Landscaping options today run the gamut of choices from historical, retro, and on to futuristic due to research innovations, the worldwide exchange of ideas as a result of quick and affordable travel and the Internet. Terms like sustainable landscaping are
Landscaping options today run the gamut of choices from historical, retro, and on to futuristic due to research innovations, the worldwide exchange of ideas as a result of quick and affordable travel and the Internet. Terms like sustainable landscaping are also tossed around and debated as to what it is and how it is interpreted.
Landscaping options are nearly endless and options not heard of only a generation ago are becoming more mainstream. And let us not forget choices for new plant varieties arrive daily, new pest and diseases make our backyard paradise their new home and climate change is hovering to make its influence felt.
Finally, as we develop as a society, our needs and wants change to reflect our position in what we believe and need to accomplish. Therefore, as we move forward, reflect on some of the changes you can consider.
The downfall of many gardens and the gardening experience are the presence of insect pests, diseases and abiotic stress. We work so hard to make our garden a reflection of our effort, only to see it wither or melt away. Early detection of the causes of these conditions will lead to a healthier landscape that requires less intervention to control than waiting to intervene at some future point in time.
Many people echo the sentiment that they wish plants could talk, so they would know what to do and could better care for them. The truth of the matter is that plants are always talking to you and sometimes it is as though they are screaming out at you. As with any foreign language, if you don’t understand the language it is meaningless mumbling. The language of plants is not what you hear, but what you see, what you feel, and what you smell.
As an example: You see a wilted plant. What is it saying to you?
Here is where it is important to understand the language and its subtle context. To the many non-gardeners who experience wilted plants, our first reaction is to respond with additional watering. You might have been correct or terribly wrong. If you understand the nuances of the language of the plant you would first look at the plant to get a general consensus on its condition. Does the plant look healthy? Are there any diseases or pests present? What is the moisture condition of the soil, dry or wet? A dry soil supports watering, however a wet soil is telling you, “I am not doing well. Perhaps I have root rot from overwatering.”
In days past, a plot of land in every yard was set aside and devoted to a home garden to produce fruits, fiber, vegetables and pot herbs for the kitchen. Today the trend is to integrate the vegetable garden, herbs and fruit trees into the landscape design of the yard. Gone are the straight rows of beets and cabbages, only to morph into the contoured lines of a flowing garden boulevard. This is where edible, ornamental and utilitarian plants are co-mingled for color, shape and texture to highlight the landscape. These dual purpose gardens are especially great for the small yard that many of us have in Hawaii.
Before the advent of synthetic fertilizers and pest control products, all landscapes in theory were organic as only naturally available products were used. Natural soil fertility was exploited such as the fertile river bottom lands, rotational cropping was practiced, fallow cropping, and even procedures similar to slash and burn methods were used. Fields were regularly amended with animal manures when they were available. Today, organic landscapes by design are coming back with homeowners selecting from a menu of cutting edge organic practices. The use of EM, bokashi compost, compost tea and IMO has become the new standard.
Once upon a time, large yards were a much desired feature for any landscape and it was part of the American Dream to have a home with a yard surrounding it. Although lawns as a common feature are a little over a century old in the United States, lawns have wide- spread appeal and the practice is an ingrained fixture of how we live, whether we actively utilize the turf covered landscape or just admire it as a buffer from our neighbors. An often asked question: Is there a perfect lawn for the Hawaiian landscape? Perfect is in the eyes of the beholder and reality in the normal driving force as we consider lawn usage, maintenance requirements, aesthetic beauty and cost of maintenance.
Looking for more information on these topics? Consider attending the Hawaii Island Landscape Association Annual Conference to be held at the Hapuna Prince Hotel on the south Kohala coast on Oct. 18. Contact Ty McDonald at 322-4884 for more information.
For more information about this and other gardening topics, visit the CTAHR electronic publication website at www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/Site/Info.aspx or visit any of the local Cooperative Extension Service offices around the island. I can be reached at russelln@hawaii.edu.
