Landscape Architect Magazine on November 2015 issue covers Kurapia shows Utility as Low-Water use Groundcover on its industry trade magazine for commercial landscape specifiers nationwide!
To read full article, click here and specify page 178.
Nov 24, 2015
Nov 22, 2015
ASA CSSA SSSA 2015 MEETING
Effects of Commonly-Used Herbicides on Establishing and Mature Kurapia (Lippia nodiflora L.) study was jointly done by Cole Thompson1 and Jim Baird2
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| American Society of Agronomy Crop Science Society of America Soil Society of America 2015 ANNUAL MEETING With the Entomological Society of American |
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| The study was jointly done by SCal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, CA and University of California – Riverside, Riverside, CA |
Kurapia (Lippia nodiflora L.) is a broadleaf groundcover selected and developed in Japan that has recently been recognized for its low water use and salinity tolerance characteristics. Kurapia use is now increasing in California landscapes, but little is known about its tolerance to pre- and postemergence herbicides during or after establishment. Our objective was to evaluate Kurapia tolerance to 15 commercially available herbicides at various stages of establishment. Kurapia plugs were installed in March 2015 in two California locations (Riverside and San Luis Obispo). All herbicides were applied at labeled rates at 1, 6, or 12 weeks after planting Kurapia plugs in each location. Kurapia injury was visually estimated at 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after treatment for each herbicide timing, and percent Kurapia ground cover was visually estimated every two weeks from March through July. Metolachlor, prodiamine, and fluazifop were generally the least injurious at each application timing in San Luis Obispo and Riverside, whereas triclopyr, indaziflam, halosulfuron, 2,4-D + MCPP + dicamba + carfentrazone-ethyl, and thiencarbazone + foramsulfuron + halosulfuron were most injurious. Kurapia response to isoxaben, sulfosulfuron, mesotrione, quinclorac, clopyralid, MCPP, and thiencarbazone + iodosulfuron + dicamba was variable among application timings and between sites.
See more from this Division: C05 Turfgrass Science
See more from this Session: Turfgrass Science: II
Nov 14, 2015
Scripps Women's College News
Weathering the Drought
Click here to go to the actual publication.
According to data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, nearly 95 percent of the State of California is currently experiencing severe to exceptional drought, and future prospects for relief look grim. It is no longer optional to cut back on water use; for the first time in state history, the governor has directed mandatory water reductions in cities and towns across California to reduce water usage by 25 percent.
Click here to go to the actual publication.
According to data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, nearly 95 percent of the State of California is currently experiencing severe to exceptional drought, and future prospects for relief look grim. It is no longer optional to cut back on water use; for the first time in state history, the governor has directed mandatory water reductions in cities and towns across California to reduce water usage by 25 percent.
In response to Governor Jerry Brown’s executive order, the City of Claremont has passed a resolution limiting watering to two days a week for 15 minutes at a time, which is a more than a 50 percent reduction of the College’s current watering schedule. The resolution further limits watering during colder months. To ensure Scripps College’s compliance with the water usage reduction mandate, the Board of Trustees approved funding to implement landscaping projects, showerhead replacements, and a new pool filtration system.
While these actions will result in some changes to the appearance of Scripps’ grounds, the College is committed to preserving the natural beauty of the campus. Work has begun in many areas, including Revelle House, Jaqua Quadrangle, East-West Allée, Sallie Tiernan Field House pool area, south of the Rose Garden, and south of the Routt Apartments. In addition to replacing grass with hardscape and drought-tolerant plants, the College is planting groundcovers that will keep the campus green with less water. Some of these include:
- tall and fine fescues, standard grasses that stay green year-round and do well in shade
- Bermuda Princess 77, a grass that stays green longer than other Bermudas, but is dormant in cold months, tolerates high foot traffic, stays tight to the ground, and does well in full sun
- Lippia Kurapia, a groundcover with inconspicuous spring flowers that stays green year-round, does well in sun/part shade, and accommodates moderate foot traffic
For the past two decades, Scripps College has adopted a broad range of sustainability initiatives as part of its charge to protect and preserve the environment. Scripps’ commitment to water conservation and sustainability includes implementation of the following measures:
- Removed more than 80,000 square feet of lawns and replaced them with drought-tolerant plants
- Replaced large, visible lawns in the center of campus with drought-tolerant grass, which will reduce water usage by 30 percent
- Upgraded the central irrigation system to reduce water waste caused by leaks and/or overwatering
- Intentionally planted eucalyptus, olive, oak, and sycamore trees, which require little water to maintain
- Limited the use of fountains during the drought to three of the 21 total on campus
- Hosted a free, public conference on water scarcity in 2013 to raise awareness of the statewide drought
The Claremont Colleges have responded appropriately to the drought as well, with each campus adapting to the current situation by removing turf, switching to drip systems, and replacing lawns with drought-tolerant or California native plants.
