The Landscape Academy

The halls of ivy at the Professional Landcare Network are both lush and busy. Usually just referred to as PLANET, this premier landscaping association has been helping commercial contractors learn the green industry since 1961 (in various incarnations). Landscaping is a science and an art, and PLANET is adept at helping professionals learn both schools of thought, teaching design/build landscapers, lawn care businesses, landscape management and interior plantscapers. PLANET also has one of the strongest certification programs in the industry, promoting green industry pros to get “Landscape Industry Certified.” To give our readers a sample of the education PLANET can provide, we’ve asked the association to discuss a wide range of important topics that can help landscape professionals do their jobs better. From eco-friendly yard tips to planting in the fall months, this article only scrapes the surface of what PLANET can offer green pros.

Lawn Care: Organics vs. Synthetics

With so many lawn care products on the market, there is a lot of confusion about the use of organic lawn care products vs. synthetic products. PLANET represents landscape, tree care and lawn care specialists nationwide who use both types of products.

“We recognize that there is confusion about organic and synthetic products and services that utilize them,” states Tom Delaney, director of government affairs for PLANET. “We have members that use both products in their services and want to make sure that the public is well informed of the differences.”

While there are no universally accepted definitions of “natural” and “organic,” here are the most commonly accepted definitions:

1. Natural — A product substantially derived from animal/biological, mineral or plant sources in a form as it occurs in nature. The materials may be altered or manipulated to put them in a physical form that allows them to be efficiently used in the application process by homeowners or service providers.

2. Organic — Technically, any substance containing carbon is organic. Both naturally occurring and man-made products may be organic. The common misconception that “organic” and “natural” have the same meaning may cause non-technical consumers to believe that man-made organic material is natural when it is not.

3. Natural-Based — This term is generally used to describe a mixture of materials that includes some materials that may be properly described as natural. The portion that is natural is frequently undefined. The other portion may be manmade pesticides or fertilizers.

4. Organic-Based — This term is generally used to describe a mixture of materials that includes some organic materials. The portion of the product that is both organic and natural is frequently undefined. The other portion may be manmade pesticides or fertilizers.

While PLANET does not promote one kind of lawn care product or service over another, the organization does promote the safe and proper use of all state- and federally-registered products used to maintain customers’ properties. PLANET also encourages consumers to thoroughly research the products that are being used on their lawns.

“As consumers search for safe products, it’s important to remember that the legal definition of the word ‘safe’ is ‘without risk,’” Delaney explains. “No product is without risk, organic or synthetic, and it is of the utmost importance that consumers recognize that fact.”

If misapplied, both organic and synthetic fertilizers can damage landscapes and potentially pollute the environment. For example, if either product (organic or synthetic) is inadvertently left on paved surfaces, rainfall may move the nutrients into storm drains where they can find their way into rivers and lakes.

Over-application to lawns in an attempt to enhance color may force unhealthy turf growth, which can reduce root growth and make a lawn more susceptible to disease. Applied properly, both organic and synthetic fertilizers provide lawns with necessary nutrients without harm to the environment.

Control of weeds and insects is more difficult with organic products. Soft-bodied insects, such as webworms and aphids, are easily controlled by many organic-based insecticides, including soaps containing fatty acids or botanical oils. They are not effective, however, on hard-bodied insects such as mole crickets and billbugs.

Researchers have tested numerous biological control agents, including milky spore disease for some grub species as well as beneficial nematodes, with some success.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been giving priority in reviewing reduced-risk products that are not defined as organic. These may be synthetic or naturally occurring. Under criteria established by the EPA, these substances have lower toxicity yet can be as effective as other products used in the past.

If there is one area that both lawn care operators and proponents of organic-only programs can agree on, it’s the knowledge that integrated pest management reduces the use of control products of all types. Healthy and well-cared for lawns are important to our environment. More than 30 million acres of lawns exist in the United States. It’s estimated that these lawns remove 5 percent of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and provide a significant amount of oxygen. Lawns also trap more than 12 million tons of dust and dirt annually, trap and filter rainwater and prevent erosion. In addition, they provide a cooling effect in summer months, help boost energy efficiency and provide children and families with safe areas to play and recreate that are free from dangerous insects and weed allergens.

“Consumers need to recognize that to maintain healthy lawns, it is essential that organic and synthetic coexist,” adds Delaney. “There’s a misperception that because it’s organic, it’s safe and because it is synthetic it is not, and that misleads the public. It is about choices and what works.”

