CONSERVATION GARDENER FALL/WINTER 2018/19 $4.95 THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL IN THIS ISSUE ON THE COVER Starting a Garden 5 Garden Maintenance: Less is More 6 Top Ten Weeds Myths of Tree Planting Watering can in the Mountain Habitat 10 12 near the Paul Green Cabin Photo by Emily Oglesby Pruning Woody Plants 14 What Not to Plant 16 Therapeutic Gardening 20 100 Years of Forest Theatre 22 6 12 Illustration by Dot Wilbur-Brooks 20 22 To inspire understanding, appreciation and conservation of plants and advance a sustainable relationship between Illustration by people and nature. Sandra Brooks-Mathers What Does it Mean to be a Conservation Garden(er)? BY DAMON WAITT, NCBG DIRECTOR Dear Members and Friends, The original concept of being a niche it occupies in the public garden and education, and is only available conservation garden has its roots in world. to botanic gardens carrying out plant the early 1970s at the North Carolina conservation activities of local, national, Botanical Garden in response to the What does it mean to be a conservation or global importance. problem of over-collecting in the wild garden today? In broad strokes, I like by native plant enthusiasts, gardeners, to think a 21st century conservation If that is what it means to be a and plant nurseries. The solution was garden works to… conservation garden, what does it to create an alternative source of native • Create compellingly beautiful garden mean to be a conservation gardener? plant species by propagating them in displays that transform the way A conservation gardener is someone our nursery, develop a market to serve people think about native plants. who enjoys the human health benefits people who wish to garden with natives, • Preserve biodiversity and protect the from spending time outdoors. A and disseminate a “conservation imperiled plants of the southeastern conservation gardener is someone who through propagation” message to the United States from extinction. conserves precious resources like fresh public. Through this combination of • Cure plant blindness and nature water and uses locally sourced and/or on-site research and off-site outreach, deficit disorder and reverse the recycled materials in their landscape. the Garden became an early leader in homogenization of the American A conservation gardener is someone plant conservation, long before it had landscape. who through their gardening practice physical facilities and public display • Increase botanical capacity locally, enhances the environment’s ability gardens to match its growing reputation regionally, and nationally. to provide the natural benefits that as a conservation garden. support life on earth. Of course it is one thing to call yourself In the mid-1990s, then Garden director a conservation garden and an entirely Want to learn more about being a Peter White published an article in the different thing to be recognized by conservation gardener? Then keep American Association of Botanical your peers as one. You can imagine reading, because this issue of the Gardens and Arboreta magazine, The our excitement when we were selected Conservation Gardener is all about how Public Garden, that broadly articulated by Botanic Gardens Conservation to be, rather than to seem. the meaning of conservation in a International, the largest plant botanical garden context. In that article, conservation network in the world with Esse quam videri. he discussed the many conservation- 508 botanic gardens in 92 countries, related activities that were at the heart to be accredited as one of 11 botanic of the Garden’s mission and programs. gardens adhering to internationally Shortly thereafter, the Garden began recognized conservation standards. The using the tagline “A Conservation accreditation recognizes excellence Garden” to lay claim to this special in plant conservation policy, practice, Left: Ken Moore and others collect plants at Grandfather Mountain as part of the Garden’s NORTH CAROLINA BOTANICAL GARDEN “conservation through propagation” efforts. 3 If you are interested in more tips and advice about gardening with native plants, contact our Green Gardener desk, open Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon - 2 p.m., or call 919-962-2393. Bringing Conservation Gardening to You BY JENNIFER PETERSON, MANAGING EDITOR If you are like me, your mind fills In addition to the information found with questions as you wander in this edition, we have opportunities through the North Carolina for you to learn even more! This fall, DAMON WAITT Director Botanical Garden. Often, my our education programs are also questions are about the plants focusing on home gardening, and LISA HICKS Business Operations themselves, but many times, I’m the instructors for many of these