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Home > Bob on TV > Bob Vila > Storm-Ready Design > Sustainable Landscaping, Water Use, and Termite Control > 0111 Transcript
0111 - Sustainable Landscaping, Water Use, and Termite Control
November 21-27, 2005 | May 22-28
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HI. I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW.
HERE IN PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA,
WHERE OUR STORM-READY HOUSE
IS JUST ABOUT FINISHED,
TODAY WE'RE SPENDING MOST OF
OUR TIME DOING LANDSCAPING,
SUSTAINABLE FLORIDA LANDSCAPING.
WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU
ALL THE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS
FROM FINDING THE RIGHT
PLANT TO HOW TO WATER.
WE'LL ALSO BE PUTTING IN
A FRUIT TREE, A PALM TREE,
AND A RAISED VEGETABLE
GARDENING BED.
ALL THAT AND LOTS MORE.
STICK AROUND.
ANGELA POLO IS
WITH US TODAY
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
FLORIDA NEIGHBORHOOD
AND YARDS PROGRAM.
AND THIS IS GONNA
BE A LOT OF FUN
GARDENING TODAY.
NOW, WHAT ARE SOME
OF THE PRINCIPLES
THAT YOUR PROGRAM
TRIES TO PROMOTE?
WE HAVE 9 PRINCIPLES
THAT THE FLORIDA YARDS
AND NEIGHBORHOODS
PROGRAM PROMOTE
AND THEY ARE RIGHT
PLANT, RIGHT PLACE;
WATER EFFICIENTLY;
RECYCLING;
PROTECTING THE WATER FRONT;
REDUCING STORM WATER RUNOFF;
ATTRACTING WILDLIFE
TO YOUR LANDSCAPE;
AND MANAGING YOUR
FERTILIZERS
AND YOUR PESTS.
THAT'S
A LOT TO REMEMBER.
IT SURE IS.
IT'S AN AMBITIOUS
PROGRAM, TOO, ISN'T IT?
LET ME GO BACK TO
THE FIRST ONE A MINUTE.
RIGHT PLANT,
RIGHT PLACE.
EVERYBODY ASSUMES, YOU
COME TO FLORIDA,
WHICH IS ONE OF
THE FASTEST-GROWING
STATES IN THE COUNTRY,
AND ANYTHING YOU
THROW IN THE GROUND
IS GONNA TAKE OFF
LIKE WILDFIRE.
BUT IN MANY OF
THESE PLACES THAT YOU
HAVE NEW DEVELOPMENTS
AND OLD DEVELOPMENTS,
THIS IS THE SOIL.
IT'S SANDY,
IT'S NOT RICH.
YEAH, AND THIS SOIL
IS VERY TYPICAL OF
NEW CONSTRUCTION,
NEW RESIDENTIAL
CONSTRUCTION
IN FLORIDA.
AND WE ALSO HAVE
COMPACTION ISSUES THAT
WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.
IT WON'T PERCOLATE IF
IT'S TOO COMPACT.
IT WILL NOT
PERCOLATE. RIGHT.
THE WATER JUST COMES
AND IT STANDS THERE.
SO ONE OF
THE FAVORITE PLANTS
SEEMS TO BE
THE SABAL PALM,
WHICH WE'RE
GONNA SEE LATER
IN THE SHOW
HOW YOU PLANT IT.
YES, THIS IS
THE NATIVE PALM OF
FLORIDA, THE SABAL PALM.
YEAH, IT'S
A CABBAGE PALM.
NOW, DID YOU DO
THE OVERALL DESIGN?
I HAD HELP WITH
THE OVERALL DESIGN.
I WORKED WITH
BRIAN KENDZIOR FROM
SUN STATE LANDSCAPING.
Bob: BRIAN KENDZIOR,
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD.
TELL US A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE OVERALL
PLANNING HERE,
BECAUSE IT'S NOT
A SMALL LOT, BUT IT'S
NOT A BIG LOT,
AND IT'S
ON A CORNER.
IT'S A CORNER LOT,
WHICH IS
A LOT LARGER THAN
WE TYPICALLY HAVE.
WHAT WE TRY TO DO
IS CREATE SOME
SCREENING ISSUES,
SOME PRIVACY FOR
THE HOMEOWNERS IN
THE CERTAIN AREAS
THAT WE NEED IT.
WE GAVE THEM
SOME FUNCTIONAL
LAWN AREAS
FOR WHERE THEY
NEED THAT SPACE.
BUT YOU KIND
OF MINIMIZE LAWN,
DON'T YOU?
