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I. Select appropriate <br />B. aose plants that can <br />~:o their natural size in <br />..: eNace allotted them <br />Description <br />Selecting a plant or plants to grow in <br />too small a space starts a lifelong battle <br />with the plant's genetics, thereby inviting <br />disease and insects, generating <br />unnecessary waste or increasing the fuel <br />load. <br />^ Consider the mature size and shape <br />of the plants you choose and place <br />them in areas that will allow them to <br />assume their natural form. <br />^ Avoid over-planting for instant effect. <br />^ Select trees with a mature height of <br />less than 20 feet for planting near <br />power lines. <br />Labor, fuel and waste are likely to be <br />reduced, cutting your costs. Plant health <br />and resistance to disease is fostered. <br />"People <br />~.~ <br />. ~ are <br />focused <br />on how the landscape looks <br />right after planting. This <br />means that shrubs are planted <br />so tightly that they can't reach <br />maturity or flower and this <br />leads to higher maintenance <br />COStS. " <br />- George Pacheco, Owner/President, <br />Pacheco Brothers Gardening, Hayward <br />C. =lace sheared hedges <br />,lants that can grow to <br />~.rr~ya, a~atural shape & size <br />Description <br />Shearing is a horticulturally unsound <br />practice that is labor intensive and that <br />encourages excessive new growth that <br />can lead to unhealthy plants and <br />increased waste. What's more, sheared <br />hedges and screens have lots of <br />deadwood under the dense green <br />crown because of the lack of light <br />reaching into the hedge.This dieback in <br />the center of the plant increases its <br />flammability. <br />^ If hedges are desired, select dense <br />species that will be able to grow to <br />their natural shapes and sizes. <br />^ Reduce the number of plants in the <br />existing hedges and allow the <br />remaining plants to grow into their <br />natural form, if their size is <br />appropriate to the space. <br />^ Or recommend to your customers <br />that sheared hedges be removed and <br />replaced with plants that can grow to <br />their natural form. <br />Your cost for the labor to regularly shear <br />the hedges is lowered and at the same <br />time, fuel load can be decreased, waste <br />will likely be reduced and your disposal <br />bills lowered. <br />D. not plant invasive <br />'S <br />Description <br />Invasive plants used in landscaping often <br />escape into our natural areas, where <br />they can spread rapidly and out- <br />compete natives, degrade wildlife habitat <br />and increase the fuel load. <br />Applications <br />Familiarize yourself with locally important <br />invasive species, some of which are listed <br />on the following page, and eliminate <br />them from the site. Sheet mulch can be <br />very effective for weed control. Do not <br />plant invasive species. For more <br />information contact www.cal-ipc.org <br />The cost of later pulling these species <br />out of the landscape, neighboring sites <br />and wild lands is avoided. Waste is <br />reduced and ecosystem diversity is <br />protected. <br />"Using the right plant in the right spot <br />will minimize the level of maintenance required to <br />have a good looking landscape. This means taking <br />into consideration the growth habits, maximum height <br />and breadth, pests, ideal soil conditions, and water <br />requirements associated with the plant. <br />- Gary Imazwni, Interim Associate Director, Grounds, Recycling and <br />Refuse, and Pest Management Services, Physical Planc -Campus <br />Services, University of California, Berkeley <br />~~ <br />~. <br />ti ~ <br />-,.. <br />F'~"..~ <br />~ ~ <br />~ y <br />Z~ <br />