 The #bosslady "works" in her backyard that she and the #bossman converted into a low-water use landscape via sheet-mulching. How to convert your turf into a low-water-use landscape.The number of people interested in reducing or eliminating their lawns is steadily increasing. Concerns about availability of water and water costs have many people wanting to convert their lawns into low- water-use landscapes, without it costing them an arm and a leg. The first, and often most daunting, task is to get rid of the established lawn. The three most common ways to eliminate turf are to kill it with herbicides, remove it with a sod-cutter, or cover it with sheet mulch. There are pros and cons to each method, but sheet mulching is gaining in popularity recently. Let’s look at each method. Using herbicides Use of a nonselective herbicide, such as glyphosate, will kill the lawn and all of the weeds. This method can be satisfying for those who want to quickly kill their lawns. However, herbicides will also damage or kill any trees and shrubs planted in the turf. And, using herbicides introduces an appreciable amount of toxic chemicals into the environment. If you choose to use this method to kill your lawn, make sure to closely follow all of the instructions on the herbicide label, use protective clothing and equipment, and apply the chemicals carefully, so they don’t drift into adjacent landscapes or bodies of water. And, although it is often human nature to think that if a little is good, more is better, this is not the case when applying herbicides. Overapplication and misuse of these chemicals compromise the health of people, plants and the environment. After killing the turf with herbicides, it needs to be pulled up, removed and disposed of before the area can be relandscaped. Using herbicides to kill turf can be expensive, because you need to purchase the herbicides and appropriate protective equipment. It is also labor-intensive because the dead lawn needs to be physically pulled up and removed. Still, it is one available option, particularly for those who want to get rid of their lawn quickly. Using a sod-cutter A less toxic and potentially less expensive method for removing turf is using a sod-cutter. A sod-cutter is a machine with a horizontal cutting blade that slices through the turf-soil interface at a specific depth. Sod-cutters can be rented by the hour at most equipment rental companies. Using a sod-cutter is also a quick removal method, and it does not require the use of chemicals. But, the machines can be difficult to push. And, a sod-cutter will cut all roots it encounters, so the feeder roots of any trees or shrubs growing in the lawn will also be cut. This will seriously hinder the ability of the trees and shrubs to absorb water, and they may perish. I went to a turf-conversion seminar in Las Vegas, where an alarmingly high number of valuable shade trees were lost from sod-cutter damage. It is best to avoid using sod-cutters to remove lawns if trees or shrubs are present. When a sod-cutter is used to dislodge established turf, the turf still must be removed and disposed of. Another disadvantage of using a sod-cutter is that once the sod removed, the grade of the soil is lower. Alteration of the grade affects the way water runs over a landscape, and if not professionally corrected, can create serious problems. The lowered area will need to be filled with top soil and regraded. This could be expensive and labor-intensive, and you run the risk of importing poor-quality top soil into your landscape. Some people have imported top sol into their landscapes, and subsequently have had to battle noxious and nuisance weeds because the top soil was not free of weed seeds. So, make sure to get top soil from a reputable source, and make sure that it is certified weed-free. Sheet mulching A simple, inexpensive and nontoxic way to kill your lawn is to sheet mulch it. Sheet mulching kills weeds and lawns without herbicides and provides the added benefit of building the soil by adding organic matter to it. The main disadvantage of sheet mulching is that it can attract sow bugs and earwigs to the area. Sheet mulching is also sometimes called “sheet composting,” “layered gardening” or “lasagna gardening.” Essentially, it is composting on-site. It is a simple layering of slashed vegetation, cardboard or newspapers, and organic material, topped off with a nice layer of mulch. Over time, these layers decompose into rich, fertile soil. Sheet mulching mimics the natural way of building soil, which is from the top down. It also allows you to recycle old cardboard boxes, telephone books and newspapers. Here’s how to do it right. Because sheet mulching is a composting process, you need to provide appropriate amounts of both carbon and nitrogen. By alternating layers of cardboard, organic material and mulch, you provide the correct ratio that is needed. If you don’t add nitrogen sources when incorporating carbon-rich materials, such as sawdust, wood shavings and newspaper, into the soil, the carbon