Louisiana Yards and
Neighborhoods
Planning Your
Louisiana-friendly Yard
www.lsuagcenter.com/lyn
About the LY&N Program
• The goal is to encourage homeowners to
create and maintain landscapes in ways that
minimize environmental damage/impact
through educational programs and outreach
activities.
• Implemented through parish LSU AgCenter
extension agents with the support of LSU
AgCenter Louisiana Master Gardener
volunteers.
7 Interrelated Principles
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Right Plant, Right Place
Water Efficiently
Maximize Mulch and Recycle Yard Waste
Fertilize Effectively
Manage Yard Pests
Protect Surface Waters and Wetlands
Provide for Beneficial Wildlife Habitat
Using the Handbook
• It is organized into two sections:
– The first introductory section contains
background information and will be
covered in this training session.
– The second offers detailed descriptions of
the 7 basic LY&N principles.
From Yard to Waterway
• Rain that falls on yards, roads and parking
lots can wash into waterways or leach into
groundwater, carrying pollutants.
• In particular, improperly applied fertilizers
and pesticides from urban and suburban
residential areas can play a role in polluting
Louisiana’s waters.
The ideal Louisiana-Friendly Yard should
reflect the beauty of natural habitats and
ecosystems in our state.
To be effective, landscapes should be
created and maintained by practices that
have a low impact on the environment,
such as –
•
Cooperating with pre-existing natural
conditions instead of altering them or
changing them to suit the desires of the
gardener or needs of plants not suited for
those conditions.
•
Conserving water and energy.
•
Using more native species; and planting
native and non-native plants that require
minimal water, fertilizers and pesticides in
the right growing conditions.
Deciduous Holly – Ilex decidua
• Small tree about 15’ x 10’
• A deciduous species
• Outstanding color on
female plants from red fruit
when leaves drop
• Tolerant of wet to dry
conditions
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
• Large shrub or small tree
about 10’ x 10’
• Will grow in standing
water
• Attractive globular
clusters of white flowers
• Deciduous
• Fast growing
Wax Myrtle – Myrica cerifera
• Large shrub to small
tree 12’ x 10’
• Suckers freely
• Fruit on female plants
good wildlife food
• Evergreen
• Tolerates wet to dry
conditions
Swamp Mallow – Hibiscus
moscheutos
• Shrubby perennial 3’ x 3’
to 5’ x 5’ depending on
type
• Large, very showy
flowers in pink, white
and red
• Long blooming season
• Wildlife nectar plant
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
• Grows 2’ to 3’
• Showy red flowers in
early summer
• Hummingbird nectar
plant
• Tolerates shade
• Dormant in winter
• Moist soil
Goldenrod – Solidago spp.
• Various sizes from 3’
to 6’
• Brilliant yellow flowers
in fall, excellent nectar
plant
• Spread by rhizomes
• Dormant in winter
Mist Flower
Eupatorium coelestinun
• Grows about 2’ x 2’
• Lavender-blue flowers
primarily in late summer
and fall
• Tolerates wet or dry
conditions
• Spreads by rhizomes
• Dormant in winter
Louisiana Irises
Iris spp. and hybrids
• About 2’ to 5’
• Very showy colorful flowers
March through April
• Tolerant of standing water
or drier conditions
• Active growth fall through
spring
• Spreads slowly by rhizome
• Choose plants that are appropriate and
attractive but also provide environmental
benefits.
• Tolerate some pest damage in the
landscape and focus on gardening
techniques that reduce pest problems.
Use pesticides only when necessary,
follow label directions and choose the
least toxic products that will do the job.
Creating Louisiana-friendly Yards
When designing a landscape more in harmony
with the environment, you should consider:
1. Your family’s needs and desires.
2. The conditions of your site.
3. Maintaining a healthy environment.
Proper Planning is Critical
• Selecting the style
– Guides the esthetic aspects of the design
– Should be influenced by the architecture
of the house
• For the LY&N program, informal, naturalistic
or ecological (appropriate for Louisiana)
styles would be most appropriate. Avoid
formal styles since they increase
maintenance.
Naturalistic Style
• Use of native plants and well-adapted
introduced plants in a setting that duplicates
naturalistic settings, such as woodlands,
meadows, ponds, bogs, etc.
• Uses natural settings as an example to
follow.
Informal Style
• Relaxed style that makes use of graceful
curving lines and naturalistic shapes.
• Plants are allowed to develop more natural
forms.
• Lower maintenance.
• Casual building materials and styles.
Formal Style
• Straight lines and strict geometric shapes
• Plants clipped and pruned into architectural
geometric shapes
• Symmetry
• Crisp, formal building materials such as
milled, painted wood, brick, flagstones, etc.
• Higher maintenance
Landscape Design
Landscape design combines art and science
to create a functional, aesthetically pleasing
and ecologically sound landscape that meets
the needs of the family and complements the
home and other structures.
Elements of art, such as color, form, line and
texture, interact with design principles of unity,
balance, simplicity and focus.
Basic Steps
In Landscape Design
Decide what your landscape should
provide for your family’s needs.
• Examples of needs include:
– Play area
– Shade
– Privacy
– Flowers/color
– Outdoor living: patio, deck
– Utility/work area, compost
– Look at what you need; it will be different
for each family.
In the LY&N program, other needs
might include:
• Habitat for wildlife
• Food for wildlife
• Water for wildlife
• Less maintenance
• Reduced water runoff
Study Your Site
• Note the compass directions.
• Study light and shade patterns and drainage.
• Note existing structures and plantings.
• Decide where shade is needed.
• Look at views off site; look out windows for
views.