curious about how our horticulture classes are our very own horticulture CHARLOTTE JONES-ROE Development staff is able to get the plants to look staff. During these workshops, they so great. I know, a deer fence goes will be able to provide much more JOHNNY RANDALL Conservation a long way toward that. But, I also information than we were able to know from the conversations I have fit in this publication. Be sure to DAN STERN Horticulture had with our horticulturists, they look through the insert of education hold a wealth of information about programs to find the perfect classes every aspect of gardening. for you. ALAN WEAKLEY Herbarium It is this knowledge I tapped into Sharing our conservation values for this edition of the Conservation with the public has been a part Gardener—a comprehensive guide of the North Carolina Botanical to growing your own conservation Garden’s mission since our very Botanical Garden garden. From how to start a garden beginning. Whether you are new to how to prune a tree, from garden to gardening or if you have been maintenance to knowing what not to gardening for decades, I hope Foundation plant, I have tried to include useful you find useful information in the information, straight from the experts following pages! Officers themselves. GREG FITCH President MELISSA CAIN Vice President THE FOODSCAPE REVOLUTION CAREY DURHAM Treasurer NOVEMBER 4; 2:30 - 3:30 P.M. JENNY ROUTH Secretary Visionary horticulturist Brie Arthur presents her signature design technique of foodscaping, a sustainable landscape practice that integrates edible and ornamental plantings to create beautiful and functional gardens. Brie will LECTURE FITCH discuss how pairing edibles in a traditional ornamental Conservation landscape increases biodiversity and adds purpose to underutilized, everyday spaces. Attendees will get a sneak peek of scenes from her next book, Gardening with Grains Gardener (January 2019). Book signing and reception follow lecture. Free, pre-registration required. DETAILS AT JENNIFER PETERSON Managing Editor GO.UNC.EDU/FITCHLECTURE 4 Conservation Gardener FALL/WINTER 2018/19 A mattock can be a useful tool when starting a new garden in the clay of the North Carolina Piedmont. Six Tips for Starting a Garden BY CHRIS LILOIA, NCBG HABITAT GARDENS CURATOR Planning a garden, whether a 3. Got clay? Soil that has a lot of 5. If your space is an intractable perennial garden, a shrub border, a clay has some upsides for gardening, weedy mess, consider laying fern glade, or a grassy bank, can be but easy digging is not one of them. down cardboard or newspaper as much fun as enjoying an already You’ll do your soil a lot of favors if and covering it with a thick layer established one. Here’s some hard- you avoid working it when it’s too of mulch. This will help smother won wisdom to help you with your wet. You’ll do yourself a favor if you even tough weeds, and once the garden preparation. get a mattock (pictured above). They cardboard breaks down you’re ready are also very useful when working to plant. If the weather is on your 1. Start by considering your site and among tree roots, though it’s wise side, by which I mean not August, the garden you want. Whatever your to remember that trees need those sometimes you can cheat and plant growing conditions, there are native roots, so keep disturbance within the smaller plants right into the mulch. plants for them, and starting with a dripline to a minimum. Alternately, you can pile soil on top plan based on your parameters is of your cardboard layer but, again, a good way to succeed. That said, 4. Clay has plenty of nutrients and it’s a process and sometimes you just I have been known to put a shade holds water well, but it can also be need to look at some mulch for a plant in the sun and a sun plant in soggy so you’ll need to think about while as you dream your big garden the shade. Sometimes this means I drainage. Two ways to improve dreams. need to dig that plant up and put it drainage are to add organic matter where I knew I should’ve put it in the and to create a raised bed. At home 6. Patience is an important first place. Sometimes a calculated I use my own compost, mulched ingredient. Unlike plants with a long risk pays off. It’s a process. leaves, and anything else I can get history of selection for horticultural my hands on. When thinking about expediency, native plants sometimes 2. Plan a whole bed. Unless your soil creating a raised bed, keep in mind need a couple growing seasons is amazing and needs no amending, that it can be edged with stone or to reach their full potential. It’s a your plantings will be more wood or anything else that strikes process, and the journey is half the successful if you create a prepared your fancy, but it doesn’t have to be.