Dec 11
22
The Oxygen Cycle
The oxygen cycle is something we learn about in elementary school, high school and sometimes on college, and yet it is so natural and common, one would think we’d understand it without explanation. If one wanted to define it, it would briefly look like this: oxygen cycle is circulation of oxygen in its many forms in the nature. Among uncombined elements in the atmosphere, oxygen comes after nitrogen in its abundance. Animals and plants use it for respiration, and it returns to water and air as carbon dioxide.
There are many people who have problems with erosion, and often don’t know how to stop it. Doing it with plants is a great idea, and we will divide plants in a few groups, where each has its own role, so you can make a decision easily. If you want to protect the surface of the soil, feel free to plant groundcovers such as groundcover sage, monkey flower or grass with tough roots. For stabilizing hillsides, you may want to try planting small shrubs like coastal sagebrush or California bush sunflower.
Some people live near water bodies, and apart from humidity and possible mold in houses they can easily have erosion problems. When water bodies are small, erosion problems can easily be solved, but when erosion takes its toll, it may be too late. Before you get to this, you’ll want to consider a natural way to stop it, which is doable with trees. Of course, there are many types of trees, and only some are suitable for solving such problems. One of the best is Hybrid Poplar. They grow fast and have a good disease resistance. They grow about six feet per year, and easily keep erosion in control.
People have to have food in order to live, and so do animals, and so do plants. However, funnily enough, beside people no one else disturbs the balance of nature by making food. Modern, conventional, agriculture affects every single thing in the nature, and oxygen cycle is one of them. Conventional agriculture uses many fossil fuels, and you don’t even have to know what they are to realize they’re unhealthy. The bottom line is, one way or the other oxygen is poisoned by humans, just like they themselves don’t need it for life.
Silver Maples have a fast growth rate of about two and a half feet per year, and can grow on almost any type of soil, although they prefer moist and fertile soil. In case you have spots where there’s a danger of erosion, it would be a good idea to plant a Silver Maple. Their wood is weak, thus they aren’t considered to be good for landscaping, but they provide excellent shade. They are one of the favorite trees among those who need trees which grow fast.
Having a lawn means having certain responsibilities, and one of them is maintaining it. In case you’re a fan of details, having only a lawn won’t satisfy you, because you’ll have a large area of nicely cut grass, period. Lawns can be decorated easily with shrubs or trees, but if you don’t want more responsibilities, decorating a lawn with a few benches and nice wooden tables can be a great idea. Having lovely wooden chairs is also great, because you’ll be able to enjoy sunny mornings on the lawn while sipping coffee and reading your favorite book.
Coby is a Town Planner at a major metropolis in Australia. It is his responsibility to incorporate environmentally sound designs into all his projects. His book on Landscaping Solutions was a resounding success.
Related Reading:
The Essential Garden Design Workbook: Second EditionThe Essential Garden Design Workbook guides the reader through every stage of planning a garden -- how to survey a site, how to choose landscaping materials, and how to develop planting schemes. This fully revised and updated second edition features new U.S. case studies and new photographs. Valuable tips on green gardening are new to this edition, and include how to harvest rainwater, how to design a green roof, tips on sustainable planting, and a guide to composting. Tailor-made for hands-on gardeners, the workbook approach is accessible, practical, and can be used to create a garden from scratch and to redesign an existing garden. Gardeners will find easy ways to measure large spaces, estimate the height of a tree, and find the right proportions for a deck. They'll also find tips on space, light, and color. Includes hundreds of easy-to-follow line drawings and diagrams.