YES. IN THE FLORIDA
YARDS PROGRAM,
WE WANT
TO MINIMIZE THE LAWN
AND THE TURF AREAS
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
AND PROVIDE LARGER
BED AREAS,
WHICH WILL
ALLOW YOU TO HAVE
A LARGER LANDSCAPING
AS FAR AS
MORE BEAUTIFICATION.
AND IT'LL GIVE
YOU SOME NICER
PLANT MATERIAL.
EXCELLENT.
NOW, THE CHOICE
OF PLANT MATERIAL
IS VERY IMPORTANT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL
BUY A DEVELOPMENT HOUSE
AND START GOING TO THESE
BEAUTIFUL GARDEN CENTERS
AND COME BACK
WITH THESE GORGEOUS
SPECIMENS.
AND THEN THE NEXT
THING YOU KNOW,
YOU'VE GOT A HUGE
TREE GROWING UP NEXT
TO YOUR HOUSE.
AND A HURRICANE
COMES ALONG,
AND YOU'RE IN TROUBLE.
SO HOW DO YOU
PLAN AGAINST THAT?
WELL, WITH
THE HURRICANE ISSUES
THAT WE'VE HAD,
THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE'RE NOW
DEALING WITH,
AND WE'RE LEARNING
TO TAKE
OUR LANDSCAPING AWAY
FROM THE HOUSES
AND USE MORE
FUNCTIONAL PLANTS.
THIS WAX MYRTLE OVER
HERE, THIS GIVES
US A NICE PLANT
THAT PROVIDES US AN
EVERGREEN SHRUB TO
SCREEN OUR STUCCO.
WE ALSO HAVE
SOME VIBURNUM.
IS THIS
A NATIVE PLANT?
THIS IS
A NATIVE PLANT.
IT RETAINS ITS
FOLIAGE THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR AS WELL.
DOES IT BLOOM?
IT DOES
NOT BLOOM.
IT DOES HAVE SOME
BERRIES THAT ATTRACT
THE WILDLIFE.
IT'S A GREAT COLOR
AGAINST OUR KIND
OF TERRACOTTA STUCCO
OVER THERE.
AND THEN WHAT ARE
THESE LITTLE ONES HERE?
THIS IS
VIBURNUM SUSPENSUM.
THIS IS USED TO HIDE
THE AIR CONDITIONERS.
WE'VE GONE WITH
A DWARF VARIETY HERE
BECAUSE IT'S GONNA ALLOW US
TO GET A LONG-TERM
EXPOSURE OUT OF IT.
WHAT'S THE ADVANTAGE
OF THAT?
WHY NOT JUST GET
A BIG FULL-GROWN ONE
AND PUT IT IN
RIGHT AWAY?
IT REDUCES OUR MAINTENANCE
PURPOSES.
SOMETHING THAT YOU
DON'T HAVE TO TRIM
3 TO 5 TIMES A YEAR.
ONLY ONE TO TWO TIMES
A YEAR TO KEEP IT AT
A MAINTAINABLE HEIGHT.
THAT MAKES
A LOT OF SENSE.
WE ALSO HAVE HERE OUR
IRRIGATION SYSTEM AS WELL.
THIS WAS DONATED BY TORO.
THIS IS A DRIP LINE.
IT'S A PRESSURE
COMPENSATING DRIP LINE.
AND YOU CAN SEE
THIS LITTLE WEEP HOLE HERE.
THAT'S HOW ALL
THE PLANTS ARE WATERED.
OK, AND I KNOW
WE'VE GOT OUR FRIEND
GREG AROUND,
WHO'S GONNA TELL US
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
HOW THIS WHOLE SYSTEM
WORKS, RIGHT?
Angela: THIS IS
GREG PETERSON
FROM LawnLogic,
AND HE'S GONNA TALK ABOUT
A SOIL MOISTURE METER.
SO HOW DOES
THAT WORK?
I MEAN, NORMALLY YOU
SEE AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM
ON A BIG OLD LAWN,
AND THE LITTLE
SPRINKLER HEADS COME
UP, AND THEY SPRAY,
AND A LOT OF WATER
GETS WASTED DOWN
THE ROADSIDE.
WHAT'S THIS SENSOR
DO FOR US?
WHAT WE'RE DOING
WITH LawnLogic,
IT'S A SOIL MOISTURE
MONITORING
AND CONTROL SYSTEM.
IT OVERRIDES
THE IRRIGATION TIMER
WHEN THERE'S
ENOUGH MOISTURE
IN THE SOIL.
