Organic Management for the Professional

Description

Can you manage the landscape of a golf course, city park, or corporate campus without synthetic fertilizers and toxic pesticides? Absolutely! Organic landscaping is not only possible on a large scale, but it also makes sense both economically and environmentally. It promotes healthy soils and plants, which require less water and sequester more carbon—a winning combination for both your bottom line and the planet’s fight against resource depletion and global warming. Organic programs on a commercial scale have enormous potential to make a difference in the quality of our environment, our use of fuels, and our climate. And as those who have already converted to organics have discovered, they also cost a lot less over the long term.

Organic Management for the Professional is the first comprehensive guide to “going green” in large-scale landscaping. Nationally recognized organic gardening expert Howard Garrett, with associates John Ferguson and Mike Amaranthus, not only explains in detail how to manage projects with natural organic techniques, but also presents the material in clear, simple terms so that commercial and institutional property owners can understand what to ask of their landscape architects, contractors, growers, and maintenance people. They give detailed, proven instructions for the key components of organic landscaping—soil building, correct planting techniques, fertilizing, pest control, compost, and mulch. Then they show how to apply these organic methods in large-scale landscaping, commercial growing (orchards, tree farms, nurseries, and greenhouse operations), and recreational properties (golf courses, parks, and sports fields).

Howard Garrett, is a landscape architect, certified arborist, broadcaster, writer, and a leader in the natural-organic marketplace. He provides consulting on natural-organic gardening, landscaping, pet health, pest control, and green living.

John Ferguson founded and owns Natural Waste Solutions, Inc., dba Nature’s Way Resources, a Houston-based composting, mulch, and recycling company that specializes in high quality compost, mulch, and soil mixes.

Mike Amaranthus is adjunct associate professor at Oregon State University and president of Mycorrhizal Applications, Inc.

Preface

Chapter 1: Introduction to Organics

Reasons to Go Organic

Converting to the Natural Organic Program

Chapter 2: Soil Building

Basic Soil Science

Soil Biology

Soil Texture

Nutrients

Soil Testing

Soil Amendments

Chapter 3: Planting

Basic Bed Preparation

Seed Planting

Cuttings

Transplants

Tree Planting

Potting Soil

Chapter 4: Fertilizing

How Organic Fertilizers Work

Foliar Feeding

Product Information

Refractometer

Chapter 5: Pest and Disease Control

The Real Purpose of Toxic Chemical Pesticides

Pests and Their Organic Remedies

Insect Pests

Structural Pest Control

Honeybees and Other Pollinators

Diseases

Weeds: The Disliked Plants

Chapter 6: Compost

Why Compost?

Compost Types and Methods

Compostable Materials

Composting Process

Warning Signs in Compost

Vermicomposting

Using Compost

Compost Tea

Chapter 7: Mulch

Mulch Types

Mulch Uses and Applications

Pitfalls of Mulching

The Science of Mulch

The Mulch Business

Mulches Not Recommended

Chapter 8: Landscaping

Landscaping Elements

Landscaping Specifications

Chapter 9: Commercial Growing Operations and Recreational

Properties

Commercial Growing Operations

Recreational Properties

Chapter 10: Organic Strategies and Global Climate Change

Global Warming by the Numbers

Organic Methods Make a Difference

The Link to Soil Life

Carbon-rich Organic Glue

Organic Material, Organic Matter, and Soil Carbon

Squashing the Symbiosis

Managing Trees in Landscapes as Carbon Sinks

Landscape and Turf Management

Conclusions

Appendix 1: Organic Treatment Formulas

Appendix 2: Sources for Organic Supplies

Appendix 3: Soil-Testing Resources

Appendix 4: Conversion Tables

Information Resources

Index

Additional information

Dimensions	2 × 6 × 9 in