EARTHKIND^tm

Environmental Landscape Management

EARTHKIND^tm programs are an educational function of Texas Cooperative Extension.

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE EARTHKIND^tm
ENVIRONMENTAL LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Prepared by Dr. Steven George
Landscape Horticulture Specialist
Texas Cooperative Extension
September 5, 2001

Premise

Use of research-proven gardening and landscaping techniques to provide a maximum of plant enjoyment while protecting our fragile environment.

Goal

Combine the best of organic and traditional gardening and landscaping principles to create a new horticultural system for the 21st Century, a research-proven system based on real-world effectiveness and environmental responsibility.

Compost Introduction

The Don't Bag It Compost Plan is an ecologically sound program designed to significantly reduce the volume of landscape and kitchen waste entering community landfills. Composting is a useful and environmentally sound gardening practice. Compost contains an organic material called humus which assists the soil in holding nutrients. Humus lessens the need for chemical fertilizers and helps prevent leaching of nitrogen into groundwater.

You can compost kitchen wastes, leaves and grass clippings, as well as other yard waste such as pine needles, weeds, small or chipped prunings and spent garden plants. Composting consists of putting grass clippings, leaves, and certain kitchen wastes in a suitable enclosure.

Alternate six to eight inch layers of high carbon materials such as leaves and other dry plant debris, with layers of high nitrogen material such as grass clippings, kitchen water or manure. Add Fertilizer. Add soil. Add water. Turn contents periodically.

Xeriscaping^tm

Consists of planting hardy, conservative plants that save on water consumption.It consists of landscaping to provide protection of dwellings against the summer sun.

It allows sun energy to reach the dwelling during the winter.

It considers air flow from natures wind to cool the dwelling and sustain the plants.

EARTHKIND^tm ROSES

Texas A&M horticulturists have been conducting field research for over three years on more than 117 rose varieties in search of the most beautiful care-free roses ever developed. Out of the 117 varieties studied, 11 gave spectacular performance despite adverse growing conditions and very little maintenance.

To receive the "Earthkind" designation, each cultivator was grown in highly alkaline clay soil with a pH rating between 8.0 and 8.4. Each had to exhibit outstanding disease and insect tolerance/resistance, as well as produce spectacular blooms. According to the researchers, ‘Earthkind’ roses represent (1) the best flowering varieties for horticultural uses; (2) the best varieties for organic management methods; and (3) reduce the need for applications of pesticides by 95%. In the field research program, test varieties were never fertilized, never sprayed and never pruned (except to remove dead wood).

The research showed that these 11 varieties dropped 25% or less of their leaves once a year. None of the 11 varieties had significant insect problems.

The 11 varieties receiving the ‘Earthkind’ designation are:

1. Sea Foam - a creamy white groundcover shrub rose
2. Marie Daly - a pink polyantha dwarf shrubby rose
3. The Fairy - a light pink polyantha dwarf shrubby rose
4. Caldwell Pink - a lilac pink carnation-style found rose
5. Knock Out - a cherry red semi-double shrub rose
6. Perle d’Or - a peach polyantha with fragrant pompom blooms
7. Belinda’s Dream - a medium-size shrub rose
8. Elsie Poulson - a pink floribunda rose that blooms with semi-double flowers
9. Katy Road Pink - a fragrant pink found rose
10. Mutabilis (‘Butterfly’ Rose) - a China rose with single blooms
11. Climbing Pinkie - Pink semi-double polyantha, very fragrant blooms