1. Nursery Landscape Curriculum
Area Horticulture Teachers
Landscape Design For Beginning Teachers Workshop Instructor Greg Huber / Center for Urban Ag/ UGA Griffin

2. The Power Of Paper
Reading and Interpreting a Landscape Plan

3. - Identify the basic components of a landscape plan - Recognize the difference between plan view, elevation, section, and perspective views - interpret line weights, symbols, and labels - understand the concept of scale and how to interpret measurements from a landscape plan - use a scale/ruler to take measurements from a landscape plan and accurately locate plants and bed lines in the field

4. Identify the basic components of a landscape plan
Base Information and existing site features
Plant List/ Plant Labels
Directional/ North Arrow
Drawing Scale (example: 1/8” = 1’-00”)
Title Block
Project Name
Owner Information
Designer Information
Date
To save time when first starting out, have title block template with title block and plant list (not filled in) ready for them

5. Recognize the difference between plan view, elevation, section, and perspective views
Plan View – Top View
Elevation – Side View
Perspective – Birds Eye View
Section – Cut through diagram to show internal details or site elevation changes
Illustrative Master Plan – an illustrative plan that includes attractive graphics and symbols to convey the design to the client

6. interpret line weights, symbols, and labels
Get copies of sample plans or survey plats – these are great for teaching symbols
Heavy Lines – property lines, built structures, trees
Medium Lines – Driveway, Patio/ Concrete, Bed Lines, Shrub Symbols
Light Lines – labeling, groundcovers, textures, details
Existing Trees often have + as center point – Proposed trees have as center point

7. understand the concept of scale and how to interpret measurements from a landscape plan
Scale is the substitution of one unit for another, a proportionate representation of field measurements
Always make sure you start at 0 on the engineers or architects scale
Architect Scale * Engineers Scale
1 inch = 1 foot inch = 10 feet
1/2 “ = 1 foot inch = 20 feet
1/4 “ = 1 foot inch = 30 feet
1/8” = 1 foot
Have students measure given lines on the paper
Then move them to drawing lines of certain length using a certain scale
Then move them to drawing shapes to scale

8. use a scale/ruler to take measurements from a landscape plan and accurately locate plants and bed lines in the field
Give students a base plan then break them up into teams of 4-5 students depending on time
Things needed for this lab
PVC pipe & fittings/couplings or Rope & Stakes for property lines
Flags or Different size Pots for Plants
Rope or Water Hose for Bed Outline
100 Ft tape and tape measures (at least 2)
Architect Scales – 1 per person
*** This could also be done in a parking lot with sidewalk chalk

9. Use PVC and Fittings to build the project boundary
You can also do this with Rope and Stakes

10. Have students read the proposed plan using the architect scale
Then use tape measure to determine where plant material and bed lines should go

11. Use different size pots or flags to mark where the plants should go
Use rope or water hose to lay out where the bed lines should be placed

12. Basics of the Base Plan
Collecting Field Measurements and drafting a base plan

13. - Understand the difference between a base plan, site
- Understand the difference between a base plan, site analysis, concept plan, and final landscape plan - identify basic drafting tools - identify the basic tools and instruments used to gather site measurements - discuss the various techniques to collect site measurements (baseline, grid, triangulation) - discuss how to draw an on site field sketch and neatly record measurements - use measuring tools and instruments to collect field measurements - draft a base plan to scale using the measurements collected in the field

14. Understand the difference between a base plan, site analysis, concept plan, and final landscape plan
Base Plan – existing plan
Site Analysis – views, utilities, drainage
Concept Plan - big picture and ideas – area of evergreen shrubs, walkway, etc
Final Landscape Plan
Concept Plan
Final Plan

15. identify basic drafting tools identify the basic tools and instruments used to gather site measurements

16. discuss the various techniques to collect site measurements
discuss the various techniques to collect site measurements (baseline, grid, triangulation)
Point to Point is a simple measurement of length
Baseline or running measurements are used along wall or other linear features to measure several points along a line
Grid or Right Angle measurements are used for large or odd-shaped features
Triangulation is used for single point measurements such as trees from two known points.
Baseline
Triangulation
Grid

17. discuss how to draw an on site field sketch and neatly record measurements
Before collecting the first measurements, discuss sketching in “proportion” a free hand drawing of the site.
Choose a site with simple 90 degree corners and very simple curved beds then advance as the students skills advance
The first time you try with students, set out flags to help them know where to take measurements
As they advance, give them less and less tips on what measurements need to be taken
Team students up and have both people write down measurements, this will help when they forget a measurement and want to run back outside

18. Lay out flags to remind students where to measure
Students will need
Clipboard and pencils
Paper
Tape Measure
100 ft Tape or Measuring Wheel

19. Sample Site Field Sketch

20. draft a base plan to scale using the measurements collected in the field
Use light construction lines to rough out the drawing
Darken lines after the entire base plan is drawn.

