AN OUTDOOR LABORATORY
The Garden provides an outdoor laboratory where Clemson University faculty and students in Horticulture, Biological Sciences, Forestry and Wildlife, Entomolgy, and Plant Pathology conduct research.
The 2-acre SAGE Garden (Sustainable Agriculture Gardening Ecology) is used primarily for research on sustainable culture of vegetables. Studies undertaken here include comparisons of commercial and organic fertilizers and testing of integrated pest management methods.
The Flower and Turf Display Garden is more than just a pretty place; trials of newly introduced garden flowers are also carried out here. Recently, numerous species of Salvia, an attractive perennial genus, have been evaluated.
The three acre turf grass research plots enable turf specialists to conduct extensive research on this important South Carolina "crop". The program focuses on breeding and evaluating turf grasses that show improved appearance and greater tolerance to str ess and diseases. Other studies include aspects of winter overseeding on warm season grasses and developing management techniques that reduce fertilizer use and runoff.
Weed science research takes place in the turf plots and also in a simulated nursery area. Studies include developing more effective management programs for troublesome turf weeds and reduction of herbicide runoff from nursery-grown plants.
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Saving the "smooth cone flower," or Echinacea laevigatahas become a priority for one graduate student and the senior horticulturist at the Garden. Indigenous to this area, Echinacea was once used by Native Americans for healing. Now, the smooth cone flower, like too many other species, has become endangered. But the S.C. Botanical Garden, the U.S. Forest Service and Clemson's Biological Sciences department have combined efforts to save the beautiful flower. They have begun a research collection to determine propagation of the plant and to help it survive. The Garden also has a living collection of the endangered Oconee Bell, another federally listed species they are trying to protect. Butterfly gardening is increasing in popularity, and research at the Garden reflects this trend; an entomologist is studying the nectar content of Butterfly Bush cutlivars. This scientist is also conducting research on twig boring insects which infest rhododendrons. Long-term investigations using the Garden's camellia collection have focused on breeding or grafting to increase resistance to common diseases such as flower blight, root rot, and dieback. |
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