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Home My WebLink AboutITEM V A. Presentation - Climate Change in Mind - UW Extension Winnebago CountyLandscaping With Climate Change in Mind: Challenges and Adaptive Strategies Jacob Kluza Horticulture Outreach Specialist Winnebago County Significant contributions from; Lisa Johnson, Dane County Extension Julie Hill, Horticulture Outreach Specialist Steve Vavrus, State Climatologist Dr. Paul Whitaker, UW Stevens Point Presentation Overview Climate Change and the Carbon Cycle Current Status and Impacts in Wisconsin Strategies and Adaptations Weather: “the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place, described by… temperature, moisture, wind…” Climate: “meteorological conditions, including temperature, precipitation, and wind, that prevail in a region.” (over time) Weather vs Climate Carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for extended periods of time. The carbon cycle is how the planet reuses carbon atoms, which travel from the atmosphere into organisms, soil and water in the Earth and then back into the atmosphere over and over again. Most carbon is stored in rocks and sediments, while the rest is stored in the ocean, atmosphere, forests and other living organisms. These are storage reservoirs, or sinks. Between 1,000 million to 100,000 million metric tons of carbon move through the fast carbon cycle every year. Seasonal Vegetation Cycle and Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide This seasonal vegetation cycle in the northern hemisphere shows why forests are an important part of the equation in absorbing carbon. During our winter, when trees have no leaves, C02 rises significantly The yellow is carbon dioxide. Notice the month ticker in the bottom left. There is about a three month lag in As a natural process, the Greenhouse Effect is what makes our planet livable. Incoming radiation reaches the earth from the sun. Some of this is then re-emitted and lost to space. The rest of it is reflected by the earth and absorbed by gasses in the atmosphere (CO2, methane, nitrogen oxide and water vapor), and reflected back to the earth. The greenhouse gasses absorb the radiation and therefore retain heat, so as a result the temperature of the atmosphere increases. Without this effect, earth wouldn’t be warm enough to live on. We also have the ozone layer that helps retain the heat. NOAA Climate.gov graph, adapted from original by Dr. (NOAA ARL). Atmospheric CO2 data from NOAA and ETHZ. CO2 emissions data from Our World in Data and the Global Carbon Project,climate.gov, accessed 10/18/2022 But when we put more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than natural processes can remove, there is an imbalance in the carbon cycle, so more carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere. This results in more heat trapped there, which makes the earth’s surface warmer. By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, the natural greenhouse effect is supercharged, causing global temperature to rise. Humans have increased the carbon dioxide in the air by 30% over time. Climate Change Impacts More extreme weather events Drought periods as well as heavy rain/floods Earlier spring, earlier blooming, later onset of fall weather Wetter springs / winters – harder to get into fields/gardens Increased weed, insect and disease pressure What We Are Seeing Already Mean annual temperatures increasing https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-and-global-temperature More Extreme Weather Events NOAA, updated every year, WICCI Report, Steve Vavrus at CPEP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df5wK1sXHmY&t=1731s This updated map is the most precise one to date as it used data collected from 13,412 weather stations across the country compared with 7,983 stations used for the 2012 map. The hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum temperatures over a 30-year period in the past. The annual extreme minimum temperature represents the coldest night of the year, which can be highly variable from year to year, depending on local weather patterns. There are 13 zones across the United States and its territories. Each zone is broken into half zones, designated with an “a” or “b” following each zone number. For example, Zone 5 is divided into 5a and 5b half zones. The 2023 version of the Map reveals that about half the country shifted up to the next warmer zone. This indicates that these areas warmed up somewhere between 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 11 years. Observed Climate Change Droughts AND ‘Big Dumps’ of Rain/Snow WI average daily temp. ↑ 3⁰F since 1950. Last two decades warmest on record. More warming in winter than summer and at night than daytime. Change in annual precipitation https://wicci.wisc.edu/wisconsin-climate-trends-and-projections/ Wetter: Precipitation has increased by about 20% since 1950 Not evenly distributed Drought as well as flood scenarios in different parts of the state Last decade was the wettest on record. Average precipitation ↑ 20% (~5”) since 1950. Dane County August 2018 received over 12” of rain in one event The 100-year storm is an event that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. To put that in perspective, during the span of a 30-year mortgage, there is a 26% chance that a 100-year event will occur. The amount