The San Diego Union-Tribune
Low-water alternatives for turf
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| Kurapia is a quick-growing ground cover developed for drought conditions. Kurapia, Inc. photo |
Several low-water-use plants are ideal to replace traditional turf lawns. An interactive, web-based gardening tool at WaterSmartSDLandscaping.org is a great place to begin your search for plants that meet your criteria. The tool asks questions about how much sun the plants will receive, how tall you want them to grow, and what type of soil is in the planting area.
Based on your situation, consider silver carpet, Kurapia, woolly thyme and sand strawberry. If you’d like to see these turf alternatives and many other drought-tolerant plants in person, the Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon offers free guided tours at 10 a.m. on Saturdays. The garden is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for self-guided exploration. More information is at thegarden.org.
Submit your question about water conservation (along with your name and town of residence) to Dear Drought Fighter at the San Diego County Water Authority, droughtfighter@sdcwa.org. The first five people who submit a question this week will receive two tickets to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park.
Nov 13, 2015
Pasadena - Walden School Parents Dig In
Walden is a Pre-K through sixth grade co-educational independent school in Pasadena, California.
Over the summer, the strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street along the front of Walden School was replaced with Kurapia (Lippia nodiflora). This new low-water groundcover was developed for drought conditions and is tolerant of a range of soils and harsh conditions.
UC Davis completed a multi-year study of drought tolerant plants and Kurapia was one of the top three performers. Dark green with small, white, sterile flowers, the groundcover plugs spread their leaves to fill in next to each other, but the plant is non-invasive, because it does not re-seed.
Walden parents recently dug in to help the newly planted plugs by pulling weeds from the bed. Once the plugs have fully matured, weed invasion will be minimized. “Garden work is always a good way to start the day,” said one Walden parent. Teaching that we all have stewardship for the world in which we live is a cornerstone of Walden’s mission.
Several years ago, Walden dance teacher Daphne and her husband, John, replaced their traditional lawn with Phyla nodiflora, a close relative to the Lippia nodiflora planted at Walden. Daphne praised the plant, saying, “It’s a tough-as-nails, no-mow, drought tolerant ground cover, that unlike a lawn, is ornamented with pretty white flowers. Even if the plant dies back from drought or too much winter cold, it springs back from the rhizomes.”
KESQ TV News Channel 3 & CBS Local 2
New plants can replace your lawn
Turf farms cutting back on watering
Joe Galli, KESQ News Channel 3 & CBS Local 2 Reporter
PALM DESERT, Calif. -The water crisis in California continues to reap downfalls, now causing turf-growing companies to cut back on their water usage.
West Coast Turf, a Palm Desert company that implements grass in stadiums throughout California from Dodger Stadium to the Rose Bowl, reduced how much and how frequently water is used on the turf at their Indian Wells farm.
Danielle Scardino, director of marketing and communications at West Coast Turf, informs that it is imperative to water during the early hours of the morning, which is what they carry out on their farms.
Along with West Coast Turf doing their share to preserve water, nearby, "The stadiums are using recycled water. They're watering at the right times in the morning probably between 5 and 7, so they're doing their part. Stadiums are no longer power washing their seats and they're not watering their grass when there is not an event, so the stadiums are taking an active role in saving water."
New substitutes for lawns are now available as well. Kurapia, imported from Japan, uses anywhere from 50-60% less water.
