4.
Your yard is part of a larger system• Nature doesn’t know property boundaries – Vegetation part of community – Wildlife – Water, nutrients, energy move through system• If all yards provided good habitat the result would be large, continuous, healthy landscape – Large animals require large home ranges – Difficulty migrating over patchy landscapes – Become more important as climate changes, species shift ranges

10.
Water Pollution: Pesticides• Homeowners use 10x more per acre than farmers• 67 million lbs applied on lawns each year• 2/3 users dispose of excess in trash, remainder down drains• Detectable limits found in 5-10% of wells• Neurotoxins, carcinogens, endocrine disruptors

11.
Water Pollution: Fertilizers• Use has doubled Eutrophic lake nitrogen input covered in weeds into ecosystems• 40-60% of nitrogen in surface and groundwater• Nitrogen and phosphorus result in eutrophication, possibly dead zones in aquatic systems

14.
Harm to Biodiversity: Habitat Loss• Traditional development leads to habitat loss and fragmentation – Destroys and degrades natural habitat – NASA: 1/3 to ½ of Earth’s land surfaces impacted by human development• ¼ of all species faced with extinction in 50 years – Single largest cause is habitat loss

15.
Harm to Biodiversity: Pesticides• Pesticide use: – 67 million lbs applied to lawns/yr – 60-70 million birds poisoned/yr in U.S. – <1% of the half million plant and animal species in U.S. considered pests• Overpopulation of a “pest” species usually means unbalanced system• Majority of herbivores that feed rest of food chain are insects• Beneficial species also killed• Use can lead to pesticide-resistant pests

17.
Harm to Biodiversity: Invasive Plants• Native plant – evolved in an area with native community• Non-natives lack natural enemies, resist population control• Not all introduced plants will become invasive• Gardens are staging areas for invasives – We coddle them, give them competitive edge – Lag phase – up to a decade in which potential invasive seems “innocent” • Pollinators, birds, etc. haven’t discovered yet• Be wary of what you plant!

34.
Design: Plant for the Long Term• Perennials v. Annuals – Perennials live for more than two years • Herbaceous plants that die back in fall but come back in spring • Technically includes woody plants – Annuals die every year• Annuals provide instant gratification• Perennial usage – Take 3-5 years to mature – Reduces cost and transportation impacts from annual replacement

40.
Maintenance: Careful Nutrient Application• Use soil testing to determine if fertilizing is necessary• Use compost• Use organics and slow release• Apply sparingly and at correct time• Little to none needed for natives

41.
Maintenance: Water Conservation• Use less water – Only water when needed – Water early in day – Don’t water concrete – Water deeply, infrequently – Use drought tolerant or native plants Drip irrigation • Xeriscaping: use of drought tolerant plants, but not necessarily native