landscape soils management
Post on 10-Jun-2015
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Midwest Trading Horticultural Supplies Inc.
Kevin Donnelly CH Horticultural Soil Scientist
Ryan Wagner MT Sales Representative
soil_photo, credit: http://www.co.nrcs.usda.gov]
Landscape Soils Management
• Know your soil, Know Success
• Make soils a part of the plan
• Tips on selling the “soil” component of landscape projects
Your Take Home Today
What Can Go Wrong
• Poor quality plants
• Poor plant selection
• Improper
maintenance
• Poor soil conditions
http://www.phillipsgardens.co.uk/gallery.html
Soil Best Management Practices
• Needs to be site specific• There are some generalities, but you need tailor it to the
needs of the project
• Test, Test, Test
• Plan for the soil• We should put as much care into soil health as we do
plant selection and placement
On Site BMPs• New Construction• Retain and protect native topsoil & vegetation (esp Trees)• Minimize construction footprint• Store and reuse topsoil from site• Retain “buffer” vegetation along waterways
• Restore disturbed soils by tilling 2-4” of compost into upper 8-12” of soil. Rip to loosen compacted layers
• Existing Landscapes• Retrofit soils with tilled-in compost when re-landscaping • Mulch beds with organic mulches (bark mulch, leaf
mulch, compost amendments), and top-dress turf with compost
• Avoid overuse of chemicals, which may damage soil lifeBuilding soil-foundations for success soilsforsalmon.org
Testing
• What kind of testing is needed?• Basic testing• Heavy metals• TACO
• http://urbanext.illinois.edu/soiltest/
• There can be variability between labs
• Need testing on your inputs as well• You could be adding to a problem with the wrong
fertilizer or amendment
Testing, one size doesn’t fit all• Determine what tests are needed for the project
intent
• Determine what lab to work with for analysis
• Be sure the samples are collected according to the quantity and method required by the lab, and analysis to be performed.
• Submit them with plenty of lead time for the specific project.
Soil pH
www.extension.org
16 Essential Plant Nutrients• Carbon C• Hydrogen H• Oxygen O
• Macro Nutrents• Nitrogen N• Phophorus P• Potassium K• Calcium Ca• Magnesium Mg• Sulfur S
• Micro Nutrients• Boron B• Chlorine Cl• Copper Cu• Iron Fe• Manganese Mn• Molybdenum Mo• Zinc Zn
Cation Exchange Capacity
Soil texture CEC (meq/100g
soi)
Sands (light-colored) 3-5
Sands (dark-colored) 10-20
Loams 10-15Silt loams 15-25
Clay and clay loams 20-50
Organic soils 50-100
http://soils.tfrec.wsu.edu/webnutritiongood/soilprops/04CEC.htm
Soil Texture
Soil Texture
Porosity and Permeability• Permeability, or the ability of water to move
through soil and at what rate, is directly influenced by porosity
• Porosity is determined by the size, texture and structure of particles as well as the type and distribution of organic matter
• Fine texture hold more water • Coarse Drain less• Medium textured soils can do both
Simple Field test for Permeability• What you need
• Use large empty can, open on both ends (coffee can or equivalent)
• Ruler• Timer• Water
• Drive can into soil so that there is at least 3in below and above ground
• Tamp down area around can to seal• Make sure to saturate soil area first to ensure
you are seeing infiltration vs going into dry soil• Measure how far the water level drops in 1, 2, 3
hours• Good way to get estimate of inches per hour of
infiltration
>3in above
>3in below
Bulk Density and Compaction
• Bulk density is measure of mass per unit volume• Lbs/cf• g/cm3
• Compaction increase bulk density and can be detrimental to plant material and trees
• Adding organic matter and other soil buiding activities lower bulk density
Organic matter• Organic matter vs. Organic material
• Types of Organic materials• Compost (a verb not a noun)• Pine bark• Spent mushroom substrate• Mulch products
• Cheap amendments and mulches may be just that. Inexpensive ok, but don’t sacrifice quality with cheap, that’s not why you are here
Organic Amendments
• Supports soil organisms - Restores soil life
• Buffers pH, acid or alkaline toward optimal 6.3-6.8
• Reduces bulk density (compaction)
• Improves water holding capacity
• Improves soil structure• Increases CEC, nutrient storage
and availability
Create a soil management plan• Make soil a priority on any landscape project
plan• Do on-site evaluations of soil conditions and
needs• Test, test, test• Establish expectation with customers, employees
and subcontractors that a soil management plan must be followed• If other contractors on job compact the soil,
your plants and design will suffer• Source material from predictable and reputable
sources and suppliers
Job specification• A job specification is a requirement not a suggestion• They can be convoluted , contradictory and unattainable• There can be hidden testing and sampling costs that are
easily overlooked• Specified soils and amendments are not necessarily
waiting for you to order, they may have to be engineered on a job specific basis which takes time
• So…• Communicate• Anticipate• Plan accordingly
Selling soil quality to your customer
• More marketable buildings• Better erosion control• Easier planting, healthier plants, fewer call backs• More attractive landscapes, that sell the next job • Easier maintenance for customers (healthier plants,
fewer weeds, less need for water, fertilizer, pesticides)• Reduce storm water runoff, with better water
quality• Regulatory compliance (current and upcoming
regulations)
Selling soil quality to your customer
• Value to builder/contractor• Less plant loss = fewer callbacks• Quicker planting in prepped soil• Easier maintenance• Better appearance sells next job
• Sell quality & savings to customer• Better plant survival/ health/ growth/
appearance• Lower water bills, easier care• Reduced chemical needs = better for family
health• Reduces storm runoff, improves water quality
Value of a Healthy Soil• Billions of soil organisms• Support healthy plant grower, fertilize, protect
plants from disease• Create soil structure, resist compaction• Provide stormwater infiltration• Prevent Erosion• Reduce summer water needs• Filter out pollutants (oil, meatals, pesticieds,
etc.)• Reduce need for landscape chemicals
Thank You
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