landscape management final exam review

tina cade TXST spring 2023 AG 4304

areas l. manager maintains

duties conducted + frequency

grounds checked for debris-- every visit

apply mulch--3-4/yr

tree pruning--depends on the age

shrubs/landscape beds-- pruning, trimming \[2-3/season\], fert, weed control

soil testing--as needed, 2-3 years

dormant oil spray--winter

soil sterilants

turf/ground covers

edging--4-6 mowings

initial mowing/dethatch--1/yr

aeration--2+/yr

start-up and service checks

prep of rec facilities

pH maintenance--every 2-4 yr

weed control

disease/pest control

trees

hard surfaces

wood, metal, glass signage--2-3 yrs

first landscape managers

gardeners for aristocracy’s estates

when did the field change and why

WWII

increased $ → more homeowners

1960s--what happened to the field

major growth;

increased leisure time, status symbol/TV, improved wages, new equipment, improved chem formulas

specialty vs full service

specialty: specific tasks, specialized in a specific area

full-service: all areas

steps to evaluate site related problems

plant name?

common pests?

how long has it been established?

specific site req./intolerances?

what happens where soil meets stem?

recent disturbances?

soil under the root ball?

herbicides recently used?

extremely wet site for extended times of year?

unusual weather recently?

other unusual activities?

pruning tools

in order from smallest to largest:

pinching: with fingers

hand pruners: ≤ 0.75” D

loppers: 0.75--1.5” D

pole pruner: ≤2” D -- for higher

chainsaw: 6-18” D

hedge shears: not used for pruning trees and shrubs, used to shape

when to prune plants

very early spring or fall

not during bud break

why prune?

retain natural shape, enhance character

remove damaged, diseased, suckering growth

direct or confine growth

encourage new growth

encourage flowering/fruiting

how do plants heal

meristematic cells divided, form a circle of raised tissue → callus, suberin forms “cork”

rate of healing is related to the _______________________ of the tree

health and growth

terminal/apical bud vs lateral bud

terminal: on top

lateral: on sides near petiole

bark included/inclusion

happens when angle of branch is way too acute \[V shape\]--weakens the tree substantially

stub cut

when cut is made way too far outside of branch ridge/collar; leaves a stub \[far left on diagram\]

epicormic growth

shoots from bark due to damage or stress

pruning vs shearing

pruning = health

shearing = looks

what happens when cavity is formed in tree? causes?

causes: incorrect pruning--flush cuts \[far right image\], physical wound to trunk

wood decaying fungi, bacteria, wildlife exacerbates

larger the area exposed → more pest risk, slower healing, portion of heartwood can be removed, could collect moisture

carbon emissions of gas-powered landscape equipment make up ___% of urban air pollution

5%

residential app of pesticides = __ times more than farmers

10

urban heat island

when temps in cities > rural areas

* materials absorb, collect, and reflect heat
* stone, asphalt, concrete = high heat capacity

cooling effects of plants

* shade
* transpiration
* convection

point v. non-point-source pollution

* point: attributed to a source \[wastewater treatment plant\]
* non-point source: cannot be traced to a source

eutrophication

elevated levels of N and K in surface water

prevent/treat contaminated water by…

* stop using chemicals
* bioremediation/phytoremediation: use plants/bio-organisms to remove toxic substances
* bacteria
* plants
* prevent runoff
* rain garden
* bioswale
* green roof
* green walls
* design for water conservation
* xeriscaping
* rainwater collection
* effective irrigation
* reuse black/grey water

maintenance req of plants \[high to low\]

* turf
* plants req special care
* annual/perennial flowers
* groundcovers
* deciduous/evergreen shrubs
* evergreen trees
* deciduous trees

Benefits of mulch

* reduces evaporation
* suppresses weeds
* reduced soil compaction
* reduced run-off
* weed barrier

pre-emergent vs. post-emergent \[weeds\]

pre-emergent = preventative

\
post-emergent = curative

Granular vs. liquid application \[weeds\]

liquid sprays tend to be more successful than their granular counterparts, simply because the liquid formulation is sprayed across the weed's leaf surface and does not rely on additional moisture to stick to the leaf. \[once dry, they stay on leaf even if rainfall occurs\], also quicker to kill

