Tree planting and vernal pool creation - Saturday

Dress for getting dirty and come join others in helping to reforest the banks of the Takoma Branch, a tributary of Sligo Creek and the Anacostia River.

Anacostia Restoration Program Staff will host a tree planting and vernal pool creation event on Saturday, November 6^th in the Chillum Ray Neighborhood, Maryland. This reforestation event will benefit the tree canopy and habitat along a tributary of the Anacostia River in Prince George’s County. If you have not had the opportunity to participate in a reforestation event, this could be your chance!

Tree planting and vernal pool creation activities will be happening this weekend, Saturday, November 6th from 9am to noon.

For more information, download this flyer from the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership website.

Virginia is for (garden) lovers

Brrrr, the temperatures are dropping but it is still a wonderful time of year to be outside, appreciating the colors and the cool fall weather.

Before we head into the holiday madness that is fast approaching, why not spend some time this weekend visiting one of the wonderful public gardens in the area?

There are public gardens to inspire and delight you, no matter what your image of the perfect outdoor paradise entails. Plantations, deep forests, flora, and fauna will greet you on the garden paths of these wonderful Metro Area gardens.

Virginia Gardens - Visit the nation's oldest gardens right here in Virginia! From the most historic Berkeley Plantation to the spectacular displays at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and George Washington's Mount Vernon, Virginia's gardens are breathtaking and inspiring.

Maryland Public Gardens - Visit Maryland’s public gardens and discover hidden gems of the Free State. The gardens feature topiary, sculpture and colonial gardens, large and small cultivated pockets of horticultural delights, as well as forests and meadows celebrating Maryland’s native flora.

District of Columbia Public Gardens and Garden Walks - The U.S. Botanic Garden, the National Arboretum and others give you plenty of choices for getting outside and enjoying our beautiful fall weather.

First rooftop garden built for bees!

As an eco-friendly gardener, I love honey bees! I love fresh honey and I understand the vital role that pollinators play in the production of some of my favorite plants (such as coffee and chocolate!)

So I was excited to see the news releases about the First Green Roof for honeybees that Green Roof Service LLC and Architecture and Design Inc (ADI) are creating on the rooftop of an historic Ice Storage House in Baltimore on November 9th.

Green roofs are beneficial for several reasons: they reduce the Heat Island Effect, absorb rain water and effectively reduce the amount of contaminants that reach the Chesapeake Bay. But by using bee-loving plants for a green roof, they can also help encourage beneficial pollinators!

One of the greatest threats to honey bees today is the lack of habitat due to urban sprawl. A rooftop garden for bees can provide an ever-blooming habitat and water source for bees while reducing the building’s energy consumption.

Jörg Breuning, founder of Green Roof Services LLC and a native of Germany, has worked for over 30 years in green roof design and installation and helped bring green roof technology to the United States. Breuning, who has been a key figure in establishing guidelines and regulations used by trade organizations to standardize the green roof industry, feels that the combination of modern green roof technology with honey bees is a 100% natural and successful symbiosis.

“Sustainable growth of plants in an urban environment and on green roofs benefit from pollinators as natural players,” said Mr. Breuning.

Diane Odell GRP, of ADI Architecture and Green Roof Service’s certified Green Roof Professional/landscape designer Kathryn Harrold sourced locally grown plants that are suited to the harsh environment of a green roof, yet also offer a rich source of food for the honey bee menu.

Lee Jaslow owner of Conservation Technology and the warehouse is proud of "practicing what he has preached" over the years. He stated that this is the first green roof with honey bees in Maryland and one of the first of its kind in the country. Conservation Technology provided all technical components of the green roof and will be in charge of maintenance ensuring its future success.

Construction for this historical moment for Baltimore's ecology will take place on Tuesday November 9th from 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to the public. Demonstrations explaining green roof technology will be held throughout the installation, and staff will be on hand to answer any questions about the installation and beekeeping. Admittance is free and open to the public.

Please visit the website: www.evolutionroof.com for project info or visit the company’s websites: www.greenroofservice.com or www.conservationtechnology.com

The historic Ice Storage House is located at 330 W. 23^rd St. a block off Howard Street. For more information on this project or to attend the installation, please contact honeybees@greenroofservice.com or visit evolutionroof.com.
 