SO THESE THINGS
ARE STUCK INTO
THE GROUND?
THIS WOULD BE
AN UNDERGROUND
SENSOR.
IN THIS CASE,
BOB AND TERESA HAVE
AN 8-ZONE SYSTEM.
SO THERE'S 8 OF THESE
WIRED AROUND THE HOUSE
AND GOING BACK
TO A CONTROL CENTER.
THAT'S CORRECT.
EACH OF THE ZONES IS
INDIVIDUALLY SET
FOR MOISTURE LEVEL.
IF AT THE TIME
WHEN THE IRRIGATION
TIMER COMES ON
IF THERE'S
ENOUGH MOISTURE
IN THE SOIL,
BECAUSE
IT'S BEEN RAINING
THE DAY BEFORE
OR WHATEVER, IT
WILL OVERRIDE THAT
PARTICULAR ZONE.
THAT'S EXCELLENT.
SO IT'S NOT WORKING
ON, LIKE, A RAIN GAUGE
OR ANYTHING.
IT'S ACTUALLY MEASURING
THE MOISTURE UNDERNEATH
THE TURF...
THAT'S RIGHT.
WHEREVER IT HAPPENS
TO BE.
THAT'S CORRECT.
AND DOES IT ALSO WORK
FOR THE SHRUBS
THAT BRIAN WAS
JUST POINTING OUT
WHERE WE'VE
GOT THIS KIND OF
DRIP IRRIGATION STUFF?
YES, IT
WORKS WITH TURF;
IT WORKS WITH DRIP.
AND IT ALSO WORKS
WITH ANY TYPE OF
SOIL,
BE IT SAND OR LOAM
OR CLAY.
FANTASTIC. SO THIS
IS A RESPONSIBLE
THING TO BE DOING
INSTEAD OF JUST
HAVING SPRINKLER HEADS
ALL OVER YOUR HOUSE
THAT ARE WASTING
A LOT OF WATER.
Angela: YES. WHAT WE'RE
DOING, IT'S MEASURING
THE WATER DOWN
AT THE ROOT SYSTEM
WHERE THE PLANTS
NEED IT.
SO IF THE ROOT
SYSTEM IS MOIST,
WE DON'T NEED WATER.
NOW, THE LAST QUESTION
I HAD WAS, WHEN YOU'RE
IN AN AREA LIKE THIS
WHERE YOU'VE GOT
WATERFRONT,
YOU'VE GOT CANALS,
PEOPLE LIKE TO GROW
THE TURF RIGHT UP
AGAINST THE BULKHEADS.
YES. IN THE FLORIDA
YARDS PROGRAM,
WE TRY TO DISCOURAGE
THE TURF COMING
RIGHT UP TO THE BULKHEAD
BECAUSE
THE DOWNSIDE OF THAT IS
RUNOFF OF PESTICIDES
AND FERTILIZERS
INTO THE CANAL.
YEAH. AND THAT'S
THE BEST WAY TO
AVOID IT IS TO...
THE BEST WAY TO AVOID
IT WOULD BE TO MAKE
A LOW SHRUB BED THERE,
USE GROUND COVERS
OR ANY TYPE OF
ALTERNATIVE PLANT
THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE
LESS FERTILIZERS,
LESS WATER,
LESS PRUNING.
GREAT. THANKS, GUYS.
OK, SO WE'RE ABOUT
TO PLANT A REAL
SPECIAL PALM.
THIS IS
THE FLORIDA STATE
PALM, RIGHT?
YES. CABBAGE PALM
WOULD BE A COMMON NAME
FOR THIS TREE.
BUT THE REAL
NAME IS...
A SABAL PALM,
SABAL PALMETTO.
AND OUR CONTRACTORS
HERE...
THIS IS KEN
FROM TRENT CULLENY
LANDSCAPES,
AND HE'S
OUR LANDSCAPE
CONTRACTOR.
AND, KEN, DID
YOU PUT A LOT
OF THESE IN?
IS IT
A POPULAR TREE?
YEAH. THEY'RE USED
QUITE A BIT, ESPECIALLY
IN NATIVE LANDSCAPES.
MM-HMM.
THE PLANT MATERIAL
WILL RISE QUITE WELL
AND DOES WELL
IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
IT LOOKS FOR
ALL THE WORLD
LIKE SOME SORT
OF DEAD STUMP.
I MEAN,
IT PRACTICALLY
DOESN'T HAVE
A ROOT BALL
OR ANYTHING.
