1. Landscape Design
Objective 5.00

2. Landscaping Careers

3. What is Landscaping?
Landscaping is a profession that includes designing, installing, and maintaining the outdoor human environment.
There are 3 branches of the landscaping industry
Landscape Architecture
Landscape Contractors
Landscape Maintenance

4. Landscape Architects Licensed professions
Conceptualize and plan the outdoor environment or landscape for residential and commercial clients.
Landscape designers usually do actual drawings for residential landscapes.

5. Landscape Contractors
Carry out the installation or actual construction of the landscape plan
Often use subcontractors to do special work such as pools, electrical work, stonework, etc.

6. Landscape Maintenance
Extended care of existing landscapes
The care and upkeep of the landscape after installation

7. Design-build Firms
Landscape businesses that handle everything from the initial contact with the client through design and construction as well as long-term care and maintenance.

8. Landscape Nursery Worker
Professional who sells and installs landscape plants and related materials.

9. Other Landscape Occupations
Landscape Sales-works directly with clients to develop creative design solutions
Arborist-specialists in the care, treatment, trimming and/or removal of trees
Irrigation specialist-designs, installs and maintains irrigation systems

10. Other Landscape Occupations
Seasonal Color Specialist-works directly with clients, possesses a thorough knowledge of seasonal color in both design and maintenance along with a strong understanding of plant materials

11. Other Landscape Occupations
IPM specialist-inspects and diagnoses insect and disease issues, develops treatment plans, applies treatments effectively and safely, performs necessary record keeping duties, maintains supplies and equipment

12. Types of Landscape Plans

13. Types of Landscape Plans
There are three types of plans used in landscaping
Sequential
Computer Assisted
Graphics

14. Landscape Plans

15. Sequential Plans
Each part of the plan is increasingly more specific and detailed.
Includes
Functional diagrams
Preliminary designs
Final Plans

16. Sequential Plans-Functional Diagrams
Begin the arrangement of the client’s program on the site.
Called “bubble diagrams” because they use loosely drawn freeform shapes to represent areas or spaces
Help the designer make decisions concerning layout and sizes and the use of each area.

17. Outdoor Rooms Moves the indoor design out for a continuous flow
Public Area-usually the front yard portion of the landscape
Private Area-a secluded area, patio or screened porch
Utility Area-recycle, garbage, storage
Family/Play Area-pools, open areas, play structures

18. Sequential Plans-Preliminary Designs
Break the “bubbles” to show first draft vision of how each landscape area will be shaped.
Landscape is given its form, type of materials to be used, and application of landscape design principles.
Simple without real details, but the horizontal and vertical relationships between objects and areas are now included.
A number of these may be shown before final plans are made.

19. Sequential Plans-Final Plans
Use suggestions and reactions of the client to make a master drawing that is graphically detailed and specific in its intent for the landscape.
Include identified plants, paving patterns, and other specific information.
Can also include construction drawings for the landscape contractor or subcontractor
Graphics are designed to impress

20. Computer Assisted Also called drawing board
CAD (Computer Aided Design) systems are accelerated drafting systems, designed to draw landscape plans using a personal computer.

21. Graphics B A C Consists of letters and numbers Free-hand lettering
Mechanical lettering
Computer lettering B A C

22. Drawing Instruments

23. Pencils Mechanical Pencils
Lead sizes-0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9mm in thickness
Uses a lead holder
Does not require sharpening

24. Pencils Drawing Pencils
Varying degree of hardness in mechanical and drawing pencils-2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H-9H
H is harder lead and produces lighter lines and is less likely to smear
B is a softer lead and produces darker lines and will smear
A good choice for landscape design is HB-2H

25. Eraser
A vinyl eraser will erase pencil marks without damaging the paper.
Magic rub is a good eraser to use.

26. Compass
Adjustable instrument used to draw circles or arcs

27. T Square
Used for drawing vertical or horizontal straight lines that are parallel to the edge of the drawing board

28. Scale Architect scale Contains scales of ½, ¼, 1/8, 1/16, 3/8, ¾, 3/16
Most commonly used by landscape designer is 1/8

29. Scale
Engineer scale
Contains scales of 1/10 (1 inch=10 feet), 1/20, 1/30, 1/40, 1/50, 1/60
Most commonly used by landscape designers is 1/10

30. Templates
Used to draw circles and landscape features such as fences, hedges, etc.

31. Protractor
Used to measure the angle of any two joining lines from degrees.

32. Triangles Used to draw angled lines
Most common angles are 45 and 90 degree
Other angles are 30, 45, 60 or 90 degree

33. Drawing Board
Gives a smooth surface for drafting paper

34. Drafting Paper
Available as opaque or transparent in a wide variety of sizes
Vellum paper (100% cotton) is commonly used for hand drawings
Gridded paper is also popular to use in landscape design. Grid size available are ¼”=1’, 1/8”=1’, 1/10”=1’

