Climate-Wise Landscaping

Description

What can we do, right now, in our own landscapes, to help solve climate change?

• Sue Reed has 30 years experience as an ecological landscape architect, Ginny Stibolt is a botanist, science advocate and garden writer.
• Ginny Stibolt blogs at www.greengardeningmatter.com
• Contains hundreds of easy practical actions that readers can take in their own backyards and communities to tackle climate change
• Covers most North American climate zones, aside from the Arctic and the tropics
• Actions help save money, reduce carbon footprint, create clean air and support pollinators
• Explains how to protect gardens from extreme weather including heat, drought, unseasonably warm or cold weather
• Teaches people how to create gardens that flourish in unpredictable conditions and have success in landscaping
• Differs from other landscaping and gardening books in that it puts climate change at the centre of landscapes and gardens

Audience

• Gardeners, homeowners, landscapers, municipalities, people concerned about the impacts of climate change

What can we do, right now, in our own landscapes, to help solve climate change?

Predictions about future effects of climate change range from mild to dire - but we're already seeing warmer winters, hotter summers, and more extreme storms. Proposed solutions often seem expensive and complex, and can leave us as individuals at a loss, wondering what, if anything, can be done.

Sue Reed and Ginny Stibolt offer a rallying cry in response - instead of wringing our hands, let's roll up our sleeves. Based on decades of experience, this book is packed with simple, practical steps anyone can take to beautify any landscape or garden, while helping protect the planet and the species that call it home. Topics include:

• Working actively to shrink our carbon footprint through mindful landscaping and gardening
• Creating cleaner air and water
• Increasing physical comfort during hotter seasons
• Supporting birds, butterflies, pollinators, and other wildlife.

This book is the ideal tool for homeowners, gardeners, and landscape professionals who want to be part of the solution to climate change.

Acknowledgments
Foreword by Doug Tallamy
Preface
Introduction: A Primer on Climate Change

SECTION 1: Lawn
I-1: Liberate the Lawn
A Primer on Landscape Chemicals
I-2: Reduce the Extent of Lawn
I-3: Minimize Use of Power Tools
I-4: Revive Damaged Lawns
I-5: Provide Good Preparation for New Lawns
I-6: Replace Some Lawn with Meadow
I-7: Ideas for Large/Public Lawns

SECTION II: Trees and Shrubs
II-1: Take Good Care of Woody Plants
II-2: Choose Species Able to Tolerate Changing Conditions
II-3: Maximize Carbon Storage in Woody Plants
II-4: Get the Most Cooling Benefit from Trees

SECTION III: Water
A Primer on Water Chemistry and Plants
III-1: Make Landscapes More Drought-Tolerant
III-2: Use Climate-Wise Irrigation Methods
III-3: Install Water-Collection Systems
III-4: Add Water-Absorbing Features
III-5: Create or Maintain Water Features

SECTION IV: Ecosystems
A Primer on Native Plants
IV-1: Prioritize for Native Plants
IV-2: Plant in Groups and Communities
IV-3: Create Habitat-Rich Layers and Edges
IV-4: Enhance Biodiversity
IV-5: Create Semi-Wild Patches

SECTION V: Soil
A Primer on Soil Carbon and Ecosystems
V-1: Maximize Carbon Storage in Soil
V-2: Minimize Soil Disturbance
V-3: Avoid Compacting the Soil
V-4: Build Compost
V-5: Cover Bare Soil

SECTION VI: Planning and Design
VI-1: Design New Home Sites with Climate in Mind
VI-2: Fit Landscape to Land
VI-3: Design for Multiple Purposes
VI-4: Create Energy-Wise Landscapes
VI-5: Design Flood-Wise Landscapes
VI-6: Install Buffer Zones
VI-7: Create Fire-Wise Landscapes
VI-8: Incorporate Renewable Energy
VI-9: Design Climate-Wise Driveways and Parking

SECTION VII: Herbaceous Plants
VII-1: Choose Regionally Appropriate Plants
VII-2: Garden to Support Pollinators
VII-3: Control Invasive Plants
VII-4: Design Perennial Gardens to Serve Local Ecosystems