\
granular: must wait until lawn is wet, easier/faster to apply, typically includes fert, must stay adhered to targeted weeds for 48-72 hrs to be effective \[so need to think of future and time right\]

site design can affect maintenance

elevated turf, sheared edges, annual color, etc

rounded corners are easier to maintain compared to square

topography

* 0% → drainage problems
* 2-5% → optimum
* 15-20% → good visual effect
* 30% → Terraced or planted with ground cover

lawns provide __% the water absorption that woodlands do

10%

parts of a contract

* General scope
* specifications
* in case of contract breach
* cancellation req.
* signature line with title and corp. name

parts of general scope

* describe work
* duration of contract
* dimensions/location
* site inspections
* payment schedule (# of installments)

parts of specifications

* what is it?
* series of articles or paragraphs stipulating specific areas of responsibility
* est. limitations (where are we not expected to perform?)
* detailed -- freq of mowing/height of cut, etc
* title: site name, portions within the site
* location: exact address, legal description
* scope of work (pruning/shearing, turf, pesticide app, fert app, insurance/licenses, limitations?)
* general instructions -- measurable guidelines; How, What, When?
* safeguards: additional limitations of work (holidays, additional work, water/irrigation, adverse conditions, exclusions/limitations, etc.)

inspections happen….

monthly or bimonthly

* great for PR, making sure things are up to standard

if in case of contract breach…

legal arbitration __*not*__ in court with jury

* putting this info in the contract → protects agains clients breaking contract

Legal arbitration

invites 3rd party to settle disputes

environmentalism

*What does less harm?*

Win/Lose

3 paradigms of environmentalism

* protecting the earth so we can use it well into future
* respect for the intrinsic value of other species
* the interconnectedness of all living things

problems with environmentalism

* one size fits all solutions— don't fit all and often lead to unintended consequences
* not everyone has the resources/luxury to think about the environment

sustainability

*Do no harm*

neutral

triple bottom line

environmental, economic, social factors should equally contribute to decision making

other names: 3 p’s -- people, planet, profit; 3 e’s -- environment, equity, economy

LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

* checklist/points-based system
* tiers: certified, silver, gold, platinum

regenerative

*Positive outcomes for humans and the environment, need to improve the capacity of the environment to sustain life*

Win/Win

different levels of regenerative design

more of a spectrum than clear catagories

* restorative: restoration ecology; improves the land


* reconciliatory: win-win projects; land and lives of humans improve
* regenerative: the project is a system that continuously improves the environment so the impacts are exponential the longer it exists; human lives improve bc the environment does

xeriscaping

quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment

7 basic principles of xeriscaping

* good planting/design
* soil analysis
* appropriate plant selection
* practical turf areas
* efficient irrigation
* use mulch
* appropriate maintenance

zeroscape v. xeriscape

* zeroscape: a yard filled predominantly with gravel and dirt containing __*few or no plants*__
* xeriscape: a style of landscape design requiring little or no irrigation or other maintenance, used in arid regions; uses native plants, etc

benefits of xeriscape

* promotes water conservation
* results in attractive landscapes
* less maintenance
* includes plants adapted to local environment

quality characteristics of turf

* color
* texture
* density
* uniformity

T/F: thick leaved grass is higher quality than thin grass

FALSE

thatch

a layer of partially decomposed or undercomposed plant debris

* to control:
* core-aerification
* power-raking
* topdressing with compost/soil
* cultural practices causing it:
* overwatering
* too tall of grass

cool season turf

50-65º soil; 60-75º air

* poor - fair heat tolerance
* above avg low temp hardiness
* plant at least 45 days before the estimated date of your first fall frost, before soil and air temperatures drop to less favorable levels
* seed

warm season turf

70-90º soil; 80-95º air

* poor low temp hardiness
* great heat tolerance
* dormant at \~50º
* establish during the period of most active growth: late spring or early summer

