high-maintenance nightmare. You should not waste your money fon plants that have been treated this way either atthe production or retail nursery Now observe the root flare of your tree or shrub. This is the point where the trunk meets the roots and is obviously wider chan the rest of the trunk (Figure 9). In many spec- imens, especially B&B trees, you tight not be able ta find the root flare. This is because many trees and shrubs are situated too deeply in ‘SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES & GARDENS @Figure 6 Figure 7 ‘Good quality rees in large contain Figure 8 This improperly pruned Japanese Multiple new leaders on another fers have straight central leaders maple will never eogain its natural ‘with lower branches left inta form without corrective pruning. topped maple are unattractive and will cause problems as they grow. Figure 9 Figure 10 "The visible root flare of this tree demonstrates that it’s been potted at the appropriate level. ‘This tee is buried too deeply— its impossible to know where the roots begin. SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES & GARDENS. Planing —Taking the Punge Selecting Quality Plants 11-3Figare 11 "Trunk rot on a B&B tree buried too deeply. Figares 130-13b (Gently peel away the burlap from the trunk (a) v0 thatthe bark can be inpected, Avoid tees with wet 11-4 setocting Quatty Plants Figure 12 “The trunk ofthis weeping larch has been completely girled by rot eaused by improper kagsing- Figare 14 ‘Note the difference in trunk firth atthe top and bottom of the ‘photo: this tree has good taper. the container, with soil andor bur lap covering the root flare (Figure 10). In time, most species buried too decply will develop trunk rot (Figure 11) and can even become completely girdled (Figure 12) by the twine around the buslap. This