SECTION VIII: Urban Issues
VIII-1: Maximize Urban Vegetation
VIII-2: Create More Green Roofs and Green Walls
VIII-3: Design Cool Roofs
VIII-4: Support the Use of Cool Pavement Techniques
VIII-5: Choose Climate-Wise Lighting
VIII-6: Create Habitat Corridors

SECTION IX: Food
IX-1: Grow Food Above the Ground
IX-2: Grow Long-Lived (Perennial) Sources of Food
IX-3: Use Organic Methods for Growing Food
IX-4: Support Locally Produced Food
IX-5: Harvest Wild Edibles

SECTION X: Materials
X-1: Stone
X-2: Wood
X-3: Metal
X-4: Concrete
X-5: Earthen Materials

Conclusion
Endnotes
Index
About the Authors
About New Society Publishers

Subjects

• Books
• Loisirs et hobbies
• Gardening
• HOWTO
• GUIdebook
• Landscape architecture
• Climate change
• Gardening
• Landscape
• Science
• Architecture

Informations

• Published by: New Society Publishers
• Published: 03 April 2018
• Reads: 0
• EAN13: 9781771422758
• Language: English
• Document size: 24 MB

Exrait

Adoance Praise fOrClimate-Wise Landscaping

Sue Reed and Ginny StibOlt bring cOmplementary backgrOunds tO bear On the subject Of hOw we can adapt Our landscapes tO a changing climate. Starting frOm the premise that the impacts Of climate change will Only becOme mOre seoere in the future, the authOrs haoe created a cOmprehensioe bOOk that Outlines dOzens Of actiOns that peOple can take tO adjust tO eoOloing climate regimes. In the prOcess, they articulate a new gardening aesthetic fOr peOple whO wOrk with small garden plOts, farms and wOOdlOts. The result is a pOsitioe and hOpeful stOry Of hOw peOple can use their imaginatiOn and ingenuity tO help craft mOre resilient landscapes.

— Dr. Peter RObinsOn, fOrmer CEÔ, Daoid Suzuki FOundatiOn

Climate-Wise Landscaping is a cOmprehensioe, yet easy tO read, sOurce Of in fOrmatiOn On climate-change adaptatiOn and mitigatiOn actiOns fO r the hOmeOwner, gardener, and landscape prOfessiOnal. Beautiful phOtOs and pleasing graphic s illustrate key ideas and actiOns while infOrmatioe sidebars and inspiring quOtes frOm climate and landscape experts prOoide clarity Of cOmplex systems and mOtioatiOn tO adapt tO a changing future. The text prOoides an engaging blend Of brOad ideas alOng with specific actiOns we can take tO adapt tO climate-change at the leoel Of Our hOme landscapes, whether a small garden plOt within an urban area Or twenty acres in the cOuntryside.

— Julie Richburg, Ph.D., EcOlOgist

Gioen the lateness Of the hOur, a bOOk On climate-wise landscaping cOuld nOt be mOre timely Or mOre necessary. We are mOoing intO a new and critic al era, and this bOOk takes landscape prOfessiOnals and hOme gardeners where they need tO gO. The facts, well-presented and practical, will be an eye-Opener fOr many peOple, and empOwer us as hOrticulturists Of all stripes tO dO what is bOth helpful and imperatioe. Landscaping ha s always been mOre than just exteriOr decOrating, and nOw we haoe One mOre tOOl in Our kit tO make the landscape ecOsystem a part Of the sOlutiOn. Thank yOu, Sue and Ginny, fOr hitting a hOme run.

— Ôwen Dell RLA, ASLA, landscape architect, educatOr, authOr, Ôwen Dell & AssOciates

Gardening is nOt always as green and gOOd fOr the planet as we might think. Sue Reed and Ginny StibOlt Open Our eyes tO surprisingly cOmmOn, unsustainable landscaping practices and inspire us tO rethink hOw we create and care fOr land. This fantastic resOurce is filled with climate-wise sOlutiOns fOr anyOne whO Owns Or manages a piece Of grOund — eoen if it’s just a few cOntainers On a tiny rOOftOp garden. YOu will quickly learn abOut exiting ways tO Offset sOme Of the effects we peOple haoe On the planet. The bOOk is easy tO n aoigate and it passiOnately links better gardening practices with better life quality and a brighter future fOr Our planet.