ways to propagate turf

* sod: strips of turfgrass and soil
* plugs: small pieces of sod
* sprigs: pieces of stolons and rhizomes, growth from nodes

mowing effects

\
\
* higher shoot density


* < root/rhizome growth
* < food prod./photosynthetic area
* < leaf width \[finer texture\]
* higher leaf succulence

too short of grass leads to…

sparse coverage → weeds

\
crown damage → short root system → less photosynthetic area → stressed turf

too tall of grass leads to…

weedy appearance

greater thatch layer

less dense turf

You should never remove > ____ of the grass blade each time you mow it.

\
This is called the ___.

\
if turf is to be mowed to a 3” height, it should be mowed at ___” length.

Meaning __” should be removed

1/3; one-third rule; 4.5”; 1.5”

stressed turf is…

taller

seasons of turf and how short/long you can mow it

spring/fall = shorter

summer/warm/hot = taller

Mow when the grass is ____.

\
Use _______ for best cuts.

dry; sharp blades

soil compaction

result of excessive traffic

* top 2-3”

when to water turf

* deeply, infrequently
* early
* 1-1.5” a week
* 6” deep
* consistency = 🔑

symptoms of overwatered turf

\
* more thatch
* more mowing
* more clippings


* shallow root system
* more weeds


* insects/diseases

symptoms of underwatered turf

* open, sparse turf
* poor appearance
* more weeds

Fert requirements for turf

* low/medium quality → 2 applications/yr
* high quality → 3-4 app./yr.

When?

* late summer—sept
* early spring—feb
* late fall—nov
* early summer—may

symptoms/effects of soil compaction

* poor water infilitration and percolation
* poor root penetration
* increased sports injuries

How to fix soil compaction

* reduce traffic -- barrier planting, sandy soil for heavy use sites, permeable pavers
* mech cultivation -- coring/aerification

core aerification

* 1-6” apart
* 1/4 -- 3/4” Diam
* deeper = more effective

Why roll turf?

* evens out areas
* pushes roots into soil

\
use on new install sod--DONT USE ON WET SOIL

turf in shade

* moisture stress due to competition with trees
* avoid traffic
* fungicide
* trim branches to 10’ or selective prune (on trees nearby)
* remove fallen leaves, replace with groundcover
* cut turf taller
* raised 1”
* 2.5—3”
* upright growth habit
* more photosynthetic area
* deeper root system

herbicides

* preventative v. curative
* liquid v. granular
* selective v. non-selective
* organic v. chem

_____ irrigation helps reduce the amount of moisture available for weeds

drip

T/F: Plastic mulch is recommended for use as a barrier, as it increases the air exchange

False -- it reduces the air exchange

ex of warm season turfs

* st. augustine
* bermuda
* buffalo
* centipede
* tall fescue
* Zoysia japonica
* Zoysia matrella

ex of cool season turfs

* annual ryegrass
* perennial ryegrass
* rough bluegrass

Qs to ask before using pesticides

* Has the cause of the problem been accurately identified?
* Is it a serious problem that needs to be controlled?
* Are non-chemical control measures available?
* How toxic are the suggested chemicals to humans and the environment?
* Will the chemical leave a toxic residue?
* Are there any special health hazards to the applicator?

types of pesticides

* herbicides
* insecticides
* fungicides
* other

categories for pesticide use

* general use
* restricted use

pesticide applicator certification levels

* private applicator
* commercial applicator
* non-commercial applicator

You need to keep records of pesticide applications for ___ years

2

pesticide forms

granular

wettable powder

emulsifiable concentrate

You should always read the ______ on pesticides.