WELL, THESE PALMS
HAVE BEEN HURRICANE-CUT
AND ROOT-PRUNED
OUT OF THE FIELD.
THIS IS NORMALLY
THE CONDITION WE
RECEIVE THEM IN.
OCCASIONALLY,
WE MAY HAVE A LARGER
ROOT BALL ON THEM.
TELL GEORGE
HE CAN GO AHEAD
AND BRING IT
INTO PLACE HERE.
AND IT'S
DRY-LOOKING.
IT'S HARD
TO BELIEVE THAT
THIS IS GONNA...
IT'LL LIVE.
IT'LL PRODUCE A FULL
HEAD OF LEAVES WITHIN
APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR.
SO YOU PRUNE ALL
THE LEAVES OFF
SO THAT THERE'S
NO TRANSPIRATION
IN THE FIRST
FEW WEEKS AFTER
IT'S PLANTED.
MUCH LESS STRESS
ON THE PLANT.
AND YOU'RE
SAYING
THAT IT WON'T
KNOCK OVER
IN THE WIND.
RIGHT. THIS PARTICULAR
PALM TREE IS
ONE OF THE HIGHEST
WIND RESISTANT TREES
THAT THE UNIVERSITY
HAS FOUND FROM
THEIR RESEARCH.
RIGHT.
THAT'S PROBABLY
WHY IT'S
THE MOST
PREVALENT PALM
ANYWHERE IN
THE STATE.
YES.
SO WHAT ABOUT
THE SOIL?
WE WERE TALKING
EARLIER
ABOUT SOIL
CONDITIONS HERE.
IT'S NOT
BLACK LOAMY SOIL
OR MUCK.
AGAIN, THIS IS
OUR TYPICAL FILL SOIL.
AND THIS PALM WILL
ADAPT TO THIS SOIL.
WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS THEY'VE
MADE THE HOLE LARGER HERE
THAN THE ROOT BALL
TO GIVE ROOM
FOR THOSE TENDER
FEEDER ROOTS TO COME OUT,
ROOT IN,
AND STABILIZE THE TRUNK,
STABILIZE THE TREE.
OK, AND IN TERMS
OF THE DESIGN,
WE'VE GOT A WHOLE
ROW OF ABOUT 4 OR 5
OF THEM HERE.
AND THEN IT'S
BEEN UNDER-PLANTED
WITH KIND OF A GREEN
SHRUBBY THING.
WHAT IS THAT?
NOW, WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE,
WE'VE PUT THE PODOCARPUS
AS A HEDGE
ALONG HERE
TO CREATE PRIVACY
FOR THE POOL CAGE AREA.
Bob: SO THE PODOCARPUS
WILL GET PRETTY BIG?
Ken: VERY LARGE.
THEY CAN ACHIEVE
10 FEET TALL.
BASICALLY,
THE HOMEOWNERS
CAN CONTROL
ON HOW TALL OR HOW
WIDE THEY WISH THE
HEDGE LINE TO GET.
AND I'VE SEEN IT KIND
OF CUT INTO VERY RIGID
HEDGE MATERIAL.
YES. THE NATURAL GROWTH
RATE OF THE PODOCARPUS
IS TO GROW UP,
STRAIGHT UP AND NOT OUT.
THAT'S WHY WE WANTED
TO USE IT IN THIS AREA.
WE HAVE A LIMITED
SPACE HERE.
SO THAT'LL GROW UP,
CREATE THE PRIVACY.
VERY EASY TO MAINTAIN.
A LITTLE BIT OF TIP PRUNING
A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR.
SO THE RIGHT PLANT
IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE.
Bob: LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AT SOME OF THE PLANT
MATERIALS GOING OVER HERE.
ALL RIGHT, NOW,
THIS IS WHAT YOU
CALL A CROTON.
I REMEMBER THESE.
Angela: YES, THIS IS
A PLANT THAT'S QUITE COMMON
IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY
A LOW-MAINTENANCE PLANT
IF IT'S TREATED
PROPERLY.
IS IT A NATIVE?
IT IS NOT
A NATIVE, NO.
BUT WE WOULD CONSIDER IT
A LOW-MAINTENANCE PLANT,
SO IT WOULD BE GOOD
FOR A FLORIDA YARD.
NOT MANY PEST PROBLEMS.
LOW WATER REQUIREMENTS,
LOW FERTILIZER REQUIREMENTS.
DO THEY GET BIG?
THEY CAN GET
BIG, YES.