Scardino also explains, "[Kurapia] has been known to go without irrigation for 56 days. It's brand new on the market, we're selling that. We're also selling a couple new native varieties to save water as well. It's a ground cover, but it looks a lot like grass, so that's going on the market."
Additionally, all-organic turf colorant is available to spray over lawns to increase aesthetic appeal while cutting back on water.
Overall, water preservation still needs improvement.
"In fact, grass doesn't waste water, people waste water," Scardino begins. "Last week it was raining and people are watering their lawns still. That's wasting water. You go down the streets and people are watering their sidewalks."
Apart from entirely converting lawns from grass, there are still other ways people can budget their water usage, as long as they know how to water responsibly.
- Copyright 2014 Gulf California Broadcasting. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Los Angeles - Property Owners Association
Property Owners Association in Los Angeles recommended Kurapia as a Water-Wise Parkway Landscape Alternatives.
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Water Issues
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California is in a historic drought. Depleted aquifers can take decades to replenish.
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What we pay for scarce water in LA can be viewed as cheap. This will not last.
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Municipalities have been increasing both water restrictions and the cost of water.
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Even if El Niño 2015 brings heavy rains, it will not end California’s drought problems.
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We need to conserve water in every way possible, for the environment, and our budgets.
Parkways
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The turf that remains on most of our parkways (and lawns) in not water-wise.
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Because of water restrictions, many residents have stopped watering their parkways which are now
browning or dead.
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Even though LA parkways are City property, homeowners are required to maintain them.
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Consider replacing parkway grass (and, possibly, front lawns) with better choices.
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LA maintains a limited list1 of selected approved plants for parkways. Using other plants or using other
cover (bark mulch, rocks, decomposed granite, synthetic/artificial turf, etc) is not recommended by us, may
be dangerous and requires permits and meaningful permit fees.
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Property owners are of course free to leave existing parkway plants in place or contract for their
replacement as each owner sees fit, within City guidelines. Replacing lawns at the same time would,
presumably, involve cost efficiencies.
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There are several ways to remove existing turf. We suggest avoiding herbicides which run off into the
ocean. We are informed that the simplest method is to first stop watering and allow the grass to die, then
water the parkway (to soften the soil) one week prior to grass removal with a pick and shovel. Prior to
installing any new plants, homeowners may wish to investigate additional water efficiencies afforded by
surface or sub-surface drip irrigation as a modification to existing sprinklers. Re-planting in late October or
November at the earliest is preferable as it should be cooler and therefore less stress on new plants. Note
that even drought tolerant plants will need regular water until established.
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After extensive research, we feel the following groundcovers are the best city-approved alternatives
which: require little to very little water; are suitable for our local soil; do well in various sun/shade
exposures; take some foot traffic; are low enough (or can be mowed/trimmed) to allow car doors to open;
do not have winter or summer dormancy (turn brown); and, will keep the neighborhood attractive year-
round. Plants appear alphabetically:
o Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) - several California native cultivars are available. o Kurapia (Lippia nodiflora ‘Kurapia’) - in the form of the Kurapia patented cultivar.
Existing street trees need special consideration. Please note that, whatever plants you choose, they are best left about 24” from the base of street tree trunks and, whatever irrigation you use, street trees need to be provided with appropriate water or they will eventually die. -
California is in a historic drought. Depleted aquifers can take decades to replenish.
Kurapia (Lippia nodiflora ‘Kurapia’) |
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IRRIGATION
once established |
DROUGHT
TOLERANT?
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MAXIMUM
HEIGHT
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FOOT
TRAFFIC
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EXPOSURE
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EVERGREEN
?
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CALIFORNIA
NATIVE
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LOW
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YES
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1 inch
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Light
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Full Sun
Part-Shade
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Yes
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No. Japanese
drought-tolerant
cultivar of a plant
which is also
native to
California
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Notes:
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Selected Links:
Kurapia Home Page http://www.kurapia.com/index.html | ||||||
Nov 6, 2015
Nov 5, 2015
First Kurapia® Groundcover Sod Project
Kurapia® Groundcover Sod, installed in
residential front Yard in San Marino, CA
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| Mark Ohde Photo by EcoTech Services |
Oct 20, 2015
Kurapia® Sod Groundcover at Delta Bluegrass Sod Field
A World Premier Kurapia Sod Field by Delta Bluegrass Company.
