With the increase in information surfacing about detrimental long-term effects of toxic pesticides, fungicides and chemically-based fertilizers, members of Lotusland’s horticultural staff have been attending seminars, reading the latest scientific papers and searching the internet for better solutions to pest and disease control. As our knowledge grows, so did our conviction that there can be no halfway measures; our commitment must be absolute. All materials used today in the garden are certified organically-based and the least harmful alternatives available.

Lotusland's Best Management Practices:

Management is kind of a new word in our vocabulary of plant care here at Lotusland, but we think it best describes our approach. One definition of management is "the careful guarding of an asset: conservancy, conservation, husbandry, preservation". This is exactly what our horticultural staff engages in every day. Our job is not just to present a weed-free, well-groomed group of plants to our visitors, but to take any steps necessary to promote the health of these specimens and the garden as a whole.

A successful sustainable gardening program is built by incorporating various practices and ideas, relevant to the specific site that encourage as much compatibility among diverse organisms as possible. Our Green Garden Strategy Summary outlines the practices used by Lotusland staff in maintaining our garden sustainably.

As we have progressed toward our goals of sustainable management of the garden, staff, led by our Plant Health Care Manager, have been perfecting a set of easy-to-follow guides to address the common problems they encounter. This series of Best Management Practices covers such topics as control of insect pests like ants, aphids and scale, including planting to attract their natural predators, methods of trapping gophers or applying snail bait, as well as our approach to weed control and turf management. Others outline our tactics in growing roses, cacti, cycads, and palms. Throughout these latter BMPs, soil building and health management are the primary objectives to maintain vigorous growth of the plants. Experience shows that healthy plants are best able to resist diseases and pests.

We have presented these practices at workshops over the last several years and feel that both garden professionals caring for landscapes at other public institutions and home gardeners alike can profit from our experience.

For additional information about sustainable garden techniques, please see our list of favorite websites