SOIL TESTING USE OF NATIVE AND NEARLY- NATIVE PLANTS SOIL TESTING - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

SOIL TESTING USE OF NATIVE AND NEARLY- NATIVE PLANTS

SOIL TESTING

UN UNIVER IVERSIT SITY OF OF IDAH AHO O EXT XTENSION NSION

ASL lab at UI Moscow

• Free test kits at UI Extension in CDA
• Test fees
• Consultation in CDA
• Suggestions:
• Avoid collection mishaps
• Test all soil. Topsoil & compost for your clients - turf, landscape

beds and esp. vegetable garden areas. Small price to pay for their happiness, healthy plants, sustainable landscape = referrals

Questions I studied related to two types of DIY tests:

SOIL TESTING, CONT.

DI DIY KITS TS FROM OM TH THE HA HARD RDWARE ARE STOR ORE

▪ Sufficient guidance for homeowners to produce an adequate sample ▪

Sometimes

▪ Can the average homeowner interpret test results, based on info

contained in the test?

▪

Not really

▪ How do the DIY kits results compare with UI Analytical Lab results ▪

Poorly; less precise, high variability, but less expensive

To succeed we need to redesign residential landscapes to:

• 1. Support diverse pollinator populations

and complex food webs

• 2. Store carbon
• 3. Better manage our watersheds

LET'S LOOK MORE AT CONSERVATION GOALS

RATHER THAN JUST PLANTING ONLY NATIVES, THAT’S NOT ALWAYS RE REALI ALISTIC TIC

How?

Plants and the design of these plants, accomplish these goals.

NATIVES AND NEARLY-NATIVES

• Native Landscaping – Nativ

tive e land andscaping scaping ref efer ers s to th the d e des esign, ign, construction, struction, and nd ma maint intenanc enance e of landscapes ndscapes th that t us use n e nati ative e (indi ndigenous genous) pl plants ants.

• Naturalized Landscaping – Naturalized Landscaping refers to design, construction,

and maintenance of landscapes that use native (indigenous) plants and nd non-na nativ tive e pl plant ants s in a way y th that t mi mimi mics cs nature ture wi with th a go goal l of achie hieving ving su sust stain ainability ability.

• Native plants have evolved with our area and with the insects and wildlife they

sustain.

• IT’S NOT LOW MAINTENCE OR SUSTAINABLE IF YOU PUT THE WRONG PLANT IN THE

WRONG PLACE

• Do your research on plant needs and micro-site conditions
• Match the client’s goals and expectations

“NATIVE” PLANTS

Natives – Challenges Definition of “native” to your clients Genetic Diversity Inconsistent plant size and shape Flower color Flower timing and duration Brainchild of Dr. Steven Love @ UI Boise Developed by Native Roots, LLC

NATIVES AND NEARLY-NATIVES

OUR PERSPCTIVE…

DI DISTRI TRIBUTERS, BUTERS, DE DEMO O GAR ARDE DEN N AN AND MY D MY YAR ARD D

• Adapted to the area
• Easier to grow/maintain
• Consistent growth habit
• Long bloom times
• Season-long aesthetics
• Flower as young plants
• Good overwintering survival
• Native plants = habitat for native wildlife,

especially, pollinators

NATIVE ROOTS TAG MEANS…

• Predictable “native” plants
• Diverse plant pallet

▪ 30 in 2015, expand over time (200+ in

que)

• Disease resistance
• Long bloom periods
• Adapted to the area
• Hardy plants, good survival
• Wildlife habitat

• The

e Pol

• llin

inati ation

• n

Pr Proj

• ject

ect an and Univ d Univer ersi sity ty

• f
• f Id

Idah aho

• De

Demo mons nstr trat atio ion n Ga Garde den n in insp spir ires a es and nd ed educ ucat ates ou es our reg egio ion n ab about

• ut pol
• lli

linat nator

• rs

s an and d ec ecos

• sys

ystem ems pr s prese esent nt in in h hea ealth thy, , in inno novat ativ ive e gar arde dens ns an and d lan ands dsca capes pes.

• Native-nearly native

plant display showing how you can achieve support for pollinators and their necessary habitat with accessible plants available to homeowners

• Demo reducing

pesticides

• Raise native bees

THE POLLINATION PROJECT