Lecture 22: Common Landscape and Turf Practices

Outline of Topics

1. Plant Installation
      - General planting instructions
      - Importance of correct planting depth
      - Types of plants: Bare root, containerized, bald and burlapped
      - Recommendations from various sources (University of California, Arbor Day Foundation, etc.)

2. Specific Plant Installation Practices
      - Digging the planting hole
        - Dimensions: 2 to 3 times the width of the root ball
        - Depth: At least as deep as the root ball, ideally up to 1.5 times deeper.
      - Adjustments for large shrubs and trees
      - Consideration of hardpan and soil compaction
      

3. Backfill Soil and Soil Amendments
      - Recommendations on adding organic matter and fertilizers
      - Research from University of California on soil amendment practices
      - The concept of not amending backfill soil to prevent poor root establishment.
      - Recommendation to amend the entire site instead of only backfill.
      

4. Planting High
      - Importance of planting height (2 inches above landscape soil)
      - Preventing settling issues and ensuring proper drainage
      - Importance of correct trunk flare exposure and avoiding soil buildup against the trunk.
      

5. Watering and Mulching Practices
      - Initial watering requirements post-planting
      - Recommended mulch application (3 to 6 inches, away from the trunk)
      - Maintaining soil moisture during dormancy.
      

6. Staking Recommendations
      - Removing nursery stakes at planting time
      - Proper placement of new stakes to allow trunk flexing
      - Monitoring stakes and ties for optimal tree growth.
      

7. Pruning and Training
      - Minor pruning at planting time for potential hazards
      - Noticing and correcting codominant leaders in young trees
      - Clarification on extensive pruning in future lectures.
      

8. Fertilizing Practices
      - Types of fertilizers necessary for nonflowering trees
      - Importance of checking soil health for nutrient adequacy.
      - Fertilizing flowering trees versus nonflowering ones.
      - Knowing when to apply fertilizers based on plant growth cycles.
      

9. Watering Practices
      - Frequency of watering and assessing drought conditions
      - Importance of soil health for proper water retention and management
      

10. Turf Installation
        - Types: seeding, hydroseeding, and sod
        - Importance of soil preparation and testing for successful turf establishment
        - Proper grading and irrigation setup before turf installation.
        

11. Turf Maintenance Practices
        - Mowing: Height considerations based on use and grass species.
        - Recommended mowing frequencies, heights, and impacts on grass health
        - Importance of maintaining sharp mower blades to prevent grass stress.
        - Understanding grass cycling to enhance organic matter return to soil.
        

12. Mower Maintenance
        - Routine maintenance recommendations for mower longevity
        - Changing oil, cleaning air filters, and other maintenance chores
        - Importance of managing mower types (electric vs gas).
        

13. Soil Health Maintenance
        - Periodic dethatching and aeration for maintaining turf health
        - Top dressing with compost after dethatching and aeration to improve soil

Conclusion

• Importance of managing landscape practices to ensure plant health and sustainability.

• Students invited to ask questions through various modes of communication.

• Reminder about proper timing for residential landscaping in the context of seasons.