— Claudia West ASLA, Principal, PhytO StudiO LLC

The authOrs Of this bOOk prOoide a cOmprehensioe apprOach tO designing landscapes that haoe the pOtential Of being bOth enoirOnmentally sOund and experientially rich. I applaud them in dOing the extensioe research, backed up by their Own prOfessiOnal expertise and experience, in creating this oery useful guide tO designing landscapes fOr the 21st Century which clearly respOnd tO Our changing climate.

— Darrel MOrrisOn, HOnOrary AssOciate Faculty Member in Landscape Architecture Unioersity Of WiscOnsin-MadisOn

Copyright © 2018 Sue Reed and Ginny Stibolt. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Diane McIntosh.

Cover images © iStock: Garden 584877834; Trillium (bottom) 516010372.

Interior images: p 6 © Oksancia; p 10 background © alenek; p 228 © zgurski1980; tree icons © topor / Adobe Stock

Printed in Canada. First printing March 2018.

This book is intended to be educational and informative. It is not intended to serve as a guide. The author and publisher disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk that may be associated with the application of any of the contents of this book.

Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part ofClimate-Wise Landscapingbe should addressed to New Society Publishers at the address below.

To order directly from the publishers, please call toll-free (North America) 1-800-567-6772, or order online atwww.newsociety.com

Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to:

New Society Publishers

P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada [phone]

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION

Reed, Sue, 1953-, author

Climate-wise landscaping : practical actions for a sustainable future / Sue Reed and Ginny Stibolt.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Issued in print and electronic formats.

ISBN 978-0-86571-888-3 (softcover).— ISBN 978-1-55092-680-4 (PDF) . — ISBN 978-1- 77142-275-8 (EPUB).

1. Landscape gardening—Environmental aspects. 2. La ndscaping industry—Environmental aspects. 3. Sustainable living. I. Stibolt, Ginny, author II. Title.

SB473.R43 2018

712

C2017-907028-2 C2017-907029-0

New Society Publishers’ mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a manner that models this vision.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword by Doug Tallamy

Preface

Introduction

A Primer on Climate Change

SECTION I: Lawn

I-1: Liberate the Lawn

A Primer on Landscape Chemicals

I-2: Reduce the Extent of Lawn

I-3: Minimize Use of Power Tools

I-4: Revive Damaged Lawns

I-5: Provide Good Preparation for New Lawns

I-6: Replace Some Lawn with Meadow

I-7: Ideas for Large/Public Lawns

SECTION II: Trees and Shrubs II-1: Take Good Care of Woody Plants II-2: Choose Species Able to Tolerate Changing Conditions

II-3: Maximize Carbon Storage in Woody Plants II-4: Get the Most Cooling Benefit from Trees SECTION III: Water

A Primer on Water Chemistry and Plants

III-1: Make Landscapes More Drought-Tolerant

III-2: Use Climate-Wise Irrigation Methods

III-3: Install Water-Collection Systems

III-4: Add Water-Absorbing Features

III-5: Create or Maintain Water Features

SECTION IV: Ecosystems

A Primer on Native Plants

IV-1: Prioritize for Native Plants IV-2: Plant in Groups and Communities IV-3: Create Habitat-Rich Layers and Edges

IV-4: Enhance Biodiversity

IV-5: Create Semi-Wild Patches

SECTION V: Soil

A Primer on Soil Carbon and Ecosystems

V-1: Maximize Carbon Storage in Soil

V-2: Minimize Soil Disturbance

V-3: Avoid Compacting the Soil

V-4: Build Compost

V-5: Cover Bare Soil

SECTION VI: Planning and Design VI-1: Design New Home Sites with Climate in Mind VI-2: Fit Landscape to Land

VI-3: Design for Multiple Purposes

VI-4: Create Energy-Wise Landscapes

VI-5: Design Flood-Wise Landscapes

VI-6: Install Buffer Zones

VI-7: Create Fire-Wise Landscapes VI-8: Incorporate Renewable Energy VI-9: Design Climate-Wise Driveways and Parking