35. Landscape Principles and Procedures

36. Principles of Design Balance Focalization of Interest Simplicity
Rhythm and Line
Proportion
Unity

37. Balance
Materials are distributed evenly on opposite sides of a central axis
Three types of balance:
Symmetric
Asymmetric
Proximal/distal
Macro-range-the viewer sees the landscape from the most distant vantage point
Micro-range-the views from other locations not as distant

38. Symmetric Balance
One side is a reflective mirror image of the opposite side
Most formal type of balance

39. Asymmetric Balance Each side has as much interest as the other
Not a duplicate of the other side

40. Proximal/Distal Balance
Balances right and left as well as near and far

41. Focalization of Interest
Selects and positions visually strong items in the landscape composition to create focal points
Draws the eye of the viewer to one major feature in each use area
Example: corner planting

42. Simplicity Seeks to make viewers comfortable within the landscape
Excludes any unnecessary changes in shape, color, direction, etc.

43. Rhythm and Line
Repeating something at a standard interval or pattern creates rhythm
Lines establish the shape and form of the landscape
Replicating strong existing lines such as the lines of a house or a pool
Functions of line plantings include foundation plantings, block a view, frame a view, and provide privacy.

44. Proportion
The size relationships between all the features of the landscape including vertical, horizontal, and spatial relationships

45. Proportion
Will maintain proper proportional relationships in a landscape between
Buildings and people
Buildings and plants
Plants and people
Plants and plants
Masses and soils

46. Unity
All the separate parts contribute to the creation of the total design
Ties together individual parts of each area by:
Repeating prominent colors
Repeating construction materials
Continuing interior design themes to outdoor rooms
Repeat plant species
Raise patios, decks, and porches to door level

47. Landscape Processes Process is a sequence of steps to reach a goal
There are three parts to the landscape process
Project development
Project maintenance
Design

48. Project Development Process
Includes determining need or objective
Design process
Accepting the design
Contracting and subcontracting
Landscaping
Acceptance
Billing and payment

49. Project Maintenance Process
Determining need or desire
Selecting landscape maintenance company which assesses the needs and presents a proposal
If the proposal is accepted, the company schedules and does the work
Customer is billed

50. Design Process
Site analysis and program analysis

51. Interior Landscaping

52. Interior Landscaping
Called interior plantscaping or interiorscaping

53. Purposes of Interior Landscaping
Add color
Add textures
Add softness
Add life
Increase employee productivity
Decrease employee absenteeism
Add oxygen
Provide herbs for cooking, medicine, or fragrance
Add beauty and comfort by combining all of the previously mentioned purposes

54. Benefits of Interior Landscaping
Adds color, texture, softness, life and oxygen to interior plantscape
Increases employee productivity
Decreases employee absences from work
Provides herbs for cooking, fragrance, or medicine

55. Disadvantages of Interior Landscaping
Reduced light
Reduced root system
Dependant upon people for watering
Build-up of soluble salts from fertilizer
Plugging stomata from dust on leaves
Damage from heating, air conditioning, and cleaning chemicals

56. Disadvantages of Interior Landscaping
Growing medium
Only plants that will grow inside can be used
Picking or breaking leaves by people using the interior building area

57. Benefits of Exterior Landscaping
Adds color, texture, and life
Adds aesthetic value (beauty)
Adds economic value to property
Adds comfort (shade)
Adds privacy—borders, fences, etc.
Helps prevent erosion
Can use larger exterior plants
Rain natural soil provide most of required water
Gets natural light

58. Disadvantages of Exterior Landscaping
May get too much rain and drown
Natural soils may have diseases, insects, improper pH, etc.
Natural soils may be shallow or rocky
Natural outdoor soils may be subject to erosion
Weed and insect control is more difficult
Large areas of landscaping costs more
More labor is required to establish outdoor landscape

59. Methods of Planting Ornamental Plants

60. Planting Ornamental Plants
Tools vary depending upon type and size of plants from bulb planter, trowel, spade, shovel to power augers and front end loaders.

61. Planting Ornamental Plants
Hole should be larger than plant roots and soil prepared so that new roots will grow in it.
Methods of installation are determined by root form whether bare-rooted, balled-and-burlapped or containerized

62. Balled and Burlapped Plants
Balled and burlapped plants have a round soil ball of roots wrapped in burlap fabric.
Planted in flat-bottomed, straight-sided hole that is deeper and wider than the ball.
Backfill soil should fill the hole enough to raise the plant to the level at which it grew in the nursery.
Loose burlap around top of plant.
Mounded ring of soil around plant to catch water.

63. Balled and Burlapped Plants

64. Containerized Plants
Use the same type hold, mounded ring, etc. as balled and burlapped.
In addition, the plant must be removed from the container
Roots should be unwound or cut at two inch intervals if pot-bound

65. Bare-rooted Plants
Have to have a mound or dome in the bottom of the hole to spread roots and direct roots to grow downward.

