DOING THE GROUNDWORK Beautiful Gardens from the Ground

DOING THE GROUNDWORK Beautiful Gardens from the Ground Up Karrie Reid, M. S. Staff Research Associate UC Davis, Dept. of Plant Sciences

It All Begins with the Soil • • • TEXTURE STRUCTURE DEPTH ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT p. H

It All Begins with the Soil • TEXTURE: particle sizes – Cobbled Clay: fine particles mixed with large stones – Mixing with sand can produce concrete – Organic amendments ideal for improvement

FOLSOM COBBLE Remove and reuse for Borders, Paths, and downspout drains

It All Begins with the Soil • STRUCTURE: aggregates and pores – Heavy, strong structure – Small, few pores inhibit oxygen and water movement – Compaction from construction – Anaerobic

It All Begins with the Soil • DEPTH: determines rooting depth – HARDPANS – Top soil removed in construction – Remaining soil is shallow and inverted

It All Begins with the Soil • OM CONTENT: minimal – Stabilizes structure – Moderates p. H – Provides nutrients • p. H: tends to be HIGH – Nutrient uptake inhibited

How Do You Fix It? ADD ORGANIC MATTER • Improves structure (for H 2 O and O 2) • Lowers and buffers p. H • Adds nutrients

To Amend or Not to Amend? IT DEPENDS! Whole bed, partial bed, under trees?

New Beds-YES! 1. Add at least 4 -6” or more of composted OM and till in to twice the depth 2. Basic soil sulfur will help lower soil p. H SLOWLY and for longer 3. Use natural blood meal or bone meal for Nitrogen and Phosphorous

Already Planted Beds • Add blood meal/ soil sulfur • Top with 1 -2” compost • ADD 3 -4” MULCH

Under Trees-NO • Mulch- but keep 4 -6 inches from trunk • If planting under-follow last • Plant carefully into holes just big enough to accommodate 2 x the width of plant roots

Every Year • Add some fresh compost • Top off thinning mulch • Address specific problems

Specific Corrections • PROBLEM: Old leaves yellowing, dying • CAUSE: Nitrogen deficiency • TREATMENT: Blood meal and/or soil sulfur to lower p. H

Specific Corrections • Old leaves yellow between veins • CAUSE: Magnesium deficiency • TREATMENT: Epsom salt

Specific Corrections • PROBLEM: Young leaves yellow between veins • CAUSE: Iron deficiency • TREATMENT: Soil sulfur to lower p. H Compost to improve aeration!

1. Put plants together 2. READ LABELS for eventual SIZE and LIGHT needs 3. DON’T BUY IF overly root-bound, diseased, broken crown

1. Buy enough for slight overlap: i. 6” or less for large ii. 3” or less for small 2. Buy larger for back, smaller for front 3. Buy the SMALLEST POT SIZE available

PLANTING Prepare by watering the area well 2 -3 days before you plan to amend or plant!

PLANTING • Dig hole 2 X as wide and AS DEEP • Place plant root ball on firm soil and begin replacing soil • Firm soil with hands around the plant roots • Build berm and water in thoroughly

Keep top of root ball slightly above soil level ADD MULCH!!!

MULCH !!! • 2” is okay – 3” is better • Conserves moisture • COOLS SOIL • Suppresses weeds • Slowly adds OM to soil

MULCH !!! • Trees- keep 6” from trunk • Shrubs- keep 3” from trunk • Perennials- closer • REPLACE WITH TOP DRESSING EVERY 2 -3 YEARS

1. Regular water the first year i. Every 2 -3 days in the heat ii. Once a week as it cools and rains iii. CHECK BY FEEL 2. For larger shrubs and trees -2 years 3. After establishment: i. Knock down berm ii. 1 x - 4 x/month: DEEP AND SLOW iii. NO WINTER WATER

INTERMISSION QUESTIONS?

Perennials-shade Rosy Coral Bells Heuchera rosada (and others)

Perennials-shade Island alumroot Heuchera maxima

Perennials-shade Lenten rose Helleborus x hybridus • low evergreen • Blooms in winter to 1 ft.

Perennialsshade Giant chain fern Woodwardia fimbriata

Perennialsshade Pigsqueak Bergenia crassifolia • Low evergreen • Blooms in winter

Perennials-semi-shade Hummingbird Sage Salvia spathacea

Perennials/ groundcover semi-shade to sun Dwarf plumbago Ceratostigma plumbaginoides • Slowly creeping groundcover • Long bloom: summer through fall • Red fall color

Perennials-semi-shade/sun Cape balsam- Bulbine frutescens

SUN Perennials Iris PCH Hybrid ‘Canyon Snow’ • Spring bloomer • Evergreen foliage

SUN Perennials Penstemon ‘Margarita BOP’ • Non-stop bloomer • Evergreen foliage

SUN Perennials ‘Max Frei’ Soapwort Saponaria x lempergii • Low, mounding evergreen • Blooms in spring to fall

SUN Perennials California fucshia Epilobium sp. • Low mound to upright form • Attracts hummingbirds!!!

SUN Perennials Santa Barbara daisy Snow-in-summer Cerastium tomentosum Erigeron karvinskianus • Low mounds • Spread slowly

Ornamental grasses California fescue Blue grama grass Giant feather grass

Grasses/ grasslike plants San Diego sedge Pine muhly

SMALL Shrub-shade Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ HIGHLY FRAGRANT! • Evergreen • Blooms in winter

SMALL Shrubs. Shade/semi-shade Oregon grape Berberis aquifolia ‘Compacta’ • Fruit for native birds • Good for under oaks • Attracts butterflies and beneficial insects • Blooms winter/spring © By Ken

MED-LARGE Shrubs. Shade/ semi shade Golden currant Ribes aureum SPICY FRAGRANCE! • MED-LARGE • Good for under oaks • Attracts butterflies and beneficial insects • Blooms in winterspring • Small (2’) Evergreen • Blooms in winter