GIE 2002: It's Alive!

The three R’s are the first and most important things taught in school, but Steven O’Neal, professor and program coordinator of the landscape design build department at Columbus State Community College, trusts that his students already understand those basics. In his classes, O’Neal’s basics revolve around the human impact on landscaping and plant development.

In his presentation “The Landscape Is Alive!,” given at the Green Industry Expo on Nov. 14, O’Neal taught attendees about the five ways people impact plant development. “We create a ‘room’ for our clients,” O’Neal said, emphasizing that what he calls “the outdoor living environment” can take as long as 25 years to fully mature. “Plants grow – accepting that will make your landscape better,” he enthused, and suggested that all landscapers take the following into account on a design/build project:

· Plant Selection – Considering location, the soil’s water content, amount of light, and available space is necessary when choosing plants for a site. Otherwise, environment-specific plants may not thrive, regardless of how much attention they are given during maintenance.

· Handling – “Until plants are in your possession,” O’Neal warned, “handling is uncontrollable.” For that reason, he reminded attendees that a plant’s root mass is easily broken. Rocking a tree to position it on a truck can damage the root ball, and accidentally nicking tree bark may not appear to damage the exterior, but can harm the interior bark and heartwood.

· Planting – Plenty of room is necessary for plants to thrive. Roots of potted plants can begin to grow back into the root when there’s not sufficient space for them to grow out. For trees, O’Neal teaches that the growth of the plant needs to be at or above the ball, and that “mulch volcanoes” (too much mulch) should be avoided at all costs. A plant that is planted too deep or whose base is covered with mulch is in danger of suffocation and rotting.

· Soils & Environment – Soil amendment is one way to give plants a little extra care. Using the proper amending materials and the right amount (which differs from region to region and plant to plant) are key to successful soil amendment. Also, planting a client’s tree right up next to the house may look nice in the design, but without enough space for its roots to extend, the tree can either upset the foundation or simply die.

· Maintenance – Things like bed edging and proper pruning can help keep plants healthy and damage-free. The right amount of mulch can recycle valuable plant materials, but too much can invite pests or inflict other damage. Also, staking trees and guiding plants should be avoided since plants grow best when they have room to stretch their branches.

O’Neal also left the GIE class with some important plant development facts.  First, a plant’s growth is limited by our restrictions – not the plant’s natural growth, meaning that improper handling, planting, and maintenance are more detrimental to a plant than simply leaving it to its own devices. Second, healthy roots equal healthy plants – so paying extra attention to the condition and placement of roots when planting can help a plant thrive. Finally, we damage a plant every time we handle it. There’s really no way to get around it. But remembering that the landscape is alive – and taking O’Neal’s suggestions and expertise to heart – may ensure that any well-designed landscape will live to full maturity.

The author is Assistant Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at lspiers@lawnandlandscape.com.