To learn more about the importance of pollinators, visit these great sites:
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Pollinators
U.S. Forest Service Pollinators
Pollinator Partnership

Creating Sustainable Landscapes - today!

"CREATING SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES," discussed by Holly H. Shimizu of the U.S. Botanic Garden, sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension. 9:30-11:30 a.m., Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford St., Arlington County. Free, registration required. 703-228-6414.

Fertilize with care

The first thing many people do when a plant looks stressed or doesn't seem to be growing quickly enough is head for the fertilizer. This might not only harm the plant, but unnecessary fertilizers (and other chemicals) are sure to harm the planet.

Excess chemical fertilizers are washed into our waterways, releasing nutrients that can cause algae blooms that rob the water of dissolved oxygen and can lead to fish kills. Excess chemicals in fertilizer may also find its way into local drinking water supplies.

Whenever possible choose plants that require little or no fertilizer. Native plants are usually a good choice for this. Having your soil tested will also help you determine what nutrients are lacking.

Amend the soil by adding homemade compost and other nutrients. Healthy soil will provide plants enough nutrients without the use of additional fertilizers.

If it is determined that a plant needs fertilizer, choose an organic fertilizer or one that contains nitrogen in a slow-release insoluble form. Nitrogen is one of the chemicals in fertilizer that has the most potential for harming the environment. The other chemical of concern is phosphorus. Always follow manufacturer’s directions when using fertilizer.

If using a purchased fertilizer, choose one that contains at least 30 percent slow-release nitrogen. Also, check the three numbers on the front of the bag to select the right mixture for the type of plant you are fertilizing. The numbers represent the fertilizer's nitrogen (first number), phosphorus (second number) and potassium (third number) contents. Using high nitrogen fertilizer on a plant that does not need it is a waste of money and will eventually be washed away by storm water if not used by the plant.

During the 2009 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Chesapeake Bay Phosphorus Reduction Act prohibiting the sale of lawn fertilizer that is not low-phosphorous fertilizer. On or after April 1, 2011, lawn fertilizer sold in Maryland must contain not more than 5 percent of available phosphoric acid. 

Fertilizers with higher concentrations of phosphorus will be allowed only in special situations and for new lawns and turf. Newly planted areas require more phosphorus to promote root growth, while established plants and turf need very little phosphorus. 

The legislation helps protect the Chesapeake Bay from high concentrations of phosphorus that can lead to algae blooms and oxygen depletion. County residents can do their part now by seeking out low phosphorus fertilizers for lawn treatment. It is also a good practice to conduct soil tests before applying fertilizers so that treatments are tailored for local soil conditions. Source

If a plant is looking pale or showing other symptoms of ill health, take a piece of the plant to your local Extension Service office or trusted garden center for help with diagnosis of the problem.

Fertilize during the dry months, when possible, and use the least amount of fertilizer necessary. Do not apply fertilizer within 50 feet of a water body and never fertilize when rain is predicted.

For more information, see: Fertilizing the Vegetable Garden

More "green" gardeners in 2011?

According to a report by the Garden Media Group , more gardeners will be practicing "green" gardening techniques in the coming years.

Garden and outdoor living expert Susan McCoy explains why. “We had trouble wrapping our heads around saving the rain forests,” she said, “but we clearly can wrap our arms around saving our own backyards. Digging and planting gardens brings awareness that we’re all earth’s caretakers.”

As backyard conservationists, gardeners are transforming yards, gardens, rooftops and even urban alleys into green and productive spaces, knowing they are making a positive impact. Here’s a look at top emerging garden trends that McCoy and her team are seeing for 2011:


  1. Gardening with a Purpose 

  2. Eco-scaping 

  3. Edible Ornamentals 

  4. Sustainable Containers 

  5. Succulents 

  6. Indoor Gardening 

  7. Growing UP 

  8. Urban Farming 

  9. New Urbanism 

Gardening with a Purpose  In the wake of the shocking Gulf coast images of oil-sheen waves and coated   wetlands and wildlife, we’re taking measures to protect and conserve valuable natural resources. This trend   is echoed by Patricia St. John, president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, that          “gardens continue to reflect awareness of how our landscapes enhance and improve the  environment         around us.”