will temporarily deplete the soil of nitrogen, and it will be difficult to successfully grow anything in it. First, slash, or in the case of lawn, closely mow all existing herbaceous (soft-tissued, nonwoody) vegetation, and leave it in place. This will provide a layer of nitrogen-rich material. However, it is best to remove diseased or insect-infested plants from the area to avoid potential future problems. Next comes the carbon layer. Flatten some cardboard boxes, and lay them down, overlapping them by 6 inches. You can also use a one-quarter- to one-half-inch layer of newspapers, torn-up telephone books or old pieces of carpet. Then, soak everything with a hose. Water is a catalyst that will initiate the decomposition of the materials. Once everything is thoroughly soaked, try not to walk on it, or you may tear it. Next, it’s time to spread a 1-inch layer of well-aged manure or compost. Then, wet the area again. The layer of manure or compost will entice earthworms and other soil organisms up into the sheet mulch and hasten its decomposition. After you’ve added the compost, install your drip irrigation system in the area. Finally, top it all off with at least a 3-inch layer of mulch. Straw is a good choice because it is inexpensive, about $7 a bale. Just be sure that it is certified weed-free. For a front lawn, however, straw may not be an appropriate choice. In the front yard, finely chipped arborist’s wood chips would give a more finished and refined appearance. Arborist’s wood chips are made by running pruned tree limbs through a wood chipper. The best chips to use are 2 inches or less in size. They do not fly away in the wind, and give the landscape a forest-floor appearance. Arborist’s wood chips slowly decompose, adding valuable organic matter to the soil. These chips are not the same as bark mulch, which can be blown around by the wind and does not decompose well. Arborist wood chips are available from local arborists and tree care companies. After all of the layers are in place, and the drip irrigation has been checked, it’s time to install your low-water-use plants. Plants can be installed as soon as the sheet mulch is in place. To plant, just pull aside the mulch and organic material, cut an “X” into the bottom layer, dig your hole, and install your plant. Then, put the organic material and mulch back into place. If you are planting large trees or shrubs, be careful not to pile the compost and mulch against the trunk. Leave a shallow well around them. Turf conversions are becoming more popular as concerns about water cost and availability increase. Take a good look at your landscape, and see if there is some turf that you would like to convert to a different use. It may save you time and money in the long run. Check out the handy City of Bozeman guide below. There are several water saving incentive for home owners. I have participated in several and have enjoyed several refunds for my water saving efforts. This is a reprint of an article I wrote when I was the commercial horticulture program coordinator for the western area of University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. For more specific gardening and horticulture advice be sure to visit your local Cooperative Extension office.
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 Coach James does a KB snatch during a Saturday outdoor workout. What’s vexing your veggies?You carefully prepare your vegetable garden, working in compost, starting seeds indoors, and transplanting after the last frost. Then, it never fails. Your plants drop their flowers, get strange dark spots or mysterious white splotches, or are attacked by miniscule insects. Don’t worry. You can manage these common summer vegetable problems by using “integrated pest management (IPM).” IPM is a sustainable, science-based approach to pest management that identifies and reduces the risks from pests using a variety of methods tailored to the problem. The selective use of pesticides makes IPM different from organic gardening. However, one IPM tenet is to always use the least toxic methods first. The least toxic methods are actually preventative measures. Rotating crops, buying disease-free plants, providing proper irrigation, and taking good care or your plants are the least expensive and least toxic ways to enjoy a healthy garden. Your local Cooperative Extension has a lot of good, research-based information to help you choose and grow healthy veggies. Once your garden is planted and growing, IPM requires that you determine your tolerance threshold for pests and problems in your garden. In other words, can you live with the loss of two tomato plants, but draw the line at losing three? Can you live with a few squash bugs but think a dozen is unacceptable? These are the types of questions we often ask folks who come to our office for answers to their gardening problems. Monitoring and identification is the key to successful IPM. I enjoy taking my morning cup of coffee out to my garden, and walking around to see what’s happening. I am always