Landscape Workgroup Mission

The purpose of the Landscape Workgroup is to create and expand the network of UC researchers and extension personnel to enable the identification and solving of issue-related problems affecting the landscape industry, to provide opportunities for professional development, and provide a forum for communication between UC personnel and industry in the development of sound research and extension programs.

The need for quality landscapes is increasing as the urban population of California continues to grow. For example, in Southern California, the most urbanized region in the state with approximately 18 million urban residents, planned landscapes are essential for a quality lifestyle. Thus, landscape horticulture (the maintenance, functional use, and production of plant materials to enhance populated areas) has a direct effect on the way most Californians live, and it is a growing industry in the state.

The environmental horticulture industry had a total statewide economic activity of over $10 billion in 1991. Landscape services including landscape design/architecture, installation and maintenance of turfgrass, woody plants, annuals and other plant materials, plus the retail sales of ornamental and garden plants) account for slightly more than 50% of the total economic activity, production about 20%, and equipment about 30%.

There are many diverse clientele groups within the landscape arena, and there is typically little or no organization among them. Examples of clientele groups in the state are licensed landscape contractors, landscape architects, wholesale woody plant nurseries, bedding plant growers, urban forestry agencies and groups, arborists and street tree managers, irrigation managers and engineers, water agencies, and municipal parks, planning, and public works departments.

Fortunately, these clientele groups have similar needs and face similar issues which require both research and extension activity from UC DANR. These issues are rated as VERY HIGH to HIGH Program Priorities identified in the PPAC planning process. They are:

1. Water management and conservation, including water quantity and quality, plant water needs, woody plant stress physiology, and use of reclaimed water on landscape plants. PPAC Program Priorities: Agricultural Resources Issue 1, #3, Issue 3, #4, and Natural Resources Issue 3.

2. Landscape impacts on environmental quality, both positive and negative, including greenwaste management, resource conservation, plant emissions, noise reduction, and water quality. PPAC Program Priorities: Agricultural Resources Issue 3, #2, Issue 3, #4, and Natural Resources Issue 3.

3. Plant selection and improvement, including improved water and temperature stress tolerances, pest tolerance, improved horticultural qualities, and reduced defects of woody plant root systems. PPAC Program Priorities: Agricultural Resources Issue 1, #1, Issue 3, #4, and Natural Resources Issue 3.

4. Landscape management and cultural practices, including soil preparation, planting techniques, fertilization, pruning, and adequate performance under minimum resource input. PPAC Program Priorities: Agricultural Resources Issue 1, #1, and Issue 2, #5.

E: Workgroup Structure and Operational Issues: 42 members of UC DANR have committed to an active or cooperative role in the Landscape Workgroup. These academics share a common program focus, to develop more resource-efficient management systems for use by landscape clientele. The advisor positions create an informal team in which each person conducts their own education and applied research programs yet maintains some subject matter specialty that can be shared in support of other team members. It is a very active and productive team, but greater emphasis on statewide activities and responsibilities coupled with more direct ties through the Landscape Workgroup could greatly improve its efficiency and effectiveness. The continuum from the clientele to CE advisor to campus-based CE specialist to basic researcher is present and can be improved. If we can strengthen this relationship, then a well-integrated, highly-effective, and very visible research and extension program could be developed to work with, and meet the needs of, the landscape industry.

Communication and coordination of activities within the Landscape Workgroup is now handled via E-mail and the group has a listserv at the Davis campus. Meetings of the workgroup are held annually at the Ornamental Horticulture Extension Continuing Conference (OHECC). This is advantageous since many workgroup members are also active in the Urban, Turfgrass, and Floriculture/Nursery Workgroups. The annual Landscape Management Research Conference and Field Day at UCR could also serve as forum for the workgroup to meet in southern California.