There’s no disputing that we all need to work together to rejuvenate, regenerate and restore Mother Earth.   Choosing eco-friendly products over toxic chemicals is a pro-active step to making our world cleaner and   greener.

According to the recent National Gardening Association’s Lawn & Garden Survey, survey, 9 out of 10        households want to manage their lawns and gardens in an environmentally- friendly way. Consumers are      turning to all-natural repellents to keep unwanted pests from mowing down lawns and valuable plants. Eco-friendly repellents keep garden foes away and are guaranteed effective and safe for people, plants and pets. 

Click here to read the full report from the Garden Media Group. What are the top 2011 Gardening Trends

Make your Neighborhood Tree-rific

Audubon Maryland-DC’s Patterson Park Audubon Center is teaming up with Tree Baltimore and other local resources to present a free, full-day workshop for educators, community leaders, and citizens on how to take action to plant more trees in the city. This free workshop will be held on October 30, 2010 from 9-4 to learn how you can:

•Work with neighbors and groups to plant more trees
•Choose the best trees for your space
•Care for your trees
•Invite birds to your yard
•Educate children and neighbors about the benefits of trees
•Access resources, funding, and other support

The workshop will be held at:
Hampstead Hill Academy
(Across from Patterson Park)
500 South Linwood Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224

For more information, visit the Audubon Maryland-DC's website

Protect the groundwater

Everything that goes into the ground at your home has the potential of finding its way to local groundwater supplies. This is called nonpoint source (NPS) pollution and is one of the country’s leading causes of water pollution. Fertilizers and pesticides are the two worst offenders, but other elements such as soaps used for car washing and animal wastes are picked up by rain and irrigation systems and are washed out into the storm water lines. Follow the guidelines about fertilizer and pesticides on this website to help prevent NPS pollution. Here are some other tips for preventing storm water runoff.

• Yard Waste - Avoid blowing lawn clippings into the street or piling them on storm drains.
• Mulching - Mulch allows rainwater to seep into the ground and forms a firm ground cover, filtering pollutants and holding soil in its place.
• Sprinklers and Downspouts - Turn downspouts of rain gutters into planted areas instead of toward paved surfaces such as driveways.
• Pet Care – Collect pet waste and dispose of in wastebasket or toilet.
• Use permeable surfaces such as wood decks, bricks, and concrete lattice to let water soak into the ground.

For more information about protecting the groundwater: Looking closer at NPS Pollution Pick up after your pet

Butterfly Gardening lecture - October 24th.

Nadine Scott, who is very much into native plants and butterfly gardening, discusses "Butterfly Gardening, Bring on the Natives" at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, as the fall lecture for the Butterfly Society of Virginia.

For more information, visit this post on Kathy Van Mullekom's Diggin' In blog.

Conserve Water

An American family of four can use 400 gallons of water per day, and about 30 percent of that is devoted to outdoor uses. More than half of that outdoor water is used for watering lawns and gardens. Nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for almost one-third of all residential water use, totaling more than 7 billion gallons per day.

As populations increase, demand on our water resources will grow. Conserving water can prevent or postpone the expense of building or renovating new water supply facilities.

By making changes to some of our landscaping practices, we can all make a difference in water conservation.

Here are some suggestions to reduce the amount of water used for your home landscape:

• Group plants by their water requirements
• Use drought tolerant plants
• Cut down on the amount of lawn in your landscape. Turfgrass is a water hog.
• Water only when plants begin to droop. Then, water before dawn.
• Monitor irrigation systems. Are you watering the street or driveway?
• Use a rain sensors, soaker hoses and drip irrigation.
• Mulch to retain moisture.
• Use rain barrels.

For more information

Find a Watersense Irrigation Specialist
Wise Water Use
Conserving Water Outdoors
10 Tips to Conserve Water Outside
Waterwise Landscaping Guide