Customers and specifiers seems so impressed by real touchable
Kurapia in Sod form as a complete image.
Oct 19, 2015
Oct 5, 2015
Caltrans Maintenance Storm Water Division Bioswale trial project-Erosion control and Slope inspection.
The trial could result one of Caltrans rethinking landscaping plan.
In 6 months Kurapia covered bioswale area entirely like a solid dense carpet, which will absorb and slow down stormwater.Freeway 210 Azusa area
Installation and maintenance managed by
Ecotech Services, Inc.
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| April 23, 2015 |
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| June 16, 2015 |
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| August 5, 2015 |
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| Oct 5, 2015 |
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| Oct 5, 2015 photos are provided by EcoTech and Kurapia |
Oct 4, 2015
WHEN IN DROUGHT: Irrigation and Tree Care Workshop, CHULA VISTA
Florasource, Ltd. presents Kurapia at its table.
Oct 21, 2015
8AM - 330PM
Chula Vista Public Lirbrary
365 F St. Chula Vista, CA 91910
Oct 21, 2015
8AM - 330PM
Chula Vista Public Lirbrary
365 F St. Chula Vista, CA 91910
San Diego County Water Authority and the University of California are collaborating on this workshop which covers using drip irrigation during a drought. This workshop is designed for landscape irrigation managers. The workshop features indoor presentations with accompanying outdoor demonstrations. Additional complementary resources will be provided to all attendees after the event. Certificates of attendance are available for attendees who wish to sign up for Irrigation Association (IA) or PLANET CEUs. Also included, is the option to sign up for 3 hours of continuing education “Other” credits from DPR at the workshop.
Continental breakfast & refreshments provided by Industry Partners.
Topics:
- Understanding precipitation rates (PR) and application rates
- Improving drip irrigation layout to reduce water use
- Improving scheduling strategies to achieve mandated water restrictions
- Determining &calculating application rates of drip/micro irrigation to reduce water & pesticide runoff
- Complying with water restrictions while preventing tree loss
Partners
WHEN IN DROUGHT: Irrigation and Tree Care Workshop, ESCONDIDO
Florasource, Ltd. presents Kurapia at its table.
Oct 20, 2015
from 08:00 AM to03:30 PM
Mitchell Room
Escondido City Hall
201 N. Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025
Oct 20, 2015
from 08:00 AM to03:30 PM
Mitchell Room
Escondido City Hall
201 N. Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025
San Diego County Water Authority and the University of California are collaborating on this workshop which covers using drip irrigation during a drought. This workshop is designed for landscape irrigation managers. The workshop features indoor presentations with accompanying outdoor demonstrations. Additional complementary resources will be provided to all attendees after the event. Certificates of attendance are available for attendees who wish to sign up for Irrigation Association (IA) or PLANET CEUs. Also included, is the option to sign up for 3 hours of continuing education “Other” credits from DPR at the workshop.
Continental breakfast & refreshments provided by Industry Partners.
Topics:
- Understanding precipitation rates (PR) and application rates
- Improving drip irrigation layout to reduce water use
- Improving scheduling strategies to achieve mandated water restrictions
- Determining &calculating application rates of drip/micro irrigation to reduce water & pesticide runoff
- Complying with water restrictions while preventing tree loss
Partners
Sep 28, 2015
Kurapia by House2home
Landscape Management
Sacramento, California
This month I have something to share that is very new: Not a new type of lawn but a new lawn alternative. It is a low growing, evergreen, drought-tolerant groundcover. For some of us, this is great news. For others, we want our lawn. So, in writing about something relatively new, though it has been in existence since the early ’90s, I know that I am going to divide us into two camps: hard-core lawn supporters who believe we are just in a dry cycle and that rainfall will come back, and those who believe our climate is changing and we need to think about water conservation.
Regardless of which “camp” you find yourself in, the information I am about to share should be of interest and very encouraging in regards to saving water.
