TIPStricks
Wildflowers Help Reduce Runoff in Roadside Soils
Turfgrass is typically planted in the soils along roadsides after construction. It provides an effective way to minimize the runoff leaving roads when it rains. But is there an even better option for reducing runoff? According to Utah State University’s Erin Rivers, writing on the Soils Matter blog, “Runoff from roads typically contains harmful pollutants and contaminants. Streams, rivers, and lakes can be harmed by these contaminants if the runoff is not infiltrated by soils on the roadside first. In regions that receive a lot of precipitation year-round, this can be a big problem.” Rivers and her team wanted to see how effectively wildflowers soak up runoff in tilled soils compared to turfgrass. They found both turfgrass and wildflowers absorbed the same amount of runoff, but wildflowers come with other benefits. Besides their aesthetic properties, wildflowers increase pollinator habitat and reduce the need for mowing, which causes soil compaction. Learn more about this study at https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com. o
Fall Lawn Care and Maintenance Tips
Regularly mowing your lawn promotes vertical growth and lateral density; it also provides the manicured look you desire. However, it is best to reduce mowing after the summer months. It’s recommended that you mow your lawn a lot less during the fall months. This is good for warm-season lawns like zoysia, bermuda grass, and St. Augustine grass. Keeping your warm-season lawn slightly higher will encourage deeper root growth during the fall, so the grass will survive through winter dormancy. For cool-season lawns like bluegrass and fescue, a mowing height between 2.5–3.5 inches during the fall is ideal. This mowing height will also help prevent snow mold in snow-prone regions. However, if it gets too long, it will create a mat layer, which is ideal for disease breakouts. To learn more about mowing heights for each grass type, visit the Lawn Mowing Guide at sodsolutions.com/ lawn-care-guides/mowing/. o 10
WASHINGTON GARDENER
SEPTEMBER 2021
Why You Should Protect Your Rare Plant Collection By Katherine Fleishchman
Collecting rare plants has become “a thing” in recent years, although it certainly became more popular during the COVID-19 lockdown when people were focused on their homes. The demand has driven prices through the roof, with collectors plunking down thousands of dollars for the specific plants they want. In the UK, a man is selling leaves from his Rhaphidophora tetrasperma variegata for £12,000 each. Why are they worth so much? Because this is a genetic mutation of an ordinary plant, and he has the only (known) one in the world. Here are some things you should consider before starting your rare plant collection. • Do your research. It’s time to dust off the high school Latin textbook. Even the most-experienced green thumbs will need to up their game when it comes to rare plants. Generally speaking, the most-valuable plants are variegated—or a mutated form, such as the one mentioned above. The mutations manifest in a number of ways, such as the colors, size, and shape of the leaves. Another key factor, of course, is the number of sellers who are growing a particular plant—as with anything, the fewer there are, the higher the cost. Most of these plants are sold on online auctions, so it’s even more important that you know what you’re looking for. • Have the room ready. Like all plants, your new housemates will require particular conditions to thrive. Depending on where you live and where your plants are from, you may have to replicate their natural environments—including the right amount of sun exposure, humidity, and so on. If you don’t have the ideal space inside, it’s a good idea to build a greenhouse before making any purchases. • No pets allowed. Unfortunately, your plants are not only lovely to the eye; they may also appear to be a tasty treat to your dog or cat. It is imperative that you keep your animals away from them, first, because many plants are toxic to animals and can cause illness and even death; and second, because a few good nibbles could injure the plant and possibly affect its value. • Make sure your family or staff knows how to care for them. It may have been relatively easy to care for your collection while on lockdown. Now, as the U.S. opens up and normal life resumes, chances are you will be out of the house or traveling, perhaps for extended periods of time. If your family members, household employees, work staff, or property management company is not educated in rare plant care, it’s time to bring a horticulturist or other expert on board. The same is true for your outdoor collection—your gardener may be very skilled when it comes to the local flora and fauna, but a rare tree or shrub from the other side of the world may require a specific body of knowledge. • Use technology. Digital tools, particularly all-in-one solutions, are incredibly useful with regard to collectibles for a number of reasons. Apps allow you to catalogue your items, with their photos, history, and value, and assign tasks to yourself and others. The real beauty of these tools, however, is that they create a communication hub between you and colleagues, employees, and so on. Let’s say you’re away from home and have assigned tasks for the plants’ care for your staff or a member of your family. That person can and should send regular, visual updates so you know the plants are thriving. If a plant is showing signs of distress, you can loop your horticulturist or other expert into the conversation without having to bounce back and forth between different email or text threads. Collecting rare plants is not only an investment, but a serious responsibility. You are, in effect, choosing to become a protector of living things whose existence is endangered. They require a great deal of care and expense, but if done right, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience that empowers you to not only beautify your own environment but preserve beauty for the world. o Katherine Fleishchman represents EstateSpace, which has developed the world’s first management solution that provides a single point of record for a family’s real estate and physical assets. This intelligent financial management solution enables and simplifies how families manage valuable physical assets to increase and protect generational wealth. Learn more by visiting www.estatespace.com.