YES, THIS VARIETY
HERE IS GOING TO BE
A LITTLE SLOWER GROWING
AND MORE COMPACT
IN ITS GROWTH.
SO, KEN, THE IDEA, THEN,
IS THAT YOU CAN JUST HAVE
A CREW LIKE THIS DIG
IN THESE LITTLE HOLES.
YOU'VE KIND OF LAID
THESE OUT ACCORDING TO
THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN PLAN.
ABSOLUTELY,
ABSOLUTELY.
WHAT ARE ALL THESE THINGS?
WELL, WE HAVE
GOLD LANTANA,
WHICH IS
A NECTAR SOURCE
FOR BUTTERFLIES.
AH!
NORMALLY FAIRLY
LOW MAINTENANCE.
SO THIS IS
A TYPE OF LANTANA.
I THOUGHT LANTANA WAS
A LOT WOODIER.
IT CAN BE.
DIFFERENT VARIETIES
CAN GET MUCH LARGER
AND THEN CREATE
MORE OF A WOODY
SITUATION.
AND THEN THIS WILL
EVENTUALLY COVER
THIS WHOLE AREA.
CORRECT, RIGHT.
AND, ANGELA, WHAT
IS THIS GRAY-GREEN?
THIS IS CALLED
AZTEC GRASS.
WE'RE USING THIS AS
A BORDER HERE.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT
A NATIVE PLANT,
BUT IT'S A VERY GOOD
LOW-MAINTENANCE PLANT.
LOW WATER USER.
THE LANTANA IS VERY
LOW WATER USE, ALSO.
THE BIRD OF PARADISE
WAS PUT IN FOR AN ACCENT
AND SHOULD DO QUITE
WELL OUT HERE.
IS THIS NATIVE?
THAT IS NOT
NATIVE.
AGAIN, THIS IS
THE NICE LOW-MAINTENANCE
ORNAMENTAL
THAT WORKS WELL.
AND THIS WILL ACTUALLY HAVE
THAT SPIKY ORANGE BLOOM?
YES. IT GETS
THE BEAUTIFUL ORANGE
WITH THE PURPLE THROAT
COMING OUT, YES.
AND, KEN, AGAIN IN TERMS OF
THE SOIL CONDITIONS HERE,
PUTTING ALL THIS
PLANT MATERIAL IN,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO AMEND IT,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADD
MANURE OR FERTILIZER
OR SOMETHING?
NO. ACTUALLY,
THAT MAY DO MORE
HARM THAN GOOD
IN THE LONG RUN,
BECAUSE THE PLANT
WILL GET USED
TO HAVING
THE NUTRIENTS
IN THE SOIL.
AND THEN ALL
OF A SUDDEN,
THEY'RE TAKEN AWAY.
AND YOU CAN HAVE A
DECLINE IN THE PLANT
IN ITS GROWTH.
VERY INTERESTING. SO IT
GOES INTO WHAT IT'S GOT.
AND IT THRIVES IN THAT.
CORRECT.
AND ANOTHER POINT
TO MAKE HERE IS
THAT THE MORE OF THIS
GROUND COVER YOU HAVE,
THE LESS TURF YOU PUT IN.
YES. WE'VE LIMITED
THE TURF AREA HERE.
WE HAVE GIVEN
THE HOMEOWNER SOME TURF
TO THE RIGHT HERE.
THEY HAVE TWO DOGS,
SO THEY NEEDED SOME GRASS
FOR THE DOGS TO RUN
AROUND AND PLAY.
AND WE GAVE THEM SOME
GRASS TO THE RIGHT.
IN THIS AREA,
THIS IS GOING TO BE
TRANSITIONAL
AS A BUTTERFLY GARDEN.
SO WE'RE TRYING ATTRACT
WILDLIFE IN THIS AREA.
AND SO THE LANTANA IS ONE
OF THE KEYS TO ATTRACTING...
A NECTAR SOURCE,
CORRECT.
A SOURCE OF NECTAR.
AND THEN OVER HERE,
WHAT DO WE HAVE?
THIS IS CARM DiBELLA
FROM PESTAGON.
AND HE'S GONNA
TALK WITH US
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY PEST CONTROL
FOR TERMITES.
SO INSTEAD OF TREATING
THE PERIMETER OF THE HOUSE
WITH SOME SORT OF
TERMITE POISON...
LIQUID CHEMICAL
MATERIAL,
THAT'S CORRECT.
WE'RE INSTALLING
AN ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY
SYSTEM CALLED
THE SENTRICON
SYSTEM.