\
It is a _________ __and__ __________ contract.

label;

legal and binding

toxicity ratings

\
__*LD 50 = Dose that would be lethal to 50% + of a test population*__

***LOWER NUMBERS = MORE TOXIC***

\[because that means less of the poison is needed to kill you\]

* highly toxic—☠️
* LD 50 = 0-50 mg/kg
* moderately—warning
* LD 50 = 50-500 mg/kg
* low—caution
* LD 50 = 500-5000 mg/kg
* relatively non-toxic—no statement
* LD 50 = >5000 mg/kg

what to wear when handling pesticides

protective clothing

goggles

gloves

rubber shoes + apron

face shield

Why are pesticide adjuvants used?

* why use?
* Wetting ability/coverage
* control evaporation/volatilization
* adjust pH
* correct spray tank incompatibility problems
* reduce drift
* mark spray pattern

desirable properties of insecticides

* long residual effects
* cheap
* low toxicity to mammals
* selectivity

What are the three entranceways through which pesticides enter the body?

* mouth/oral
* skin/dermal
* lungs/inhalation

insecticide modes of action

* systemic: absorbed by and transported through plants; render some or all of a plant toxic to insects that feed on plant tissue.
* contact: kills its target insect by being absorbed through the cuticle or by blocking the spiracles, rather than by being ingested.
* stomach poison: ingested by a pest and absorbed into its body, causes its death.
* ovicide: kills eggs
* repellant: not designed to eliminate pests

common insecticides

* Organochlorine
* Organophosphates
* Carbamates
* Dinitrophenols
* Organotins
* Fipronil

conventional vs. biorational insecticides

* conventional: broad spectrum, specific in the mode of action
* biorational: broad mode of action, specific target pest

Preen vs. corn gluten \[preventative\]

corn gluten: ORGANIC ALTERNATIVE

* pre-emergent herbicide through a mechanism that inhibits germinated weed seeds from establishing roots; NO POST-EMERGENT CONTROL
* timing applications correctly = tricky
* more expensive
* nitrogen in it gives weeds an advantage?
* may req repeated app for desired results
* can inhibit new turf grass seeds from becoming est

preen: CHEMICAL

* can stain hands and clothes
* not effective on all weeds
* prevents weeds from germ + can kill existing weeds
* not natural
* barrier broken → effectiveness diminished
* has trifluralin in it, which can cause cancer in humans \[if not applied correctly\]

Round-up vs. 2-4D

Round-up: glyphosate affects nearly all plants by disrupting a process that produces amino acids they need to survive. Glyphosate is also a systemic herbicide, meaning it is transported throughout the plant. As long as the dose is sufficient, it slowly kills every part of a plant, including the roots, rather than just the parts the spray touches.

2-4D: systemic like glyphosate, but it kills only broad-leaved plants. Glufosinate can kill all plants but only damages tissue it touches

To avoid pest resistance, you must ______ modes of activity.

rotate

organic pesticides production history

* **persistent pesticide**: stable in the environment and resists being broken down
* normally organochlorine pesticides
* ex: DDT, dioxins
* **bioconcentration**: the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, in an organism → concentration of a chemical is higher in the organism compared to the concentration of the chemical in the air/water around it
* **pest resistance**: a change in the sensitivity of a pest population to a pesticide, resulting in the failure of a correct application of the pesticide to control the pest %%__***example shown in photo diagram***__%%
* develops when the same/similar (with the same mode of action) pesticides are used repeatedly
* **pest resurgence**: the situation where insecticide application initially reduces an infestation, but soon afterward the pest rebounds (resurges) to higher levels than before treatment
* **secondary pests**: the resurgence of non-target pests; occurs when a pesticide is used to control the target pest, but afterward, a formerly insignificant pest replaces the target pest as an economic problem.

types of botanical insecticides

* nicotine → twitching/death
* pyrethrum/pyrethrin → paralysis
* rotenone → stomach/contact
* neem oil → stomach/contact/growth regulator

fungicides

preventative or curative

can be used as a protectant or eradicant

systemic \[soil drench\]

A Bordeaux mixture contains __ and is an example of a _.

copper; fungicide

how to store pesticides

* specific facility \[like a shed\]
* locked, isolated, separated
* noncombustible building
* concrete floor w plastic liner
* no windows
* vent and exhaust fans
* exterior decontamination area