104 Horticulture Today
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
grower must understand how to cultivate and
harvest various types of turfgrass. He or she
must be able to lift pieces of sod that can weigh
more than 50 lb, Figure 4-12.
A sod grower may pursue a degree in
turfgrass or have some additional formal
education. Sod, like almost all crops, must be
fertilized and have a pest management plan in
place. Additionally, the turfgrass must be cut to a
certain height for proper growth and production.
Combining Edible and Ornamental
Plants
When designing and planting a landscape,
consider using plants that serve two purposes,
beauty and nutrition. Vegetable and fruit plants, trees, and shrubs are
beautiful just like ornamental trees and shrubs. Edible plants may be placed:
• In mixed containers.
• In planting beds.
• In landscape borders.
• With fl owers and ornamental grasses.
As when considering ornamental plants for
a design, you should consider the characteristics
of fruit or vegetable plants before inserting
them into the design. For instance, Vaccinium
angustifolium ‘Tophat’ is a blueberry plant
that has been bred to grow in a compact form.
‘Tophat’ blueberry shrubs reach about 24″
(61 cm) tall and wide. The plant is blanketed
with small blueberries and is perfect for full
sun or partial shade. Like most blueberries,
it is a perennial in many areas of the country,
Figure 4-13.
Using edibles in the landscape adds beauty
and can impact your dinner plate and your
wallet. Fruits and vegetables grown in the
garden may cost a fraction of what they would
at a grocery store or farmers market. Fruits and
vegetables cultivated at home will also have more nutritional content than
those shipped from great distances. Those grown locally or at home are
picked when ripe instead of being picked early to allow time for shipping.
Eating soon after picking may increase the amount of nutrients available in
the food, since there is little time for decomposition. Growing vegetables can
help you save money and provide healthy foods.
Ingrid Balabanova/Shutterstock.com
Figure 4-12. Laying sod is labor intensive work, much of
which must be done by hand. What types of machinery
are used in the cultivation and harvesting of sod?
ugorya17/Shutterstock.com
Figure 4-13. This blueberry plant is an excellent edible
addition to any garden space. What types of edibles
would you incorporate into a landscape design?
Corner Question
What is the difference
between a reel lawn
mower and a rotary
lawn mower?