Brad Pedersen, Lynn McNaughton, Julie Weisenhorn, Tom Haugo and Mark Madsen
The term landscape design may mean different things Sustainability and Landscape Design to different people, however, landscape design is Millions of dollars are spent each year designing, generally the art of creating and sensitively implementing, and maintaining urban landscapes. organizing the outdoor environment for human use Unfortunately, long-term problems are caused when and enjoyment. It is solving problems that may exist these processes are not carried out properly. Many of on a site, emphasizing the good points, minimizing these problems can be avoided or reduced by the conflicts, and ultimately creating a series of utilizing sustainable landscape practices. outdoor spaces that meet the needs of the customer. Good design concerns itself with the customer’s Sustainability has many different meanings. It can be property and any surrounding property so that they defined as an approach to landscaping that function in unison. emphasizes plant health and longevity. Sustainability does not mean the elimination of inputs into the Landscape design requires creativity, knowledge of landscape such as fertilizers, pesticides, labor and design principles, drawing skills, and the ability to financial investment. It includes the creation of work with people. It requires a knowledge of outdoor spaces that attempt to utilize fewer inputs, environmental conditions such as soil, wind, sun, and that are environmentally friendly, and that are self- precipitation, as well as knowledge of landscape perpetuating over a period of time. This requires a materials such as wood, stone, brick, concrete, and harmonious relationship among all components in the plants. In terms of plant material, the landscape landscape. Such a landscape will improve the architect and designer must be familiar with the environment by conserving resources, reducing cultural requirements of specific plants, their chemical applications, as well as labor inputs, which aesthetic characteristics, and how these make it less expensive to implement and maintain. characteristics can be used to fulfill a particular design function. Landscape design differs from Creating a sustainable landscape requires that the other art forms because the completed results design process should be considered first. Plant constantly change with each season and with yearly selection, implementation, and maintenance build on plant growth. the design process, each having sustainability as a major consideration. By utilizing these concepts, Landscape architects, professionally trained homeowners, business owners, and related industry landscape designers, or those who have many years personnel will be able to create outdoor spaces that of on-the-job experience are qualified to develop are functional, maintainable, environmentally landscape designs. Architects and designers must sound, cost effective and aesthetically or visually listen carefully and ask detailed questions to insure pleasing. The sustainable design process is based that the design meets the needs of the customer and on, and affected by, the order of these five main not those of the designer. Many benefits are obtained objectives. from good professional landscape design. First, a good design will solve functional problems that may Having a visually pleasing landscape is usually the exist on the site, such as screening bad views, most important objective and is addressed first in the enhancing good views, creating privacy from close design process. This is understandable since it is the neighbors, eliminating conflicts that may exist primary concern for most clients. Similar or equal between different use areas on the site, providing importance to a client is cost. Often, functionality, shade to cool the site or developing outside sitting maintenance and the environment receive less areas. Second, it can enhance the architecture of a attention or are neglected altogether until a problem building and its surrounding property, unifying it and arises in the completed landscape. The visually creating a pleasant setting. This conveys a favorable pleasing and cost effectiveness objectives should impression of the site and the people who occupy it. be the last to be evaluated. This in no way These values result in customer pride and will diminishes the importance of a "good looking" or potentially increase the value of the property. cost effective landscape, but it does challenge the 44-1 1106 designer to create that beauty from a more Visually Pleasing – A Visually Pleasing landscape is sustainable approach. These five key Design what everyone strives for. The objectives of Objectives are described below. functionality, maintainability, environmental
soundness, and cost effectiveness provide the Functionality – Sustainable designs need to be functional. A functional landscape allows for the framework needed to create a visually pleasing easy accomplishment of movement, work, recreation landscape. Designing a sustainable landscape and leisure that occurs in and around the landscape. requires the integration of more variables, but should These functions are related to the actual activities not affect the aesthetic value of the landscape. It is associated with a family, a business, or a public important to note that none of these objectives are setting. mutually exclusive in the design process. The development of any design requires that each piece Maintainability – The functional and maintainable be revisited several times relative to the others before objectives are closely related. A functional design the best solution can be reached. has more to do with the users of the landscape, while a maintainable landscape is critical to landscape managers that care for the landscape. However, a The Base Plan landscape should be functional from both the user The Base Plan is developed from the information and the maintenance standpoint. A maintainable collected about the site by the landscape designer or landscape lowers labor costs and makes maintenance landscape architect. Base Plan information is the operations easier. It also reduces the need for starting point in the development of landscape fertilizers, pesticides, equipment, water and other design. Information is obtained from many places inputs. A sustainable landscape only reduces the and should involve communicating with many amount of input needed; it does not eliminate it. people. The development of a Base Plan is necessary to design residential, commercial, and public
landscapes. Depending on the size and complexity of Environmentally Soundness – An environmentally the landscape project, segments of the process used to sound landscape design must first be functional and create a Base Plan may be combined or eliminated. maintainable. In addition, the proper design of plants Larger and more complex projects will require and related hardscaping or features such as walks, separate documents and a greater number of maps, fences and retaining walls, greatly affect the quality plans, and other informational pieces. Base Plan of any landscape over its entire life. For example, a development involves the following requirements. philosophy of "right plant, right place" as well as
"right plant, right purpose" will ameliorate the Interview – In a residential landscape design amount of environmental, disease, and insect stress program, the information gathering procedure is that a plant must tolerate. A plant continually in simply called the client or family Interview and stress will require more maintenance, which means frequently involves the landscape designer or more labor, fertilizer, pesticides, and ultimately cost. landscape architect and the owner(s) of the residence.
