Principles of Landscaping, Maintenance, Xeriscaping, and

Water GardensUnit 34

Objectives

• Apply the principles of landscaping, maintenance, xeriscaping, to an actual setting to understand the goals of the landscape profession.

• Describe 3 major career fields within residential landscaping

• List the main objectives of good residential landscaping• List the 5 principals of landscape design and examples

of an application of each principle• List 3 hard paving and 3 soft paving materials• List the technical procedures for landscape maintenance• Calculate the volume of mulch needed to cover a

landscape bed

Objectives (cont’)

• List the basic concepts of xeriscaping

• List ways the soil can be improved to conserve water

• Identify plants that can be used in xeriscape setting

• Explain why mulches are important

• Explain what a water garden is

The Landscape Industry

• See Assignment at http://jc097.k12.sd.us/Classes/Horticulture/LandscapingCareersDiscovery.doc

Objectives of Residential Landscaping

• To serve the needs and desires of people in development of the outdoor environment, specifically…

• To Determine the exact landscape needs and desires of the homeowner.

• To determine the capabilities of the land to fulfill those needs and desires.

• To develop the outdoor living area of the landscape in a manner similar to the way indoor living areas are developed.

• To design the landscape in such a way that maintenance practices do not exceed that which the homeowner is willing to do.

• To keep costs within the budget of the home owner.

Questions to ask a client before designing their landscape.

• How many family members are there? What are their ages?

• How much does the family use the outdoor areas around the home?

• Does the family entertain frequently? Large or small groups?

• How much privacy from the neighbors and passing cars do they desire?

• How much maintenance are they willing to do in the upkeep of the landscape?

More Questions

• Are there certain plants they are fond of, dislike, or are allergic to?

• What service needs will the landscape be expected to accommodate?

• Will the family be using the garden after dark?• How much does the family want to spend on the

total development of the landscape?• Is the family willing to wait several years for the

plants to reach maturity or do they want large plants installed for an immediate effect?

Site Analysis• Important step for determining the capabilities of the site• Take note of the following areas…• Dimensions of the property• Topography of the site (how flat or rolling it is)• Quality of the topsoil and subsoil• Condition of the lawn areas• Types and condition of existing plants• Location of utility lines, meters, and utility easements• Good and bad views from the site• Locations of glass areas in the house and where they open onto in

the landscape• Architectural style of the neighborhood• Environmental setting of the site and the neighborhood• Existing natural features such as streams, rock outcroppings,

specimen plants, and wildlife habitat areas

Also take note of…

• Location of utility lines, meters, and utility easements

• Good and bad views from the site• Locations of glass areas in the house and where

they open onto tin the landscape• Architectural style of the neighborhood• Environmental setting of the site and the

neighborhood• Existing natural features such as streams, rock

outcroppings, specimen plants, and wildlife habitat areas

The Outdoor Room

• Visualizing the outdoors in a similar manner as the indoors can be helpful in developing a landscape

• Each area of the outdoor landscape is a “room” separated by shrubs, fences, brick or stone, exterior walls, or trellises

• Floors include sand, stone, concrete, brick, decking, grass

• Trees make an excellent ceiling, as do awnings, canopies, or other overhead structures

Walls

• “Wall” materials are selected based on how much privacy and security is needed– Total security = 6’ tall, solid wall– Less security = lower and more open

• Wall will provide the shape and limits of the outdoor room

Floor

• Hard paving – concrete, flagstone, tile, decking and brick– Expensive to install– Inexpensive to maintain

• Soft paving – crushed stone, wood chips, marble chips, washed gravel, pine needles– Moderate cost for both installation and maintenance

• Turf Grass – most popular– Low installation, but high maintenance costs

• Ground covers – cover areas no one will be walking such as slopes or under trees

The Principles Of Landscape Design

• Simplicity

• Balance

• Focalization

• Rhythm and line

• Scale and Proportion

Simplicity

• Important to overall unity of design

• Accomplished by repeating specific plants throughout design, by massing plant types or colors rather than spacing

Balance

• If properly balanced, the left side should have no more visual weight than the right

• Symmetrical balance – attained when 1 side is an exact duplicate of the other

• Asymmetrical balance – one side of the landscape has the same visual weight as the other, but no duplicates

Focalization of Interest

• Recognizes that the viewer’s eye wants to see only 1 feature as being most important

• All other elements complement that important feature

• Specimen plants are used to create the focal point

Rhythm and line

• Contribute to overall unity of the landscape

• Develop continuity among different areas of the landscape

• Repeating shapes and angles, or lines between various areas and elements of the design

Scale and Proportion

• Keeps all elements of the landscape in the correct size relationship w/o towering over the buildings

Unity

• Master principle of landscape design

• Creates the flow among scale and proportion, balance, accent, rhythm, and simplicity

• Design will complement the surroundings and create an aesthetic appeal

Landscape Maintenance

• One of the fastest growing divisions of the green industry• Involves technical knowledge of the following skills• Replacement of plant material• Application of mulch to proper depth around plants• Application of soil analysis• Pruning• Weed Control• Planting and caring for flower beds• Proper mowing procedures• Maintenance of landscape accessories.

Xeriscaping

• Used to practice water conservation in creative landscape

• Ensures water efficiency in al future landscape practices• Basic concepts involve…• Good design and planning• Improving the soil• Turf areas• Use of ground covers• Low water use• Plant selection• Use of mulches• Use of low-volume irrigation• Proper landscape maintenance