• See Site Analysis, page 8.
Draw a Land-use Plan
• Draw up a simple sketch or a scale drawing of the
site.
• Decide where and how much space will be allocated
to particular use or activity areas, such as a patio,
vegetable garden, kids play area, work/tool storage
area and ornamental plantings.
• Use simple circles or “bubbles” to designate
location and size of use/activity areas
• Play around with several arrangements as you make
your decisions.
Shape the Spaces
• Decide what shape the different areas will
have: beds, patio/deck, vegetable garden,
work area.
• Decide on characteristics plants for
particular areas and uses should have –
size, growing conditions, flowers, wildlife
food, etc.
• This is a creative stage influenced by the
previous steps and the chosen style.
Select the Materials
• Select the components that will be used to
create the landscape.
• Decide on what specific plants to use,
depending on preference, purpose, growing
conditions, maintenance and value to
wildlife.
• Decide on building materials for structures,
outdoor living areas, fences, walks, etc.
SOIL
The Foundation
of Healthy Plants
Improving the Soil
• Organic Matter
– Compost, aged manure, leaf mold,
composted pine bark, soil conditioner
• Sand
• Fertilizer
• Lime
• Soil test
pH
• Measure of the relative acidity or alkalinity of
the soil.
• Plants are generally adaptable to a wide
range of pH values, but will not do well if the
pH is too far from what they prefer.
• Most plants will do well at pH values between
5.5 and 7.5.
• Acid-loving plants generally have the worst
problems.
• Affects nutrient availability.
Compacted Soils
• Most common around new construction and
in new subdivisions.
• Often worse near a newly constructed home,
where landscaping is commonly done.
• Loosening the soil and adding generous
amounts of organic matter or creating raised
beds of new soil are options.
Deciding Which Plants to Keep
• You do not have to leave a plant in a
landscape simply because it is there.
• But you should consider very carefully
before removing plants, particularly trees
and shrubs.
• If you decide to make changes or redesign
your landscape, it’s important to determine
what you will keep and what will be
removed/replaced. Here are some guidelines.
Keep healthy plants that show good
form and are in desirable locations.
Prune overgrown trees and shrubs if
necessary to make them more
suitable for the new landscape.
Reclaiming
overgrown
shrubs as
small trees.
Retain trees with long life spans, such as
live oaks, Southern magnolia and
baldcypress.
Mature, short-lived trees are less
desirable, such as water oaks, silver
maple and flowering pears.
When developing a wooded lot, save
clusters of trees and the plants growing
beneath them rather than individual
trees.
Clusters of trees are more resistant to
high winds and are usually more
attractive.
Avoid damaging trees during
construction.
Proper Tree Planting
Look Up
• Check for overhead wires, power lines,
security lights and buildings that a tree could
interfere with as it grows larger.
• You must anticipate the MATURE SIZE of the
tree when choosing a species and siting it in
the landscape.
Dig The Hole
• The depth of the hole should be slightly less
than the height of the root ball.
• Dig the hole two to three times the diameter
of the root ball.
• The sides of the hole should be rough.
• The top of the hole may be wider than the
bottom of the hole.
• See Proper Tree Planting, page 16.
Find the Root Flare
(Also called the trunk flare or root crown,
where the topmost root emerges from the trunk.)
• Plant so that the root flare is within 2 inches
of the soil surface.
• Loosen circling roots in the top half of the
root ball. Slice into the root ball.
• Choose trees that are not severely root
bound.
Place the Tree Into the Hole
• Remove container-grown trees from the
container before placing in the hole.
• Position the root flare slightly above soil
level. Add more soil under the root ball if
necessary.
• Make sure the tree is straight.
• Remove all string, rope, synthetic burlap,
strapping, plastic and other materials from
balled-and -burlapped trees.
Fill the Planting Hole
With Backfill Soil
• Thoroughly pulverize the soil removed to
create the hole, and use it as is, without
additions or amendments such as organic
matter, to fill in around the root ball.
• Do not compact the soil by pushing or
stepping on it. Use a shovel blade to slice
down into the soil around the tree.
• The root ball should sit slightly above (1 to 3
inches) the backfill soil.
Generously Water-in the Tree
• Apply about 10 to 20 gallons of water.
• This amount will settle the soil and remove
air pockets.
• Add more soil if necessary.
Mulch Around the Tree
• Apply mulch out about 4 feet from the trunk
of the tree.
• The mulch should be in an even layer 2-4
inches deep, and be pulled back slightly from
the trunk of the tree.
• Constructing a berm around the tree is not
recommended.
Stake the Tree, If Necessary
• Do not place the stakes alongside the trunk
and tie the trunk to the stake. This may lead
to a weak floppy trunk.
• Stakes should be driven into the ground
outside of the root ball.
• Cushion rope or wire to prevent abrasive
damage to the bark of the trunk.
• Leave the stakes in place only for about 9 to
12 months.
Watering
• Most critical the first summer after planting.
• Water two to three times a week during hot,
dry weather (consider rainfall).
• At each watering, apply about 1-2 gallons of
water per inch of trunk diameter directly to
the root ball. Add water slowly so that it
seeps into the root ball.
• Watch for drought stress symptoms, such as
wilting, scorched leaf edges, poor color and
leaf drop.
Hire Reputable Professionals
• Must be licensed by the state
– Horticulture License
– Landscape Contractors License
– Landscape Architect License
– Commercial Pesticide Applicators License,
Category 3 Ornamentals and Turf
Louisiana Yards and
Neighborhoods
Planning Your
Louisiana-friendly Yard
www.lsuagcenter.com/lyn