of rainfall necessary to produce a 100-year storm is partially dependent on the duration of the storm. These 100 year events have happened 21 times throughout the last decade Summary of Observed Climate Changes in WI Temperature Warmer overall; more hot days above 90°F More warming in winter & spring than summer and fall Longer frost-free growing season More warming at night than during the day Fewer cold nights below 0°F Precipitation 20% or more increase in annual precip., mostly winter & spring Less snow and more rain in winter Fewer ‘average’ events, more large “dumps” More frequent drought periods; greater evapotranspiration What to Expect for Landscapes The Future: Landscaping impacts of Wisconsin’s changing climate The impacts will follow the path we take for emissions Severity of effects will depend on human actions in the next decade or so. Base Landscaping Adaptive Strategies on Trends in Your Area Plan for wetter or drier conditions based on maps, but also realize that unpredictability will be the norm for the next decade or so We will have both unusually wet and dry spells Strategies should be customized for your location; there is no one-size fits all formula Potential Landscaping Impacts of Wisconsin’s changing climate Adapted from Agriculture Working Group Report. 2010. Wisconsin Initiative for Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) Improving climate change mitigation and resiliency across Wisconsin’s agriculture industry. 2021. Wisconsin Initiative for Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) (https://uwmadison.app.box.com/s/5f6zzxuzf4p ffidldq6jrsiv392b47be) Landscaping Strategies Plan for drought: Use organic mulches Have a plan for watering; may include drip irrigation Drip irrigation info at the Winnebago County Extension Teaching Garden site Drip irrigation system for raised beds at the Extension Teaching Garden Landscaping Strategies Plan for drought: May want to replace lawns (or parts of lawns) with low mow grasses or sedges YouTube: ‘Native Sedges for Use in Designed Landscapes’ https://www.prairienursery.com/resources-guides/about-no-mow-lawn/ Plan for drought: Consider bee lawns or planting drought resistant groundcovers Use environmentally friendly traditional lawn care techniques (mow high, reduce fertilizer, reduce water use and reduce or eliminate pesticides) https://twincityseed.com/product/bee-lawn-mix/ Landscaping Strategies Landscaping Strategies Plan for drought: Consider native plant beds or drought-resistant plants (native or non-native) Plant selection and placement will be key! Landscaping Strategies Heat Mitigation Consider planting trees Match tree needs to your soil type, moisture range and light Consider tree selection and tree diversity especially large scale trees Landscaping Strategies Plan for large rain events/floods: Consider planting in berms Consider moisture loving groundcover plants for sun or shade Species with large tolerances for moisture level swings may survive best https://www.thebiglittlegarden.com/shady-berm-garden Landscaping Strategies Plan for large rain events/floods: Consider raised beds for vegetable gardens if in-ground areas tend to be too wet in spring Select plants that can handle wet conditions and/or can be planted later in the season after wet spring weather is done Landscaping Strategies Plan for large rain events or floods: Consider rain gardens or directing water away from planting areas with elevation changes Plant selection and placement will be critical Photo by MG Rosalind Batley Visit the Dane County Extension Teaching Garden Rain Garden site for ideas https://dane.extension.wisc.edu/horticulture/teaching-garden/ Landscaping Strategies Plan for wetter winters May need to tie arborvitae or other woody plants due to heavy snow Plan for rain on top of snow (or rain instead of snow) by choosing plants less sensitive to ‘wet feet’ over winter https://www.heraldextra.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/2022/jan/08/garden-help-desk/ Landscaping Strategies Plan for less snow cover and more rain, more freeze-thaw cycles, more frost-heaving, and deeper frosts Winter mulch Water in fall especially if fall is dry! ‘Tent’ evergreens (wind protection) more often Use larger pots if fall planting to avoid frost heave Plan for late spring or early fall frosts Photo by Dr. Laura Jull Landscaping Strategies Plan for a longer growing season, but maybe a wet spring: Choose later maturing varieties or plants/seeds you can put in later Try to avoid waterlogged soils at planting time – don’t plant too early Plant selection and placement will be key https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1006&title=home-garden-green-beans#Planting Landscaping Strategies Plan for more pest and disease pressure If planting susceptible species choose resistant varieties if available Use good cultural techniques and IPM to manage diseases, insects https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/images/phlox/diseases/pmildew1_600px.jpg Landscaping Strategies Select ornamental plants with large temp. and moisture tolerances Many native species are more tolerant of adverse conditions, more resistant to diseases and insects and need fewer inputs (fertilizers, extra water, etc.) https://lancaster.unl.edu/little-bluestem https://www.prairienursery.com/little-bluestem-schizachyrium-scoparium.html “The