AND WHAT WE DO IS
WE INSERT IT
EVERY 10 FEET AROUND
THE STRUCTURE,
AND WE MONITOR
IT BIMONTHLY.
BY MONITORING IT
BIMONTHLY, WHAT WE
DO IS--
SUBTERRANEAN
TERMITES ARE
THERMO-SENSITIVE.
SO THEY'RE ATTRACTED
TO THE HOME BECAUSE
OF THE BIG SLAB.
WHEN A TREE FALLS IN
THE FOREST,
THE WAY THEY FIND
THE TREE IS
BECAUSE IT'S
COOLING THAT PORTION
OF THE EARTH,
SO TERMITES KNOW
THERE'S WOOD THERE.
THE HOUSE DOES
THE SAME THING.
THESE SHIELD--THIS
IS A THERMO-SHIELD
ON THE TOP.
AND BASICALLY,
IT GIVES IT A LITTLE
BIT OF SHADE.
AND THE
SUBTERRANEAN
TERMITES ARE
CONSTANTLY
FORAGING FOR NEW
FOOD SOURCES.
AND THEN ONCE
THEY GET THERE...
SO THEY'RE ATTRACTED
TO THE STATION.
WE MONITOR IT
EVERY TWO MONTHS
BY LIFTING THIS,
THE CAP.
WE SCAN IT
WITH COMPUTERS,
PICKING UP
INFORMATION,
SO THERE'S
A PAPER TRAIL.
AS THE TERMITES
ARE ATTRACTED TO
THE YELLOW PINE,
WE INSERT A BAIT.
WE SWITCH A BAIT
CALLED RECRUIT.
AND THAT'S
THE MATERIAL
THAT ACTUALLY,
THEY DELIVER IT
TO THE COLONY,
AND IT DESTROYS
THE WHOLE COLONY
RATHER THAN PUTTING
A CHEMICAL BARRIER
AND HUNDREDS
OF GALLONS
OF CHEMICALS,
THAT DEGRADES
OVER YEARS.
THIS CONSTANTLY
STAYS THE SAME
EFFECTIVENESS
AS LONG AS IT'S
MONITORED.
SO THIS CAN GO ON
FOR 10 YEARS.
IT'S ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY.
IT'S DIABOLICAL.
THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S GREAT, CARM.
THANKS A LOT.
CLOSED CAPTIONING
PROVIDED BY...
HI. I'M BOB VILA.
NEXT TIME, OUR
FLORIDA STORM-READY
HOUSE IN PUNTA GORDA
IS ALMOST FINISHED,
AND WE'LL BE SPENDING
ALL OF OUR TIME
IN THE GARDEN.
WE'RE SHOWING
YOU SUSTAINABLE
LANDSCAPING TECHNIQUES,
INCLUDING HOW TO PLANT
THEM AND WHAT TO CHOOSE.
WE'LL BE SHOWING YOU
HOW TO PUT IN A PALM TREE
AS WELL AS A FRUIT TREE.
AND WE'LL BE SHOWING YOU
THE LATEST
IN SCIENTIFIC
AND RESPONSIBLE WAYS
TO IRRIGATE YOUR LAWNS.
ALSO, HOW TO DEAL
WITH THE BUGS.
DON'T MISS IT.
HI. I'M BOB VILA.
NEXT TIME, OUR FLORIDA
STORM-READY HOUSE
IN PUNTA GORDA
IS ALMOST FINISHED,
AND WE'LL BE SPENDING ALL
OF OUR TIME IN THE GARDEN.
WE'LL BE SHOWING YOU
HOW TO PUT IN A PALM TREE
AS WELL AS A FRUIT TREE.
ALSO, HOW TO DEAL
WITH THE BUGS.
DON'T MISS IT.
I'M BOB VILA.
OUR STORM-READY HOUSE
IN PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA,
IS ALMOST FINISHED,
AND NEXT TIME,
WE'LL BE PUTTING
IN THE GARDEN.
DON'T MISS IT.
Bob: ONE OF THE
GREAT THINGS ABOUT
PLANTING A GARDEN
IN AN AREA LIKE
THIS IS THAT YOU'VE
GOT WATER VIEWS
IN SO MANY
LOCATIONS.
DOES THAT INTERFERE
WITH YOUR CHOICE
OF PLANTS?
WELL, IT DOESN'T
INTERFERE,
BUT IT CERTAINLY
LIMITS YOUR SELECTIONS.
YOU HAVE MANY
DWARF PLANTS THAT
WILL WORK WELL.
