Utility Groundcovers

Slide 1 Utility Groundcovers Slide 2 What kind of scenarios might dictate a groundcover that isn’t one of the 4 turfgrasses we’ve learned? Slopes for Erosion Control Green Roofs Ditches (and other utility areas) Native / Reclaimed plantings manmade meadows true reclamation projects Low Maintenance Landscape designs (consider bunch type grasses for an Oriental garden feel). Slide 3 Low Maintenance Groundcovers Features: Occasional mowing No watering No fertilizing Characteristics: Drought tolerance Speed of establishment Root type Widely adapted soil preference Rate of spread Slide 4 Low Maintenance Grasses… The Non-Fescues Slide 5 Telling these grasses apart... Slide 6 28 Poas are tracked in Alberta Conservation Information Management System Canada Bluegrass - Poa compressa - Non-Native! Adapted to infertile, poorly drained soils Very winter hardy Familiar Genera - “low maintenance blends” Fescues are common as well 15 are native, including F. rubra Most of what we use are introduced (Tall, Chewings, Sheeps, Meadow) Slide 7 Many ornamentals are natives Pay attention to growth habit/reproductive tillering is it actually low maintenance? Is it warm season or cool season? Other Grasses (Front Lawn/Garden hybrid design) http://photobotanic.photoshelter.com/image/I0000mk_9OjacAa8 Slide 8 Commonly used as Pasture Grass Excellent for erosion control Do not use adjacent to natural areas unless you KNOW it is native! (very difficult to control) - these are some that are classed as “invaders” Agricultural/Ditch grasses Bromus - Smooth Brome Agropyron - Crested Wheatgrass Phleum - Timothy Agrostis - Red Top Slide 9 Agricultural/Ditch grasses Foxtail Barley Weed - animals cannot eat it Bunch type, spreads via seed Alkaligrass Moist, saline soils Sod forming Slide 10 Native in Alberta and/or introduced Attractive inflorescence or foliage Good for low - no mow boulevards and island beds Be sure to contain them! “Mat forming” vs “Clumping” Ornamental grasses Bouteloua - Blue Grama Phalaris - Ribbon Grass Koeleria - Junegrass Deschampsia - Tufted Hair grass Slide 11 Low Maintenance Legumes Compensate for poor quality soil Root system contains bacteria that form nodules Capable of fixing free nitrogen Intolerance to herbicides (2,4-D) Alfalfa Crown Vetch Bird’s Foot Trefoil Slide 12 Clover Low N fixation long lived seeds Sweet flowers Bee Turf plant Slide 13 Bee turf contains: sweet alyssum (attracts predatory insects) clovers (N fixer, pollinator) fescues (low needs) yarrow (native, pollinator plant) English daisy (pollinator) Roman chamomile (pollinator) 500g = 400 ft/square Slide 14 Slide 15 The same “bee turf” landscape 3 years after establishment… thoughts? Slide 16 What was formerly considered unacceptable, is now being embraced as more sustainable and beneficial for pollinators… Slide 17 Sedum Tiles (aka Sedum “sod”, or Sedum “turf”) Sod - like product, or in tiles Originally produced for green roof installation As with legumes, susceptible to invasion by broadleaf weeds and rhizomatous grasses Should be hardy in prairie climates if purchased from prairie grower. Slide 18 Case Study Moment! Alone, or in a group, take 15-20 minutes to cruise online and look for a seed blend that you would recommend for our Case Study! It is a residential property that is being converted to a Daycare. How will it be used? What are the primary values you should consider? Click here to see pictures of the site