What I Learned from The New American Landscape

Here's my latest for Kirkus Reviews.  Click here to read Amy's interview with Benjamin Vogt about his book Sleep, Creep, Leap.

Sustainable v. traditional front yards in Santa Monica, CA

I must have read every book ever published about “sustainable gardening” – surely there aren’t any more of them! – but still I was eager to read the latest on the subject from Timber Press because the contributors are the undisputed experts on their subjects, from soils and water conservation to native plants and permaculture.  Indeed the book’s subtitle, “Leading voices on the future of sustainable gardening,” is no idle boast.

So despite my imagined overexposure to this topic, I found plenty of interesting tidbits in The New American Landscape, including the following.

Pest and pesticide experts David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth boldly state what’s so often said whispered about the horticultural advice given by universities – that it’s often tainted by the source of their funding - the chemical companies. 

Permaculture advocate Eric Toensmeier isn’t entirely happy with the Sustainable Sites Initiative requirements for LEED-like certification for landscapes because they give no credit for growing edibles.  He goes on to make an impressive case for food-growing even in the desert, showing off a Tucson garden that supplies 10-25 percent of the owner’s food using rainwater, greywater and runoff only. 

Doug Tallamy explains that insects are more important than seeds and berries for sustaining birds, writing that “Ninety-six percent of terrestrial birds in North America rear their young on insects….When they are reproducing, birds need the high-quality protein and energy-rich fat bodies produced by insects to succeed.”  (Tallamy also disproves two opposing myths about native plants, as I reported here earlier.)

Richard Darke defines “sustainable gardens” as “those that consume the fewest resources,” which makes so much sense I wonder why that definition isn’t universally accepted.  Then he jumps into the hottest topic in gardening with his take on invasive plants: “I am not comfortable with the term ‘invasive’… So-called invasive plants wouldn’t exist unless they were better adapted to current conditions than so-called native species.” Darke grows a mix of natives and nonnatives but declares that “None of the plants I grow require watering beyond initial establishment, fertilizing, or pesticides.”  He’s my kind of gardener.

 
Water-wise schoolyard in Portland, OR

Meadows expert John Greenlee, when describing the yearly cutting back required by meadows and natural lawns, recommends doing the job with a “groundcover mower or a weed eater with a blade.”  What the heck are they and where can I buy them?

Reliable predictions are that by 2013, 36 U.S. states will have chronic water shortages, so “waterwise gardening” isn’t just for the arid West anymore.  Tom Christopher reminds us that 30 percent of residential water use goes to the landscape, mostly to lawns that could and should be allowed to go dormant in the summer.  Dormancy isn’t a sign of impending death; it’s the state of “suspended animation” that keeps turfgrasses alive through weeks of summer weather.

Christopher also points out a gaping omission in the USDA’s growing zones – they reflect winter temperatures only and ignore amounts of rainfall.  “The USDA map classifies Naples, FL as identical with Victorville, CA, even though Naples receives 51.9 inches of precipitation annually while Victorville gets less than 7.” 

Christopher’s caveat about the use of mulch surprises me, though.  “In the short term, an organic mulch will reduce soil fertility because it will absorb nitrates (a major plant nutrient) from the soil as it decomposes.  For this reason, the application of such a mulch will probably increase your plants’ need for fertilization in the short term.”  Can that be true of all organic mulches, not just hard wood?  

About soil science and the details of permaculture, I found a lot here that was new to me but frankly, grasped close to none of it.  My bad, I’m sure. 

THE GIVE-AWAY
Just leave a comment and I'll choose one at random to win a copy.  Entries close tomorrow at midnight  Eastern time.

Comments

[Kim Beierlein]

A garden is at its best when the plants are allowed to grow with as little intervention as possible. A perennial bed that is planted well, should make it hard for the weeds to compete (though I do love weeding).

[maggie]

My neighbors will believe what's written in a book over what comes out of my mouth.

[John]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - there is something odd about white people complaining about invasive species.

I would love to add this book to my gardening library.

[anne]

My eyes were also opened over the comment about insects vs. fruit. I know birds consume a huge amount of insects, but I've never seen comparison numbers between insects and fruit before. The book sounds like a worth-while read!

[Suzy]

Sounds like a great book to read!!

[Sarah]

What little 'lawn' I have is dry and brown since I live in an area of exceptional drouth. I also live in terror of fire starting in the parched grass since we have had so many large fires in Texas this summer--169 at last count. This is not covered in any of the comments on 'water or not water' the grass. The rest of the plantings are very stressed for lack of water also.

[ES]

Pick me, please!

[Karen]

I think this book would go great with yesterday's peach/bourbon cocktail!

[Susan]

my lawn is native--or at least no effort on my part--plants because I refuse to put forth the effort. The flower and vegetable beds are another story altogether.
the book looks interesting so I hope I win it. Otherwise, I'll have to ask my library to get it.
as for wood mulches, that they would steal nitrogen makes some sense. I'd think decomposed leaves would be a plus though

[Avis Licht]

I love your blog, it's funny, opinionated and right on the mark. I've been a gardener for 40 years, studied with Alan Chadwick and have taught edible landscaping for 30 of those years. It's great to see it at the crest of the wave. Forget moralizing and start planting. My favorite gardens are both beautiful and bountiful.

[Susan in the Pink Hat]

I thought that the nitrogen-depletion issue has been debunked here by contributors, hasn't it? In addition to branding sustainability as consuming few resources, I would also add that needs little intervention after establishment. But maybe that's tacit in talking about resource consumption. Sounds like an interesting read.

[Mickie Flores]

So what do I grow to encourage insects for the birds? Pollinators I understand, but who are the other insects and what do they want for supper (so they in turn can feed the birds).I need the book.

[Gloria]

I have the book "The New American Landscape sitting right in front of me.
A very good book with a lot of information about gardening sustainably.
A quote from the book.
Rick Darke "Why natives?
My top three motives for cultivating indigenous plants are
to make a garden that reflects local materials,patterns, and processes,
to live closely with species that represent my region,
and to ensure that my garden plays an authentic role in sustaining local life and natural resources."
I may buy this book.

[Liz]

I would love to get a copy of this book.

[Nick S.]

A ton of good little tidbits.

[Mary]

Oooh, I want in on this one! thanks for the chance!

[david]

Our lawn is almost gone.

[Kay S.]

I am interested in the water portions of the book. I live just north of Naples - all of that water comes in the summer, leaving everyone high and dry in the winter and spring.

[Michael Barton]

Looks interesting!

[Dennis Gentry II]

Great review! i can always read more about sustainable gardening, and ideals about the sustainable home garden and yard.

[IdahoGal]

We've been trying to rehab a meadow to encourage wildlife to our property (and be firewise at the same time) and after wrapping up a very dry July and August, I would love to see what suggestions the contributors have to say in this book.

[John M]

Could you imagine an entire neighborhood like that? :)

[Catherine McMullen]

Pick Me Pick Me :)

[david]

The grass in our front yard has been going, going, gone for years. Now to the back!

[FaithieP]

would be an excellent compliment to my new rainbarrel that I am overly excited about. Number 4!