more a garden imitates the process and functions of natural ecosystems, the more sustainable and resilient it becomes.” David Deardoff and Kathryn Wadsworth, The New American Landscape Resilient Gardens https://carolynsshadegardens.com/2012/04/02/your-native-woodland-if-you-build-it-they-will-come/ Support pollinators as much as possible Good plant selection and siting! Remember planting for pollinators needs to support all life stages Early Bloomers (Spring) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) – Shrub/tree Mid-Season Bloomers (Summer) Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea) Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis) Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) Prairie Coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata) Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) Late Season Bloomers NE Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) Sky Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense) Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida) Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum) Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) – Grass supporting specialist insects Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) – Grass supporting insects Native Shrubs/Trees (All Seasons) Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Basswood (Tilia americana) Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) Grasses/Sedges for Habitat Support Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) Reducing Your Carbon Footprint Fall clean-up If you need to use a leaf blower, use an electric-powered one instead of gas-powered Consider leaving some leaves, debris and hollow-stemmed plants up for pollinator overwintering habitat https://www.stihlusa.com/products/blowers-and-shredder-vacs/battery-blowers/bga57/ As a gardener, you can be part of the solution set A gas powered leaf blower emits nearly 300 times the amount of air pollutants as a pickup truck. Reducing Your Carbon Footprint Lawn Care Consider an electric mower: Many brands available, are often lighter, but not always as powerful, best for small to medium sized lawns Reduce the size of your lawn Low mow grasses https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/46396036711 The US has 40 million acres of lawn. According to the California Air Resources Board, one hour of mowing generates the same pollution as driving a gas-powered car 300 miles. Gas powered lawnmowers comprise 5% of the US carbon emissions According to a Swedish study, using a mower for one hour has the same carbon footprint as a 100-mile car trip. Reducing Your Carbon Footprint Synthetic Fertilizers Reduce your use of traditional fertilizers as much as possible Lawns: If using synthetic fertilizers, try only applying only around Labor Day and Memorial Day or just around Labor Day. Use Organic or slow release in vegetable gardens When nitrogen-based fertilizers are applied, some of the product turns to nitrous oxide gas. The greenhouse gas impact of N2O is 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide's. Additionally, nitrous oxide attacks the ozone layer, our key defense against the sun's ultraviolet rays. About 40% of nitrogen applied to farm fields is lost to gassing off and erosion Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers account for 2.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions Mulching Use materials like straw, wood chips, or leaves to insulate and protect the soil. Prevents erosion and maintains soil moisture. Living Mulch Grow low-growing crops like clover alongside vegetables for continuous soil coverage. Plastic Mulch Use biodegradable or synthetic plastic sheeting to cover soil in rows or around plants. Compost Blankets Spread a thick layer of compost as a protective layer that also adds nutrients. Crop Residues Leave plant remains (stalks, leaves) in the field after harvesting to naturally shield the soil. You control your own actions & can educate others Make direct observations and share experience Landscapes are part of natural ecosystems. You can lead the way! Individual choices lead to collective actions. Remember that each of us can do a number of small actions that can lead to big changes We are all important in being part of the solutions Resources Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts https://wicci.wisc.edu/ Wisconsin Climate Connection https://climate.extension.wisc.edu/ ‘Trees and Shrubs for Climate Change’ https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/ Ecology, Culture and Climate https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/nglvc/climate-strong/ Tree Canopy Collaborative https://daneclimateaction.org/Initiatives/Tree-Canopy Thanks to: Lisa Johnson, Horticulture Educator, Dane County Extension Julie Hill, Horticulture Outreach Specialist, UW-Madison Extension in Rock, Walworth and Jefferson Counties, portions of ‘Gardeners Lead the Way: Practical Approaches to Landscaping in a Changing Climate’ Steve Vavrus, State Climatologist for portions of ‘Wisconsin’s Changing Climate, Impacts, and Adaptation Strategies’ Paul Whitaker, Dept. of Biology, UW Stevens Point portions of his presentation ‘Climate Change and Impacts on Landscaping in Wisconsin’ Contact Information Jacob Kluza Horticulture Outreach Specialist Winnebago County Phone: 920-232-1976 E-mail: kluza@wisc.edu