The Prairie West Gardener

The Invaders How to Recognize and Report Invasive Species © Alberta Agriculture and Forestry What is an Invasive Species? An invasive species is an organism that has been introduced into an area beyond its original geographic range and has the potential to cause severe consequences to the economic, ecological and social sustainability of an ecosystem. What are Invasive Species a Problem? Invasive species are a major problem as they ultimately transform the character, condition, form or nature of ecosystems over a substantial area. In North America, 20–30% of introduced species inflict serious environmental damage, reducing the population of endangered native plants by 42% and causing $138,000,000,000 in deficits per year. Invasive plant species have been difficult to control and nearly impossible to eradicate since their introduction into our ecosystems. What are Some Examples of I...

Xeriscaping A Guide to Water Conservation in Landscapes What is Xeriscaping? Xeriscaping is defined as a style of landscaping or gardening that promotes the ecological conservation of natural resources through water-smart design principles. Xeriscaping Benefits Xeriscaping serves a significant role in determining the environmental sustainability of a landscape and demonstrates synergetic advantages to both human and wildlife communities: Increases water conservation (50–75%).   Decreases maintenance, labour and cost. Decreases soil erosivity and erodibility. Increases soil infiltration, percolation and aeration. Minimizes or eliminates fertilizers and pesticides. Reduces carbon emissions, chemical pollution and contaminants. Provides wildlife resources for beneficial organisms. Increases property value (10–25%). Xeriscape Design Figure 1. The Xeriscape Demonstration Garden at Denver Water Headquart...

Integrated Pest Management How to Create a Step-By-Step Treatment Plan for the Landscape © Purdue University What is Integrated Pest Management? Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecological approach to regulating pest populations by incorporating ecological action thresholds and effective, environmentally and economically sensible methods such as preventative, cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical applications. IPM is considered to be the cornerstone for environmental stewardship because it plays a vital role in managing ecological sustainability of agricultural and urban environments. What isn’t Integrated Pest Management? Integrated Pest Management is not about the elimination of pests. An attempt to completely decimate every pathogen is unrealistic, expensive and can cause more harm to the ecology of your garden. Integrated pest management is about suppressing pest populations to a tolerable level to achieve a sense of balance in an urban ec...

Pruning Tips A Guide to Safe, Efficient Tree Health © Sean Xu/Stock Photo P roper pruning requires careful consideration of the ‘why’, ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘how’ and ‘who’. It is important to consider these points as a tree can be killed from improper pruning techniques. If you are interested in maintaining healthy trees for years into the future, check out our pruning tips below. WHY: Reasons to Prune a Tree Why are you pruning your tree? Is it for safety, structure, health or aesthetics? Here are some of the most common reasons to prune a tree: Reduce the risk of failure from dead, dying or structurally weak branches.   Reduce property damage.   Provide overhead clearance.   Improve tree structure.   Correct growth habits.   Manage tree diseases and insects.   Manage flower or fruit production.   Improve sunlight and air circulation.   Improve aesthetics. WHAT: Type of Tree Species What type of tree are you pruning? Is...