Amendment should include use of selected PPE for the task and be based on the
- type of plant selected (e.g., annuals, biennials, perennials, bulbs, evergreens, coniferous, deciduous, vines, groundcovers, aquatics, shrubs, grasses, rushes, sedges, cacti, succulents, and tropicals)
- plant nutrient requirements
- soil analysis results (i.e., chemical, physical, and biological properties)
- use of native plants, shrubs, and trees whenever possible
- use of sustainable, beneficial, and conservation practices to
- provide wildlife habitat (e.g., food and shelter for songbirds, waterfowl, hummingbirds, butterflies, beneficial insects)
- mitigate erosion and poor drainage
- reduce watering requirements, fertilizer requirements, and pollution
- improve water quality
- avoid the use of invasive species.
Teacher Resource: Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping—Chesapeake Bay Watershed, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA
Process/Skill Questions:
- What information does a soil analysis provide?
- How many pounds of fertilizer will one need to apply to one’s lawn at a rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of a 50-pound bag of 26-5-10?
- How much phosphate and potash is one applying to a lawn when one applies 3.8 pounds of 26-5-10 fertilizer per 1,000 square feet?
- How much area can be covered with a 50-pound bag of 26-5-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet?
- How many 50-pound bags of 26-5-10 will one need to fertilize a 30,000-square-foot lawn at 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet?
- What are the differences among chemical, physical, and biological properties of the soil?
- Why is knowledge of plant species important when making nutrient recommendations?