surprised at how much I learn from quietly observing my plants. I’m delighted to see a new bud here or a beneficial insect there. Once you become familiar with your garden, you will quickly notice when things are off kilter. Many clients come to us lamenting that their plants died suddenly or overnight. However, this is rarely the case. Most plants exhibit several signs or symptoms well before their demise, but we fail to notice them. Regularly observing your plants will enable you to spot potential problems as they arise. Catching problems at the onset allows us to use the least toxic (and often least expensive) method of control. If you see an insect, or condition you don’t recognize, such as a curled or mottled leaf, you can collect it and bring it to your local Extension office. They will identify it and recommend control methods. Often people spray a variety of chemicals to control a problem, only to discover that the problem is easily managed by simply spraying water. Properly identifying your problems will save you time and money, and help protect the health of your family and our environment. Only after you have identified a problem is it time to consider which IPM control methods to use. IPM control methods can be physical, cultural, biological or chemical. The most effective IPM programs use a combination of these techniques to control problems. Physical control Physical controls include hand picking, fencing out, pruning, or any other technique that physically prevents a pest from taking up residence on your plants. Cultural control Cultural control is essentially growing and cultivating the plant according to its specific needs, modifying the habitat as necessary. Often, these needs are detailed on seed packets or plant tags, in catalogs, or in reference books. Your local Cooperative Extension also has information on proper cultural care for growing many vegetables. Biological control Biological control is using a living organism to control your problem by eating it or damaging it. Beneficial insects, such as lady bird beetles, praying mantises, or green lacewings, are introduced to prey on the nonbeneficial insects. The eggs or larval forms of the predacious insects are commonly sold in nurseries and garden centers. Chemical control The final method of control is using chemicals. The precise and careful use of pesticides sometimes may be the only way to control a problem, especially if the problem has already gotten out of hand. So, how can you use IPM to solve some common summer veggie vexations? Here are a few common problems and ways you can solve them using IPM. These problems are often brought on by high temperatures, low humidity, or wide temperature fluctuations – conditions we often experience in northern Nevada during August. Blossom drop Every summer people are mystified because their tomatoes have dropped all of their blossoms. This problem occurs when the temperature drops below 55 F at night, or rises above 90 F during the day. However, uneven watering, low humidity, unusually heavy fruit set, or nitrogen irregularities can also cause blossoms to drop. While you can’t do much to change the weather, there are some steps you can take to help your plants hang on to those blossoms. To increase nighttime temperatures, you can cover your tomatoes with a lightweight floating row cover at night, or use “walls of water” to insulate around each plant. These are easy to use and available at local nurseries. Most importantly, make sure you water regularly, thin fruit, and apply an organic mulch to regulate soil temperature and fertility. Spider mites Spider mites thrive in the hottest days of summer. They will turn your veggie plants into a dry crispy mess if you don’t control them. Since spider mites like it hot and dry, control them by altering their environment to make it cool and humid. Increase the humidity and lower surrounding temperatures by hosing or misting plants during the heat of the day. Powdery mildew If your vegetables are covered with a strange white or grey residue, you may have powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is a fungus that prefers hot, dry conditions. This is confusing to many people since we tend to associate “mildew” with warm, humid conditions. To control powdery mildew, remove the affected plant parts, increase air circulation by thinning and selective pruning, and increase the humidity by misting your plants. Regular watering and keeping the soil moist will also help reduce the infection. As you develop your IPM program, you will discover that many of your veggie vexations are easily solved with good horticultural practices, a little common sense, and getting to know the cycles and rhythms of your garden. This is a reprint of an article I wrote when I was the commercial horticulture program coordinator for the western area of University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. For more specific gardening and horticulture advice be sure to visit your local Cooperative Extension office.  Missey proves everything is better when you smile. Harvesting veggies When I first started growing vegetables, I was confused at harvest time because I didn’t know just when to pick my veggies. I discovered I’m not alone. For many novice gardeners, our only knowledge of what ripe fruits and vegetables look like comes from the grocery store. Yet, when we begin to grow our own produce, it rarely looks like the blemish-free, polished and waxed fruit and vegetables at the store.