Regardless of which “camp” you find yourself in, the information I am about to share should be of interest and very encouraging in regards to saving water.
Let’s start by letting the “cat out of the bag.” The name of the groundcover is Kurapia. (Lippia nodiflora “Kurapia,” botanically speaking). If you go to my website I have attained permission from the breeder to host his website pictures on our site. I learned about Kurapia recently while attending a landscape conference in Southern California. Some of the classes I took dealt with California natives, water recapturing systems as well as this topic of Kurapia. I know that Southern California is even more stressed for water than we are so “cutting edge” information was what I was looking for. The class on lawn alternatives featured two speakers. One was the breeder of Kurapia who flew in from Tokyo. The other speaker was one of two brokers licensed to sell Kurapia. The breeder told us that Kurapia’s parent is in the Lippia genus. The parent species is widely naturalized worldwide, and seeds readily. However, Kurapia has been bred to be sterile and its growth habit is much more compact and tamed. And though it is sterile with respect to seed production, it does flower and is bee-and butterfly- friendly, blooming from May to October. If pollination of fruit trees is needed or if you just enjoy having a bee-friendly landscape, Kurapia answers that. However, if bees are an issue it can be mowed once or twice a month to cut the bloom off. Kurapia benefits from mowing as it causes it to grow denser.Though much of the pictures on the website are from Japan, it has been under extensive study at UC Davis and UC Riverside, in comparison with Bermuda grass and No Mow as well as other drought-tolerant cool season and warm season grasses. Kurapia has exceeded them all going 52 days without water (in the summer by drip irrigation) and still maintained its green color. Pretty impressive! Its secret is an extensive root system that goes as deep as four feet and its dense 2″ to 3″ tall mat–like top. It does not require much fertilization, about twice a year, and it spreads and self-repairs by stolons. This is very different, say from Bermuda grass which spreads via rhizomes, thus making Bermuda grass the invasive lawn it is. Kurapia is also evergreen and does not have a dormancy period though it stops growing or slows down in the winter. And it’s unparalleled for erosion control on slopes given its deep rooting capabilities.UC Riverside tests have shown Kurapia to be very tolerant of high salts, therefore a great candidate for areas with reclaimed water or areas that are on wells that might be high in salts. Also, research shows that Kurapia is hardy to 20 degrees, though in tests it has survived in temperatures as low as 12 degrees. It grows both in sun and shade, requiring only three hours of sunlight. However it tends to stay more compact in full sun. Lastly because of its matting growth habit it naturally suppresses weeds once it fills in.What Kurapia is notKurapia is not a sports field turf substitute; it cannot take consistent high traffic though it is very walkable. It can be used around children’s play areas with the normal wear and tear that any lawn would experience. As of this writing I am not sure if it is deer resistant. The breeder in Japan said there are no deer in his region. He says rabbits like it and the plant responds by becoming thicker so it is quite possible that deer might like it? It is not dog urine resistant, but it is more tolerant of dog urine than a lawn and mends quickly. And as the picture shows, Kurapia comes in plugs, not rolls.
If you believe our climate is changing then the psychology of having yards lush and green will have to change to meet reality. However, with Kurapia as a lawn alternative not much has to be given up if we can substitute leaves for blades of lawn. If you believe we will return back to normal rainfall Kurapia can be a temporary substitute. It beats looking at a dead lawn if restrictions come to that. The picture you see of our client’s yard is probably the first home in all of Northern California that has Kurapia as a lawn alternative. The plantings are a combination of Mediterranean type plants and or natives plus some Pieris (in the back) that were there prior. This would be the direction I would suggest for those who want an area of green or need an area for kids and pets to play.
Next month I will highlight a much larger yard with Kurapia for “green space” and discuss the specifics about planting Kurapia and what the breeder has for the future.
Lastly for gardeners, if you planted in April you should have some good growth by now. Remember especially with veggies do not overwater, you will cause them to remain vegetative, we want blooms. Without blooms there are no vegetables. Water well and in general do not water for two days afterwards. If you plant directly in the ground you can even skip a third day.
Good Gardening – Arthur
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