66. Planting Ornamental Plants
Tall plants, even small trees, need to be staked to prevent blowing over.
Mulching should be done to help retain water, prevent weeds, improve appearance, and minimize temperature fluctuations.
Water adequately and frequently enough for healthy plants.

67. Handling Ornamental Plants
Balled and burlapped plants should be handled by the root ball
Container grown plants should be handled by the container until removed and then by the root mass

68. Maintenance of Landscape

69. What is landscape maintenance?
Landscape maintenance includes watering, fertilizing, mulching, pest control, mowing, edging, winterization and pruning of landscape plants.

70. Watering Landscape Plants
Watering should be done at planting and frequently for a few days to prevent roots from drying out and plant wilting. Then less often only as needed.
After plants are established watering should be infrequent and enough to wet soil 12”-16” deep. Different plants have different water needs.

71. Fertilization of Landscape Plants
Fertilizer should be mixed in back fill soil at planting for shrubs and trees and in soil bed for annuals and perennials.
Fertilization is not usually needed for established trees, but it should be done by making holes with a drill or soil tube about 12” deep and at 24” intervals around the tree at the canopy drip line where needed.

72. Fertilization of Landscape Plants
Shrubs may need small amounts of low analysis fertilizer, but not late in the growing season.
Most lawns need fertilizer.

73. Mulching Mulching should be done at planting and replaced as needed.
Mulch must be replaced over time as it decays.

74. Pest Control
Pest control is necessary to control damage from insects, diseases, weeds, and rodents.
For most landscape plants, pest control is done is done by treating the beds and other areas with chemicals to prevent weeds, insects and diseases before planting and as observed later.

75. Mowing Lawns
Mowing lawns at the correct height for the type of grass and frequently enough to prevent damage is a key to maintaining lawn.

76. Edging
Edging makes a sharp line of separation between a planting and the lawn.
Can be done with tools or with an edging material such as plastic
Edging materials should be installed at planting time.

77. Winterization Prepares the plants for winter or freezing weather.
Fertilizing early in growing season prevents soft new growth that will die in winter, mulching, pruning, adequate watering, and pest control all help plants survive freezing temperatures of winter.

78. Pruning

79. Pruning
Pruning is done to improve appearance and health and to control size and shape of plants.
Pruning is usually done in off-seasons when more labor is available. However, some plants have to be pruned at specific times.
Early spring blooming shrubs should be pruned as soon as flowers fall off so that new buds can form for next year.
Plants that have high sap pressure in early spring such as maples, birches, etc. should not be pruned in the spring.

80. Pruning

81. Pruning
Damaged branches of trees and shrubs should be removed as soon as possible to prevent more damage to the plant.
Newly planted shrubs should be shaped.

82. Principles of Pruning
Shrubs that produce flowers on wood grown the previous season should be pruned immediately after flowers fall off the plant.
Examples:
Forsythia
Azaleas
Spirea

83. Principles of Pruning
Shrubs that bloom on the current year’s growth such as roses should be pruned in fall or early spring.
Shrubs such as hydrangea and spirea require annual pruning to thin out old dead wood
Some suckers or shoots from plant roots should be removed to keep plant from becoming too thick.

84. Types or Methods of Pruning
Thinning removes certain branches to open up the plant and keep the natural shape.
Heading back removes the end section of branches at the same height so that new shoots make the plant thicker.

85. Types of Methods of Pruning
Renewal pruning removes old branches that are large and unproductive by cutting them back to ground level. It is usually effective on flowering shrubs.
Root pruning is usually done one growing season prior to transplanting. The general rule is that one inch of stem diameter equals 10” of circle diameter for pruning roots around the plant.

86. Pruning Tools and Supplies

87. Pruning Tool Tips Keep all pruning tools sharp and clean
Keep handles and bolt nuts secure or tight
Use caution with cutting tools. “If they cut plants, they can cut you.”

88. Types of Pruning Tools Pruning Saw Has a blade with coarse teeth
Blade may or may not fold into the handle for safety and storage
It will cut live or dead limbs

89. Types of Pruning Tools Pole pruner
Has a saw and pruning tool on a pole to remove branches that are up to 12 feet overhead
Power Pole Pruners have a power saw on the end of an extended handle

90. Types of Pruning Tools Grass shears
Have two blades designed to cut grass around edges of walks or flower beds

91. Types of Pruning Tools Lopping Shears Have long handles
Will cut limbs from 1” to 1 ½” in diameter

92. Types of Pruning Tools Hand shears or pruning shears
Have a single blade that cuts against another piece of metal or . . .
Two blades that work like scissors to cut limbs ½” in diameter

93. Types of Pruning Tools Hedge Shears
Have longer blades that cut tender growth

94. Types of Pruning Tools Chainsaw
Has a gasoline, battery, or electrical powered chain that cuts large limbs from 3” up to the blade length