Here are some tips on how to harvest three popular homegrown goodies at the peak of their ripeness and flavor. Tomatoes Nothing can compare with a homegrown tomato. After one season of growing your own, you may never want to buy a tomato in the store again. Store-bought tomatoes can often be almost tasteless because they are often picked while they’re still green, and then sprayed with ethylene gas to force artificial ripening. The picking, transporting and storage process prevents natural ripening and sugar accumulation. Tomatoes undergo a very interesting physiological change when they are about half pinkish-red and half green. At this “breaker” stage, they form a thin layer of cells that seals the fruit from the stem. This layer of cells prevents any nutrient flow from the plant to the fruit. Tomatoes can be harvested at or after the breaker stage and they will ripen normally, but they need to ripen in the sun, such as on a windowsill, for the sugars to fully develop. Tomatoes that are left on the vine continue to ripen and develop sugars because they are exposed to sunlight, not because they are gaining anything from the plant. Store freshly harvested tomatoes on the counter or in a basket, as refrigeration kills their flavor. Some tomatoes, such as green zebra, German grapefruit, and lemon boy, never turn red. So, be sure to save your seed packets or plant tags, as these will often have pictures of the ripe fruit that you can refer to when deciding if it’s time to harvest. Eggplant Generally, eggplant should be harvested when the flesh is springy, and the skin is shiny purple and tight. Test for springiness by pressing into the side with your finger. If the flesh springs back, the eggplant is ready for picking. Eggplants that are past their prime are dull and soft with wrinkled skin. When ripe, white-skinned eggplant, such as Rosa Bianca, will have skin that is glossy white with pink stripes. Melons When trying to determine a melon’s ripeness, look at the condition of the stem and skin color. Cantaloupes “slip” from the vine, leaving a scar where the stem was attached. The bottom, or end opposite the stem, will be soft and fragrant. Their straw-colored skin should be bright. A ripe honeydew may remain attached to the vine, but should also be soft on the bottom side, opposite the stem. While on the vine, watermelons will have a small, curled tendril extending from the vine opposite from where the stem is attached to the vine. This tendril will turn brown and dry out when the melon is ripe. The stem should still be green and difficult to remove from the vine. The skin touching the ground should be buttery yellow. All melons continue to ripen after they have been removed from the vine, and should be stored in the refrigerator or a cool place. This is a reprint of an article I wrote when I was the commercial horticulture program coordinator for the western area of University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. For more specific gardening and horticulture advice be sure to visit your local Cooperative Extension office.  Chris and Jennifer Boyer are committed to our at-home remote coaching program and have been consistently working out at home since March. Way to go you, two! Sprinklers – assessing your system In a region where we usually receive a scant 17 inches of precipitation annually, having efficient sprinklers is not only economically sound, it is also ecologically sound. As you received your water bills this summer, you probably noticed an exponential increase in use and a corresponding increase in cost. You can help contain that cost by ensuring that your sprinklers and irrigation system are running optimally. You can request a FREE sprinkler assessment from the City of Bozeman or you can do one yourself. If you do an assessment in the Spring, you'll need to first turn on your system. You will need to close the drain valves and turn on the main water supply. In most homes, these are located outside, on the side or near the front on the house. You will see two pipes coming from the ground; one goes to your house, and the other is the sprinkler main. Close the drain valves first, then slowly open the sprinkler main to avoid damaging your pipes. Next, turn on your controller and manually cycle through each zone, letting the sprinklers run for a couple of minutes in each zone. You will be able to tell pretty quickly if you have any leaks or broken sprinkler heads. To fix a broken pop-up sprinkler head, dig out a small trench to expose it. Keep the work area tidy by putting the turf on one side and