Here are some questions that should be asked about organic lawn care products:

1. Do the products used or services rendered contain or use any materials that are subject to EPA regulation and registration? Any product claiming to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate any pest, such as insects, weeds or disease, requires state and EPA registration and is classified as a pesticide.

2. Are these materials man-made or naturally occurring?

3. Are weed, insect and disease controls a part of the product or service?

4. What proportion or percentage (25 percent, 50 percent) of the active ingredients and of the total applications are man-made materials?

“The bottom line is that consumers need to pay close attention to the instructions on the products. They’re buying or hiring state-licensed professionals to apply these products when unsure of the pest or the proper control measure,” Delaney cautions. “Lawn care professionals should have the safety training and certification to identify the pest or lawn and landscape problems, and to choose and apply the proper products when needed. With professional application, both organics and synthetic products might take care of a problem and be applied without harm to our environment.”

All of the above information was provided by the Professional Landcare Network or PLANET. For more information about this excellent association or to become a member, visit them at www.landcarenetwork.org or call 800-395-2522.

Eco-Friendly Yard Tips

Whether it’s the start of spring or the beginning of fall, contractors get excited about working in the yard. These days, many people want to create yards that are easier to maintain and more eco-friendly, but they don’t know where to start. Here are some tips for making yards and gardens more eco-friendly.

Test your soil. To ensure that you have a healthy yard, check the pH level of the soil. Either have a professional do it or get a test kit from your local agricultural extension office. Nothing will grow well if the pH balance is off.

Create a yard that has a rich biomass by planting in layers. The amount of biomass in a square foot is measured by the number of different types of plants, animals and insects that live in that space. The rainforest, for instance, has an incredibly rich biomass. A rich biomass produces more oxygen, sequesters more carbon and supports local native animals and insects that help keep the ecosystem healthy.

Plant the right plants in the right places. Make sure that you are planting shade plants in shady areas and plants that need sun in bright areas. Doing so will create less stress on the plants, which will help to keep them disease-free. 

Create a yard that uses less water. Look for plants and grasses that use less water. Different plants have different watering needs. Research it, and don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach to watering. Also, water yards either early in the morning or late in the day, and water less often but for a longer time.

Fall Planting Insights

Fall is the time when many green industry contractors wind down their activity and think about closing up the shed for the season. However, PLANET notes that fall is a great time to plant trees, shrubs and some annuals and to plan a winterizing strategy. Professionals should think about the following fall tasks:

1. Control weeds. Do it now and you’ll have fewer weeds next season.
2. Rake and remove the leaves in the yard to avoid damage to the grass so you can enjoy a healthier lawn next summer.
3. Give trees and shrubs a deep watering after the leaves on the trees drop and just before turning the outside water off for the season.
4. Cut most perennials back close to the ground.
5. Wash gardening sprayers with soapy water before storing.
6. Clean, oil and sharpen gardening tools before storing for the season.
7. Shut off water lines to the outside.

Snow and Ice Removal Parameters for Plants, Trees and Shrubs

Winter is not the time when most pros focus on yard work; however, it is a time of year when a lot of damage can happen. PLANET wants people and professionals to know how to care for plants, trees and shrubs during the winter. Winter yard tips include the following:

1. Continue watering. Just because it isn’t hot, doesn’t mean that plants don’t need water. Continue watering until a hard freeze. A well-hydrated plant has a better chance of survival.

2. Don’t shake branches covered with snow and ice. It is best to gently brush off snow. Shaking limbs may break them. Wait for ice and frozen snow to melt naturally. If a limb does break, have it removed as soon as weather permits. It will help the tree or shrub heal better in the spring.

3. Watch out for winter warm spells. It is normally not a problem if you get a few warm days in the middle of winter; however, if you covered plants with cones or cold frames, you may want to ventilate them during the day and cover them again at night.

4. Prune. Late winter is a good time to prune and shape ornamental trees and roses.

Another thing to think about in the winter is the use of salt or melting agents for snow and ice. It can damage plants and trees by drawing water away from their roots.

Evergreen trees are particularly sensitive to salt. Look for brown needles or leaves on trees and shrubs; they are signs of damage. Building barriers to protect the plants from runoff and adding more sand and gravel to the salt mix will help minimize damage.