WE'VE CHOSEN HERE
A DWARF FIRE BUSH.
THIS IS A NATIVE PLANT
TO FLORIDA,
AND IT'S ALSO A GREAT
BUTTERFLY ATTRACTOR.
THIS AREA OF THE GARDEN
IS TO ATTRACT WILDLIFE
AND BUTTERFLIES.
Bob: NOW, KEN,
LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT
WE'RE DOING HERE.
THIS IS
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN
THAT TERESA WANTS.
CORRECT.
AND YOU'RE CREATING
A RAISED BED?
YEAH. WE'RE BRINGING
IN THE ANCHOR--
INTERLOCKING BLOCKS--
FROM GROUND LEVEL UP,
TWO COURSES.
OK, AND WHAT'S
THIS BLACK STUFF?
THIS IS AN EROSION CLOTH,
WHICH STOPS THE SEEPAGE
OF THE POTTING SOIL
FROM COMING OUT FROM
THE BASE OF THE BLOCKS.
OK, AND WE WERE
JUST TALKING
ABOUT HOW THE CONDITION OF
THE SOIL HERE IS VERY POOR.
YES.
VEGETABLES NEED
RICH MATERIAL.
THEY NEED RICH
COMPOSTED MATERIAL,
SO YOU'LL SEE
THE TYPICAL
FILL SOIL HERE.
AND WHAT WE'VE
BROUGHT IN IS
A RICH HUMUS
POTTING SOIL MIX.
THIS WILL BE IDEAL
FOR VEGETABLES.
WE'LL ALSO BE
ADDING SOME
SOIL ADDITIVES
TO THIS
SOIL MIXTURE.
NOW, WHAT ARE THESE BLOCKS?
I DIDN'T REALIZE THEY WERE
HOLLOWED OUT LIKE THAT.
AN ANCHOR BLOCK
IS A TYPE OF BLOCK,
AND THEY'RE MANUFACTURED.
THEY ACTUALLY INTERLOCK.
WE USE THESE TO BUILD
RETAINING WALLS.
OK.
AND WHAT'S
THE NATURE OF THE SOIL
THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
FOR PLANTING?
IS IT A MIX
OF COMPOST OR WHAT?
IT'S COMPOST, PEAT MOSS,
SHREDDED FIR BARK,
AND DOLOMITE
TO SWEETEN THE SOIL.
GREAT. HERE COMES
ANOTHER LOAD OF IT.
ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE HAVE
A COMPLETED RAISED BED.
AND WE'VE GOT
THIS FLORIDA HEAT.
CAN YOU REALLY GROW
VEGETABLES IN IT?
Angela: YOU
SURE CAN, YES.
WE HAVE TOMATOES,
PEPPERS, AND ONIONS
THAT'LL DO QUITE WELL.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT
HERBS, ALSO,
THAT'LL DO QUITE WELL
THIS TIME OF YEAR.
EXCELLENT.
AND, KEN, THE SHAPE
THAT YOU CREATED WITH
THE CEMENT BLOCKS
HAS TO DO WITH SET-BACKS
AND ALL THAT, RIGHT?
THE SET-BACKS,
THE AREA THAT WE HAVE
TO WORK WITH,
THE DEPTH, AND ALSO
LEAVING A PATHWAY
AND ACCESSIBILITY.
YEAH. SO THIS
WILL BE SODDED, RIGHT?
CORRECT.
OK, THANKS. NICE WORK.
WE'RE GONNA LEARN
A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT GARDENING.
Angela: WE'RE GONNA
TALK TO CRAIG HARMER
FROM GARDENS ALIVE TODAY.
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD. THANK YOU.
A LOT OF THE IMPORTANCE
OF GARDENING, NOT
JUST VEGETABLE GARDENING,
BUT THE WHOLE GARDEN
AND THE BRUSHES
AND EVERYTHING ELSE,
HAS TO DO WITH FERTILIZING
AND PEST CONTROL
AND HOW YOU
GROW YOUR GARDEN, RIGHT?
RIGHT, MM-HMM.
AND I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS
BEEN PROBLEMS WITH
A LOT OF CHEMICALS
AND THINGS GOING
INTO THE ENVIRONMENT,
SO WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE ALTERNATIVES THAT
YOU'RE BRINGING US?
THE PRODUCTS WE
RECOMMEND
FOR FERTILIZERS ARE
NATURAL PLANT AND
ANIMAL BYPRODUCTS.
