Slide 1 LHAP 106 T.E.S.M. Exterior Maintenance Techniques Presentation by E. Kawahara Slide 2 Preparation of the bed - Installation Is it for vegetables or bedding plants? Soil amendments needed? Rake out the surface (repeated tillage not recommended). Slide 3 How Do We Install / Maintain the Edges? Use of an edger and making pronounced edges to keep the turf separate from the bed “Deep Edge” Up to 30cm deep, backfilled with mulch Plastic edging or bricks to accentuate the line Concrete edge - maybe not deep enough mid cost Pavers - expensive, but nice Plastics/Metal - Aluminum, Precision Edge, Traditional Plastic Wood - can be expensive / susceptible to warping Periodic removal of any turf that may have infiltrated the bed Slide 4 How Do We Keep Annual Beds Nice? Start with high quality plant material Scope out greenhouses, ask about their growing practices. Buy samples for comparison. Space plants properly when planting avoiding crowding issues or uneven beds Supplying the proper fertilization and water (consider mulch) Fertilizer - balanced blend for support of new roots, existing flowers & vegetation, & extended life Usually fertigation is used (synthetic, immediate release), coated controlled release also an option Sometimes organics are the chosen method - soil amendment + some nutrient (more often in vegetables/perennial beds). Regular maintenance pulling weeds (by hand, with hoe) Scouting for problems when there! Slide 5 Visual Cues That Display Issues Plant wilting, browning, or drying May show inconsistencies in watering Yellowing, spots, or holes on leaves May be signs of a fungal/bacterial infection, or an insect infestation Could be nutrient deficiencies. Compare basal and canopy leaves. White appearing on the leaves of the plant is a sign of powdery mildew (especially in cool shade) White fluff, yellow blobs, and mushrooms on the surface of the soil can be a sign that there is not enough airflow or light, or water is being held in the soil and could cause root issues. Slide 6 What is Pinching and Deadheading? Annuals can be pinched to promote bushier growth every time a stem is pinched at a node, one or two will grow out to replace it. Deadheading is a form of pruning that will encourage more flowering. Removing spent blooms stimulates new flower formation. It is laborious, one bloom at a time. Shearing is a faster way to deadhead It cannot always be done without compromising the growth of the plant Commonly practiced in perennial groundcover control (mowing!) Cutting Back refers to a cut to ground level OR cutting back an inflorescence May mean only the scape / rising inflorescence or seed heads May refer to all reproductive and vegetative growth Slide 7 Deadheading Slide 8 Pinching Slide 9 Spring and Fall cleanups Slide 10 Fall Cleanup - Lawns Perform regular final mow Backpack blow or rake up leaves and any further debris Evaluate perennial weeds vs grass health - Fall spray of Dandelion and Clover, Thistle? Water well Slide 11 Annual Bed Maintenance - Fall Cleanup Usually all plants are pulled Some permaculture practices recommend leaving plants - in Alberta, the roots do not tend to biodegrade fast enough for this Do not till yearly. Instead, turn the soil. Add organic matter Let the freeze-thaw cycles work their magic on the lumps and chunks. Slide 12 Spring Cleanup - Annual Beds If Not done in Fall: Turn dead plant material into the soil. Turn the soil to improve aeration. Get rid of established weeds. For Sure in Spring: Add some peat moss or compost to increase organic matter content in the soil. Creating a plant design that meets customer expectations and satisfies climate and soil conditions. Re-edging if necessary Slide 13 Spring Cleanup - Lawns Rake thoroughly (remove as much winter debris as possible: dead grass, snow mould, rocks, leaf debris, ect). Core sample (to check for compaction and thatch) If necessary aerate and/or topdress 4.) Mowing to remove any succulent fall/winter growth. Start when we have consistent warm temperatures, and after snow thaws (Early-Mid April) Slide 14 Spring cleanup before - note the leaves and snow mould… Slide 15 Raking and/or brushing debris is all that’s usually needed unless there is a major thatch buildup or compaction concern. Slide 16 Spring cleanup is complete. Should I fertilizer right now?