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Site Preparation, Grading, and Soil Improvement
| # | Cat | Sub | Level | Practice | ||
| 1 | SP | MT | B | Site Assessment | Assess site before beginning work for: hazardous materials, wind and water erosion potential, noxious weeds, site history, soil seed bank | |
| 2 | SP | MT | B | Weed Control | Tailor weed control practices for conditions of site | |
| 2.1 | SP | DS | B | Design landscape with weed invasion potential of various areas in mind | ||
| 2.2 | SP | MT | B | Use least toxic strategies for weed control | ||
| 2.3 | SP | MT | B | Use thick mulches (4" settled organic mulch) | ||
| 2.4 | SP | MT | A | Consider use of cover crops to outcompete weeds and exhaust soil seed bank (and improve soil) | ||
| 2.5 | SP | MT | A | Consider using sheet mulch to smother weeds | ||
| 3 | SP | MT | B | Vegetation Protection | Protect vegetation to be retained | |
| 3.1 | SP | MT | B | Follow a tree protection plan per ISA standards or certified arborist recommendations | ||
| 4 | SP | MT | B | Avoid Soil Compaction | Don't compact soil and create hard-pan | |
| 4.1 | SP | MT | B | Designate site access and material storage areas | ||
| 4.4 | SP | MT | B | Avoid traffic on soil when wet | ||
| 4.2 | SP | MT | M | Use light weight equipment and hand labor | ||
| 4.3 | SP | MT | M | Use track vs wheeled equipment | ||
| 5 | SP | MT | M | Minimize Waste Hauling | Minimize debris hauled off site | |
| 5.1 | SP | MT | B | Dispose of hazardous materials appropriately (e.g. railroad ties, lead paint, asbestos) | ||
| 5.2 | SP | MT | M | Keep existing landscape features as much as possible | ||
| 5.3 | SP | MT | M | Re-use materials from existing landscape, if possible (e.g. use concrete debris to make retaining walls, tree limbs to make mulch) | ||
| 5.4 | SP | MT | A | Deconstruct rather than demolish | ||
| 6 | SP | MT | B | Recycling | When removing debris from site, recycle as much as possible (as close to site as possible) | |
| 7 | SP | MT | B | Erosion Control | Follow GreenCO BMP "Landscape Installation and Erosion and Sediment Control" guidelines during grading and construction | |
| 8 | SP | DS | Grading | Grade to accomplish design goals while minimizing site disturbance and accomplishing the following: | ||
| 8.1 | SP | DS | B | Grade to minimize erosion | ||
| 8.2 | SP | DS | B | Grade to minimize water use (e.g. avoid steep sodded berms) | ||
| 8.3 | SP | DS | M | Grade to balance cut and fill | ||
| 8.4 | SP | DS | M | Grade to allow groundwater recharge without endangering structures | ||
| 9 | SP | DS | A | Create Microclimates | Use grading to create beneficial microclimates for plants and people | |
| 10 | SP | MT | B | Conserve Native Soil | Conserve native soil, including topsoil | |
| 10.1 | SP | MT | B | Store topsoil, if necessary, in a way to preserve soil life | ||
| 11 | SP | MT | M | Soil Improvement Needed? | Only improve soil where needed for plants that are not adapted to existing conditions | |
| 12.1 | SP | MT | M | On Site Soil Improvement | Improve soil using on site resources | |
| 12.2 | SP | MT | B | Till in organic matter produced by site prep | ||
| 12.3 | SP | MT | M | Use removed sod to build berms | ||
| 12.4 | SP | MT | M | Compost organic matter from site prep | ||
| 12.6 | SP | MT | M | Sow cover crops (prevent erosion, grow out weed seeds in soil seed bank, increase soil organic matter, can fix nitrogen) | ||
| 12.7 | SP | MT | M | Lay sheet mulch (also suppresses weeds) | ||
| 12.5 | SP | MT | A | Chip larger organic debris from site for mulch | ||
| 13 | SP | MT | B | Soil Amendments | As needed, bring in soil amendments that build soil health | |
| 13.1 | SP | MP | B | As with all green materials, when sourcing soil amendments prefer local, non-toxic materials with low embodied energy | ||
| 13.2 | SP | MP | B | Use local, recycled materials (e.g. manure, brewery waste, sawdust and wood chips, yard waste, agricultural waste, sewage sludge [on non-edible plants]) | ||
| 13.3 | SP | MP | B | Use compost to create topsoil. Don't import topsoil or topsoil mixes | ||
| 13.4 | SP | MT | B | Till compost in 6-8" deep | ||
| 13.6 | SP | MT | B | Choose bulk soil amendments over bagged | ||
| 13.7 | SP | MP | B | Use organic soil amendments, not fertilizers. Organic soil amendments contain a full range of plant nutrients, add organic matter which improves the structure, water holding capacity and pollution mitigation potential of the soil, and feed soil life. | ||
| 13.5 | SP | MT | M | Loosen subsoil with deep trenching, deep forking, chisel plow | ||
| 14 | SP | MT | A | Soil Life | Consider bringing in living things to improve the soil, such as worms, mycorrhizae and biologically active compost tea | |
| 15 | SP | MT | A | Structural Soil | Consider using structural soil in urban or high traffic areas | |
| Categories: |
| I. Site Preparation, Grading and Soil Improvement (SP) |
| II. Water Conservation and Irrigation (WC) |
| III. Planting, Plant Choices and Plant Production (PL) |
| IV. Hardscape and Rockwork (HA) |
| V. Mulch and Mulching (MU) |
| VI. Mobilization and Clean Up (MC) |
| VII. Maintenance (MA) |
| Subcategories: |
| Design (DS) |
| Materials/Products (MP) |
| Methods (MT) |
| Energy Use (EN) |
| Ecology (EC) |
| Economy/Social (ES) |
| Levels: |
| Basic (B) - Practices that any landscape that call itself sustainable should follow. Often already common industry practices. |
| Moderate (M) - Practices that fall between basic and advanced. |
| Advanced (A) - Practices that would require a significant shift in the way the industry does business. May be more costly. |
LiseM |
Latest page update: made by LiseM
, Apr 9 2008, 7:32 PM EDT
(about this update
About This Update
Edited by LiseM
3 words added 3 words deleted view changes - complete history) |
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