SECTION VII: Herbaceous Plants VII-1: Choose Regionally Appropriate Plants VII-2: Garden to Support Pollinators

VII-3: Control Invasive Plants

VII-4: Design Perennial Gardens to Serve Local Ecosystems

SECTION VIII: Urban Issues

VIII-1: Maximize Urban Vegetation

VIII-2: Create More Green Roofs and Green Walls

VIII-3: Design Cool Roofs

VIII-4: Support the Use of Cool Pavement Techniques

VIII-5: Choose Climate-Wise Lighting

VIII-6: Create Habitat Corridors

SECTION IX: Food

IX-1: Grow Food Above the Ground

IX-2: Grow Long-Lived (Perennial) Sources of Food

IX-3: Use Organic Methods for Growing Food IX-4: Support Locally Produced Food IX-5: Harvest Wild Edibles

SECTION X: Materials X-1: Stone X-2: Wood X-3: Metal X-4: Concrete

X-5: Earthen Materials Conclusion

Endnotes

Index

About the Authors

About New Society Publishers

Acknowledgments

A Note from Author Sue Reed

Like many creatioe wOrks, this bOOk tOOk a lOng tim e tO prOduce and an eoen lOnger time tO figure Out befOre the writing began. I am oery grat eful fOr the help Of many friends and cOlleagues thrOughOut the entire prOcess. My great appreciatiOn gOes tO:

• Ginny StibOlt, fOr agreeing tO share in creating this bOOk, and fOr her gardening and bOtany expertise, excellent phOtOs, clear thinking, and straightfOrward cOmmunicatiOn.

• DOug Tallamy, fOr his early oalidating cOmments abOut my idea fOr this bOOk.

• Ôwen Dell, fOr his unique perspectioe On sustainable design, and fOr encOuragement at bOth the start and end Of this writing.

• Graduate students at the COnway SchOOl, class Of 2016, fOr Our fruitful brainstOrming sessiOn.

• Sally Naser, fOr cOuntless releoant articles and ideas, and always cheering me On.

• Bill Lattrell and Julie Richburg, fOr essential infOrmatiOn abOut ecOlOgy and wildlife.

• Lauren Wheeler and AarOn Schlechter, fOr guidance abOut green infrastructure.

• Claudia ThOmpsOn, Katherine MacCOll, Jan VOOrhis, and CarOl COne, fOr sharing their gardening experiences. (And Katherine fOr editing help at the finish line.)

• Betsy Abert, fOr always reminding me abOut birds and their habitat needs.

• Adam Martin, fOr answering my many questiOns (at the end Of One lOng hOt day!) abOut cOmmunity-scale cOmpOsting.

• Benjamin VOgt, fOr sharing pOrtiOns Of his unpublished manuscript fOrA New Garden Ethic.

• JOhn COrnell, fOr ideas abOut landscape cOnstruct iOn and green rOOfs, and FiOna and Becky COrnell fOr sending me garden phOtOs.

• CarOle S. BrOwn, fOr including me as a cOntributOr in her inspiring natioe plant blOg.

• Rhea Banker, fOr her publishing adoice at the start, many clarifying questiOns as I went alOng, and inoaluable guidance abOut cOoer design at the end.

• Laura MacKay, fOr oital editing and marketing ideas.

• Marian Kelner, fOr thOughtful feedback abOut the whOle manuscript.

• Ruth Parnall, fOr generOus help with ideas and phOtOs.

• DOn Walker, fOr attentioely reading a large pOrtiOn Of the manuscript and making it better; and fOr shOwing me the path Of ecOlOgical landscape design 30 years agO, and steadily pOinting the way eoer since.

• Emma Picardi, fOr her gentle encOuragement and cOnstant cOnfidence in my wOrk.

• Daoid SchOchet, fOr his thOusands Of hOurs Of intelligent listening, thOughtful editing, and clear adoice, fOr imprOoing the whOle bOOk, and fOr his unwaoering, lOoing suppOrt.

Finally, Sue and Ginny gioe MarjOrie ShrOpshire great thanks fOr her lioely illustratiOns.