21. draft a base plan to scale using the measurements collected in the field
Spacing - start with biggest
Measure – center to center in plants
When drawing a canopy that overhangs shrubs, use a simple clean line
When texturing mass plantings, the texture line should go around the perimeter of the plant

22. Form follows function
Conducting a site analysis and client interviews to set the parameters

23. -Discuss the stages of the design process: inventory and analysis, formulating project goals and objectives, researching and developing a concept, and designing a final master plan -Perform a site analysis and make field observations regarding utilities, vegetation, slopes, drainage, solar orientation, prevailing winds, circulation, views, function, and use. -Identify customer needs and develop a client questionnaire -formulate project goals and objectives -discuss the research and synthesis of a concept plan using the elements and principles of design -discuss proper plant selection -evaluation and grading a final landscape plan

24. Perform a site analysis and make field observations regarding utilities, vegetation, slopes, drainage, solar orientation, prevailing winds, circulation, views, function, and use.
Best to use the same site as you used for base draft
Have students use their base draft or sketch one yourself and make copies for the students
Students will draw site analysis directly on the base plan / you can also use tracing paper to have them draw on top of base plan without damaging the plan

25. Site analysis regarding utilities, vegetation, slopes, drainage, solar orientation, prevailing winds, circulation, views, function, and use

26. Identify customer needs and develop a client questionnaire
What are their plans for area?
Foliage likes, plant requests, do they have photos?
Is there a budget?
Does it need to be low maintenance?
Are their traffic paths, equipment, farming?
Utility storage
What kind of impression do they want to give?
Are there pets? Kids?

27. formulate project goals and objectives
Why are you being asked to design this area?
What is the overall goal?
Outdoor Entertainment Area
Block Noise/ View
Increase property value
Outdoor Play Area
Now list ideas/ concepts on how you are going to achieve that goal

28. discuss the research and synthesis of a concept plan using the elements and principles of design
Design Principals
Design Elements
Unity (Cohesion, Simplicity, Repetition)
Balance (Proportion, Scale)
Contrast
Emphasis (Focalization)
Rhythm (Pattern)
Line
Shape
Color
Texture
Form

29. discuss proper plant selection
Use the Floriculture and Nursery Landscape Plant ID List as a guide for plants students should learn
Start by giving students just a few plants to choose from – based on level of students could increase
Group plants together – learn trees together, learn bedding plants together, etc
Take campus walks and looks at how plants grow, shapes, size, textures
Have contests with students for landscape pictures – have each student bring in 1 or more pictures of landscapes around the community that they think are utilizing the principals of design – students vote on best landscape found, discuss good & bad as a class – student that brings in winning picture gets a prize
Repetition – have students collect plant samples for plant ID quiz

30. Plant ID Resources UGA Publications Southern Gardeners Book of List
Flintwood Farms
Morton Arboretum
Missouri Botanical Garden (MOBOT)
plant finder

31. Evaluating and grading a final landscape plan
Students will now create a successful landscape plan off the base plan they have drawn and completed site analysis.
To start off with – give them boundaries
3 groupings of seasonal color
3 species of medium shrubs
1 species of large shrub
1tree

32. Create a winning design
Now it is Time to let them show you what they have learned

33. Review with the students
Review design elements
Review and practice sketching, drawing, modeling, and digital techniques for visualizing a conceptual design
Review proper plant selection
Evaluate and Grade a final landscape plan

34. Create a grading rubric for the final plan

35. Computer software options
Dynoscape
Landscape Pro
Autocad
Lots of Apps out there
Google Earth

36. Taking the design 3-D

37. Student can then create their landscape plans to scale using various types of materials

39. Needed materials Sturdy Backboard
Green felt or construction paper or sheet of fake grass
Fake Shrubery
Evergreen greenery – cedar, pine, juniper, etc
Focal Points