Educational video on the principle differences between conventional garden design and eco-friendly, sustainable garden design and why sustainable design is superior to conventional design for saving money, time, energy, and resources. Showcases the work of Cornucopia Sustainable Designs based in Southern California (Los Angeles).
7. Imposed Aesthetics Imposed aesthetics that frame views and emphasize form are valued more than ecological function and structure.
8. Cookie Cutter Design A conventional approach to landscape and gardens applies a cookie cutter formula to design.
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12. Garden Obsolescence In conventional design, the garden plan is trendy rather than stylish, timeless, and personalized.
13. Garden Obsolescence The end result of cookie cutter design is considered fixed and permanent, at least until obsolescence sets in.
14. Garden Obsolescence Several years after its establishment, this is what a big name designer’s garden looks like past its prime, even with regular maintenance. Notice the legginess of the shrubs and the awkwardness of their forms.
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18. Ignoring Ecological Principles Conventional design tends to ignore the optimal needs of the plants and treats them like outdoor furniture to be moved around at will and on whim. corn watermelon basil strawberry sage rosemary
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21. Impatience is Expensive Impatience is expensive. Poor design ignores the precautionary principle.
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27. Conventional design tends to ignore the availability and application of local resources. Therefore, it tends to be costly (even though subsidized by the availability of cheap fossil fuels).
28. Ignoring Local Materials Conventional design also ignores or flouts ecological principles and disrespects the particulars of place.
32. Sedges lost en masse to incorrect mulch application (shown before losses)
33. Sedges lost en masse to incorrect mulch application (shown after losses)
34. Heucheras lost en masse to incorrect mulch application (shown before losses)
35. Heucheras lost en masse to incorrect mulch application (shown after losses)
36. Cape honeysuckle stem rot and adventitious root formation due to incorrect mulch application
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38. Elements of Successful Gardens The most successful gardens take their design and function cues from nature.
39. Taking Cues from Nature You cannot out-design nature. She’s been in the design and sustainability game a lot longer than humans have been. Take note.
40. In ecologically conscious design, plants and natural landforms are complemented by architecture, which in turn is influenced by geography and climate.
41. Moreover, the $$$ benefits of great landscaping are well documented.
51. Whittier backyard garden, October 2007 An eco-savvy sustainable garden is well-grounded in its locale.
52. Whittier backyard garden, May 2009 Successful gardens interface the uniqueness of place with a client’s desires, lifestyle, and budget
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54. Whittier backyard garden, May 2009 Ecologically designed gardens are made to be experienced and enjoyed. They invite sensory interaction.
55. Whittier backyard garden, May 2009 Plants with similar needs for water, light, soil type, temperature, fertility, and pest control are clustered.
56. Whittier backyard garden, March 2010 Sustainable gardens are relatively easy to maintain. High maintenance plants (typically edibles) are generally readily accessible and close to the house.
60. Whittier garden - front, March 2010 Sustainable gardens have plants that are site and scale-appropriate for access, maintenance, and harvest. Small spaces call for small plants.
61. Mar Vista backyard garden, November 2007 Sustainable gardens plan for as many permanent paths as possible for maintenance and harvest.
62. Mar Vista backyard garden, November 2007 Pathways are based upon patterns of movement.
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64. Mar Vista edible backyard garden, July 2008 Ecologically-savvy gardens temper initial enthusiasm with persistence, perseverance, and patience.
65. Mar Vista edible backyard garden, July 2008 Successful gardens are not by-products of frequent impulse buys. Passion is balanced with practicality.
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67. Century City backyard garden with California native plants, March 2008 Ecological design, like Permaculture, transforms limitations into advantages. Problems offer the seeds for their own solutions.
68. Nichols Canyon front yard garden, October 2008 Ecologically savvy design prioritizes long-term maintenance. Resulting gardens have longevity and are beautiful, yet require less work because of money, energy, and time investments made up front.
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72. Mar Vista backyard edible garden, October 2008 Well-designed eco-savvy gardens place the edible, nutritionally important plants as close to the kitchen as possible.
79. Montebello backyard sheet mulch, October 2006 Well designed sustainable edible gardens start small but allow room to expand.
80. Montebello backyard sheet mulch, November 2006 Sustainable edible gardens are not purely self-serving. A well-designed garden compensates for expected losses due to critters and pests.
87. Montebello backyard sheet mulch, December 2006 Vegetable and grain beds (hint: make them rectangular for ease of crop planning, maintenance, and harvest) are made no wider than 4-5 feet for adults, 3-3.5 feet for children.
93. Mid-City L.A. front yard garden with California natives, November 2009 As a DIY gardener, your largest constraints are often money, time, and skill.
94. Mid-City front yard garden (median strip) with California natives, November 2009 Remember that DIY garden / landscape projects take 2-4x longer than expected and cost 2-3x more than anticipated.
95. Picture window view of Mid-City front yard garden with California natives, November 2009
100. Contact Information Frustrated with your results? Want help with creating your own sustainable garden? Contact us so that you can avoid the garden and landscaping mistakes everyone else makes: http://www.cornucopia-sustainable-designs.com
101. Contact Information Because you can learn the basics of sustainable garden design, contact us for information about upcoming Urban/Suburban Ecoliteracy workshops: http: //urban-suburban-ecoliteracy .com