THE REASON WE DO
THIS IS BECAUSE
1--THEY'RE DESIGNED
TO GROW THE TOMATOES
OR THEY'RE
DESIGNED TO GROW
THE SEPARATE
VEGETABLES.
THEY OFFER THE RIGHT
AMOUNTS OF NPK,
BUT ALSO THEY
PROVIDE NUTRIENTS
FOR THE SOIL LIFE
TO BENEFIT.
AND IF YOU'VE GOT
GOOD SOIL, THEN
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
GOOD PLANTS.
Bob: SO WHAT HAVE
YOU GOT HERE?
SO WE'VE GOT
VEGETABLES ALIVE
HERE, TOMATOES ALIVE
FOR THE TOMATOES
AND PEPPERS,
VEGETABLES FOR
ALL THE REST.
AND WHAT IS IT
ABOUT THEM THAT
MAKES THEM UNUSUAL?
AGAIN, THEY'RE
UNPROCESSED,
COMPLETELY NATURAL
INGREDIENTS.
WE'VE JUST
TAKEN MEAL,
SUCH AS SOY BEAN
OR ALFALFA MEAL,
AND CREATED BLENDS
FOR THE VEGETABLES
AND TOMATOES.
OK. AND WHAT ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, PEST CONTROL?
PEST CONTROL,
WE OFFER A LINE
OF, AGAIN,
NATURAL PRODUCTS,
SUCH AS OUR PYOLA,
WHICH IS PYRETHRIN
AND CANOLA OIL.
OH, YEAH, THIS IS
GREAT STUFF.
YEAH.
IT ACTUALLY WORKS
3 DIFFERENT WAYS.
IT COVERS,
SUFFOCATES EGGS.
IT IS A CONTACT
POISON,
AND IT ALSO IS
AN INGESTED POISON.
AND IT'S SAFE FOR
EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO IT'S JUST
TARGETING
THE PESTS YOU
WANT TO TARGET.
RIGHT. IT'S NOT
GONNA HARM THE BIRDS.
NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT.
AND I CAN'T
RESIST THIS.
ESCAR-GO!, YEAH.
IT'S AN IRON
PHOSPHATE PRODUCT
FOR SLUGS
AND SNAILS.
IT WON'T HARM
ANYTHING OTHER THAN
SLUGS AND SNAILS.
IT WORKS BETTER THAN
A CHEMICAL PRODUCT.
GREAT. AND, OF
COURSE, WE'VE LOADED
UP ON OUR COMPOSTER,
WHICH I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE
A SECOND TO TALK ABOUT.
DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE?
Angela: IT MAKES A LOT
OF SENSE IN THE FLORIDA
YARD ENVIRONMENT.
WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THIS,
WE ADVISE WHEN
YOU'RE GOING AROUND
AND PRUNING SHRUBS
IN YOUR LANDSCAPE
TO BRING YOUR CLIPPINGS
AND PUT THEM
INTO TO YOUR COMPOSTER.
PUT YOUR KITCHEN SCRAPS
IN THERE: VEGETABLES,
SALAD MIXES,
THINGS LIKE THAT.
AS THAT BREAKS DOWN, IT
BUILDS A VERY RICH HUMUS.
THEN YOU TAKE THAT HUMUS
OUT AND PUT IT
INTO YOUR GARDEN AREA.
WONDERFUL.
IT BUILDS THE SOIL
AND ENRICHES IT,
JUST AS THE PRODUCTS
FROM GARDENS ALIVE DO.
IT OFFERS
THE MICROBES THAT
HELP BUILD THE SOIL.
DEFINITELY.
THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CRAIG.
THANK YOU.
AND, ANGELA, YOU'VE DONE
A WONDERFUL JOB.
AND THANK YOU TO
EVERYBODY AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF FLORIDA EXTENSION.
THANK YOU, BOB.
WE'VE REALLY ENJOYED
THE OPPORTUNITY.
THAT'S KALO, OUR HOMEOWNER
TERESA'S BROTHER,
WHO'S VISITING FROM
THAILAND, WHERE HE LIVES.
AND HE'S QUITE
AN ARTIST WITH BAMBOO.
HE'S CREATING AS A GIFT FOR
THEM A SPECIAL GARDEN
RIGHT AT THE FRONT DOOR.
WE'LL SEE MORE OF
THAT IN A COUPLE WEEKS.
WE'VE SEEN MOST OF
THE LANDSCAPE BEING
COMPLETED TODAY.
AND NEXT TIME, WE'RE
GONNA SPEND A LOT OF TIME
ON THE SWIMMING POOL.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
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