dirt on the other. Unscrew the broken head. Take care not to remove the riser with the head. Use pliers to hold the riser in place. Avoid getting soil or grass in the sprinkler line. Screw the replacement sprinkler head onto the riser. Turn on the water to test the new sprinkler. Fixing a broken pipe is a little more involved. The location will be obvious. You will have either a pond or a geyser in your lawn when the sprinklers are on. Shut off the sprinkler main and dig out a trench running alongside the pipe. It needs to extend at least 1 foot on both sides of the break and be deep enough to allow you to reach under the pipe. The easiest and quickest way to fix the line, unless you have experience working with PVC, is to replace your broken section with a prefabricated expansion repair coupling. Place it alongside the broken section to measure how much line you need to remove. Cut out the broken section with a hacksaw or pipe cutter. Make the cleanest cuts you can, as a messy cut will cause problems when you try to adhere the new section. Remove any dirt from the inside of the sprinkler line and make sure it is dry. Now it’s time to glue the replacement coupler to the existing pipe using blue PVC glue. Coat the outside of both cuts ends and the inside of the coupler with the glue. Quickly secure the coupler over the line by expanding it to fit the section and then giving it a small turn. Give the glue needs about 10 minutes to cure. Then, turn on the water and be amazed at your “fix-it” ability. Turn off the water, replace the dirt, and put your sod back in place. Now that you have repaired your system, you need to check its application rate to determine how long you need to run your sprinklers. You can hire a professional irrigation auditor, you can request a free audit from the City of Bozeman, or you can try doing it yourself. You will need to gather a few materials and be prepared to do some math. Round up 10 or more straight-sided cups or cans. Coffee cups or soup cans work well. Make sure all cans have the same diameter, and are at least 4 inches to 8 inches deep. Grab some paper, a pencil, a ruler, and a calculator, you are going to do a catch can test. Place the cans haphazardly around your lawn. Turn the sprinklers on and run each zone for 15 minutes. If you notice water puddling or running off the lawn onto the sidewalk, record the elapsed time and turn off the sprinklers. Wait for an hour, and then turn the sprinklers back on long enough to complete the 15-minute test. Using the ruler, measure and record the amount of water in each can. Ideally, there should be about the same amount of water in each can. If you find major differences, you may have a more serious problem that may be best solved by hiring an irrigation professional. If you have only minor differences, it’s time to do the math. Add all of the measurements together and divide by the number of cans. This gives you the average application rate of your system. Armed with this information, you can water your lawn most efficiently by scheduling your irrigation timer to water your lawn in several short cycles. For example, if you plan for 60 minutes of watering, you should run your sprinklers for two 15-minute cycles in the morning, allowing an hour between each cycle and ending the last cycle before 11 a.m. After 7 p.m., run the sprinklers for two more 15-minute cycles, again allowing an hour rest in between cycles. However, if you know from your catch-can test that water begins to run off after 10 minutes, adjust your run times to no longer than 10 minutes each and start them earlier in the day. No matter how you apply your water, avoid applying it between noon and 6 p.m., and NEVER let it run off your lawn. Technophiles and water-misers can bypass all of the manual calculations by purchasing an evapotranspiration (ET) controller or “smart controller.” These controllers, once programmed, use real-time ET data (the measurement of water loss from your lawn via evaporation from the soul and transpiration from the plants) to apply the precise daily amount of water needed by your lawn. There have been MANY study of the effectiveness of using ET controllers on commercial and common homeowner association property. The most common finding is that when ET controllers were used, there is a 20-percent drop in average water use and no decrease in lawn health. Our own City of Bozeman has a REBATE program for installing smart controllers. I installed a rain sensor on my irrigation timer and was completely refunded by the City's residential incentive program. Click here to check out all the ways you can save money and water via the City of Bozeman Residential Incentive program. This is a reprint of an article I wrote when I was the commercial horticulture program coordinator for the western area of University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. For more specific gardening and horticulture advice be sure to visit your local Cooperative Extension office. |
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