Roots & Wings Online

In a continued effort to apply Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices within LARMAC’s landscape, the LARMAC Board is pleased to share this update of an organic landscape consulting contract with Osborne Organics. The scope of work is focused on gathering information and developing a transitional plan to organic pest management at the following locations:

• Founders Park

• Oso Grande Park

• Chaparral Park

• Cambridge/Covenant Hills Drive Greenbelt Area

• Wagsdale Park

All portions of the parks (turf and planter beds) have been included in this transitional program, which is estimated to occur over the next 2-3 years. The initial process will involve site analysis, review of current and historical maintenance practices and soil tests.

The work that began earlier this year is part of a transitional process. Soil tests have been completed and once the results have been analyzed, the preliminary program will begin. When moving from a chemical materials program to an organic one, it should not be expected that everything is completed by the end of Year One. New practices will be introduced over the transitional three-year process. This will include improving soil health, introducing new product, and ultimately looking to have a healthy, biologically active soil that will improve plant health and vigor and maintain expectations. Throughout the transition, Osborne Organics will set goals to create a soil and plant environment that will require less input in the years that follow.

The determination of a management level depends upon the communicated individual site expectations. Site expectations govern the level of cultural intensity. Cultural intensity is everything that goes into managing the Ladera Ranch site. This includes labor, product input, and water. Product applications will be natural, organic and preferably materials that are approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). If a product is not able to be sourced to meet the above criteria, an organic compatible product that is not OMRI certified will be allowed. This includes fertilizers, soil amendments, microbial inoculates, and those amendments that are considered to be microbial food sources.