Sustainable Approaches

to the Conventional
Landscape
Robert Schutzki and Elise Tripp
Department of Horticulture
Michigan State University
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆Sustainability
◆“Meeting the needs of
today’s population without
diminishing the ability of
future populations to meet
their needs”.
◆ United Nations World Commission on Environment
and Development (1987)
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆Needs

◆Political

◆Economic

◆Ecological

◆Social
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆Needs

◆Allocation and use of

natural resources
◆Preservation of biological
systems function over
time
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆ Sustainability
◆Resource Sufficiency
◆Functional Integrity
◆Non-substantive
◆Thompson (2006)
Agricultural Sustainability:
What it is and what it is not
www.smep.msu.edu/docume
nts/sustainability_Thompson
.pdf
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆ Resource Sufficiency
◆Utilization of Resources
◆Available Resources
◆Predicted availability based on
utilization
◆Nature or characteristic of the
resource
◆Renewal, Regenerative,
Reclaimable
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆Functional Integrity
◆Self-regenerating system
◆The inability of a system to
reproduce itself is considered
unsustainable
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆Non-substantive
◆Moral judgment
◆Value judgments

◆Interests and Biases

 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆ Triple
Bottom Line – People,
Planet and Profits
◆ Organizational and Societal Success
◆ Financial Gain and Stability
◆ Environmental and Social Performance

◆ Elkington (1994), Cannibals with

Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st
Century Business
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆TripleBottom Line – People,

Planet and Profits
◆Energy Consumption
◆Waste Generation

◆Use of Resources
Sustainable Landscapes
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆Whatis a Sustainable
Landscape?
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆ Sustainable Landscapes
◆Preservation, Conservation,
Restoration
◆Protecting Natural Systems

◆Maintaining Natural Function

◆Environmental Quality
Sustainable Landscape

◆Energy Consumption
◆Waste Generation

◆Use of Resources

◆Self-regenerating

◆Environmental
Contribution
Sustainable Landscapes
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆ Sustainable Landscape Development

◆ LEED (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design) Certification, USGBC
◆ Sustainable Sites Initiative, ASLA & LBJ
Wildflower Center
◆ LAND Code (Land and Natural
Development), Balmori and Benoit, 2004
◆ Low Impact Development

◆ Smart Growth
Conventional
Landscapes
Conventional Landscapes
Conventional Landscapes
Conventional Landscapes
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆Landscape Development
◆Design

◆Construction

◆Management
Conventional Landscapes

◆Minimize resources required

to construct and maintain the
landscape
◆Utilize resources efficiently

◆Utilize renewal resources

◆Maximize internal cycling of

energy and materials
Conventional Landscapes

◆Minimize waste outputs

◆Construct a dynamic
biological system
◆Construct a “built”
ecosystem that provides
natural functions
Sustainability in
Conventional Landscapes
comes from:
◆Plants

◆Soil

◆Water

◆Atmosphere
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆Plants:
Every plant performs
a function in the
landscape
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆Right Plant, Right Place

◆Function – User Benefits
◆Aesthetics – Curb Appeal

◆Site Conditions –
Environmental Influences
◆Management – Required
Maintenance
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆SiteAppropriate Plant
Selection (SAPS)
Definition: Selecting plant material
adapted to a site to perform natural
functions, resulting in interactions
within a community.
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆ Goals of SAPS:
◆ Establish/replace natural functions
◆ Minimize inputs and outputs
– water
– fertilizer
– pesticides
– labor
◆ pruning
◆ mowing
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆Soils

◆Soil Quality
 Soil Quality
◆ Soil functions to :
– Sustain plant growth
– Sustain environmental quality
– Provide for plant, animal, and human
health.

◆ Theterms “Soil Quality” and “Soil

Health” describe the soil’s ability to
perform the above functions.
 Assessment of Soil Quality
◆ Not one measurable parameter.
◆ Soil Quality Indicators:
– Physical properties
◆ SoilTexture
◆ Bulk Density – weight per unit volume

◆ Rooting/soil depth

◆ Water infiltration/conductivity

◆ Water Holding Capacity

◆ Structure/Aggregate Stability
 Soil Quality Indicators
◆ Soil Chemical Properties
– pH
– Electrical Conductivity (EC)
– Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)
– Soil Organic Matter (SOM)
– Mineralizable N
– Exchangeable Cations (nutrients)
 Soil Quality Indicators
◆ Soil Biological Properties
– Organic Nitrogen
– Organic Carbon
– Microbial Biomass
– Macroorganisms
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆Water
◆Water Quantity
◆Water Quality

◆Soil Conservation

◆Plant Management
 Movement Toward Water
Conservation
◆ Reduction of potable
water for irrigation
use
◆ Demand for increased
irrigation system
efficiency
◆ The cost of water
– Infrastructure
limitations
– Rising water / sewer
costs
– Increasing residential
and commercial
development
 Environmentally Sustainable
Landscapes
◆ Demand more from
the irrigation
designer

◆ Requires use of
efficient products and
proper installation.

◆ Shifting role of
irrigation contractor to
water manager

◆ Requires better
educated individuals.
 U. S. EPA WaterSense
www.epa.gov/watersense

Certification programs for irrigation professionals

Design (IA’s CID program has been approved)
Installation (IA’s CIC program has been approved)
Auditing
Labeling of irrigation products (coming soon)
Irrigation Controllers
Drip irrigation
Advancements in Irrigation
Efficiency
Saving Water in the Landscape
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆Atmosphere
◆Carbon Sequestration
◆Heat Island

◆Pollution
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆ Trees absorb carbon dioxide that

contributes to global warming along
with other gases that add to urban
pollution.
◆ The American Forest organization
determined that tree cover in San
Antonio, Texas is saving $70 million
a year in ecological services.
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape
◆ U. S. Department of Energy
estimated that three properly
placed trees can save between
$100 and $250 in annual heating
and cooling costs.
◆ Trees shading an outdoor air
conditioning unit can increase its
efficiency by 10%.
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape
◆ One tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere annually,
equaling 11,000 miles of car emissions.
◆ One acre of trees has the ability to remove
13 tons of particles and gases annually.
◆ Appropriate tree placement can reduce
household energy consumption for heating
and cooling up to 25%.
 Sustainable Approaches to the Conventional
Landscape

◆ Bring together the various disciplines

and professionals in landscape
development
◆ Employ sound science, current
technology, and best management
practices
Conventional
Landscapes