In commercial designs, the process is somewhat more Cost Effective – Cost effectiveness is impacted by involved and may include a Needs Assessment the processes, plants, and hardgoods used in the process. Owners, managers, supervisors, implementation of a landscape design, and by the maintenance personnel, and city or county officials quality of each of these factors. Cost should not may be involved along with a landscape designer, dictate whether the landscape is functional, architect or engineer in the preparation of a Needs maintainable, or environmentally sound; rather, these Assessment document. requirements should be met regardless of the budget.
A simple, low cost landscape should be just as The Interview and Needs Assessment are very sustainable as an extensive high-cost landscape. In important parts of the design program that stress many cases, the installation cost of a sustainable sustainability. They should be completed as a "self landscape may be less. Also, the ongoing evaluation" when home or business owners are maintenance costs of a functional, maintainable, and designing their own property, and the Needs environmentally sound landscape is usually lower, Assessment should be a prerequisite to working with which can mean considerable savings throughout the a landscape designer or architect. This is very life of the landscape. difficult for individuals without formal training to do,
because many of the questions may seem unrelated to
44-2 1106 the project they visualize. Enclosure (1) at the end of to the actual design sequence and is a combination of this chapter provides a Landscape Design sketches, plans, and notes. Many professionals find it Questionnaire for use in obtaining information during productive to begin development of the Site Analysis the Interview and Needs Assessment process. It is while completing the Site Survey. critical to obtain detailed budget information relative to design, installation, supplies, equipment, labor and Lot and Plot Plan – A Lot Plan is a plan developed to maintenance. Obtain as much detailed information as scale showing property lines, bearings, distance, true possible on all aspects even to the extent of asking north, easements, setbacks, right-of-ways, sidewalks, what size lawn mower will be used. streets and boulevards. The Plot Plan shows the lot with the structures accurately located on it. Plot Plan Site Survey – A Site Survey or site inventory is the information is usually available from the developer, process of collecting information about the property. or city or county offices. Completed Plot Plans can If done correctly, it will point out all important site be obtained for most new developments. A surveyor characteristics such as existing plants and structures, may be needed to accurately identify this information good and bad views, soil, drainage, and site on older properties. topography. It will include positive features as well as problem areas that may have a negative impact on Site Plan – In new properties, the Site Plan may be the landscape and which may ultimately reduce the same as the Plot Plan. In older properties, many sustainability. Measurements are also taken during changes and additions have occurred since the the Site Survey to accurately locate and define all original Plot Plan was completed. Structure and areas. It is often difficult for someone who lives or utility blueprint information is frequently used to works in direct proximity of a site to see what others update the Site Plan. see when they observe or pass through that same area. This is not only true of what is directly seen in Structure and Utility Blueprints – Structure and the landscape, but it is especially true of any subjects Utility Blueprints can be obtained from the architect, and support structures not visible such as soil and the builder, or the city office. These maps show drainage improvements or requirements. utilities such as gas, electric, and sewer. The information on them is very important and needs to Like the Interview, a Site Survey should include be considered throughout the design of the landscape. information from the property owner, the landscape A final step incorporates this information into one architect or designer, and the individual ultimately drawing called the Base Plan. responsible for the ongoing maintenance. If the site survey is conducted by a team, they should walk The Base Plan – A Base Plan incorporates all through, and talk about, the property together. relevant information gathered from the Client Interview, Site Survey, Site Analysis, Plot Plan and Money spent improving site problems prior to the Site Plan (Figure 1). The Base Plan dictates the installation is not as evident as the money spent on accuracy, appropriateness and sustainability of the the visible components of the landscape. However, completed design. A Base Plan is frequently attention to site preparation will reduce annual supported by a document or program that provides maintenance and replacement costs, which saves additional information not found on the plan itself. money in the long term. For example, in a newly The Base Plan should summarize the needs of the constructed landscape, a plant may die and be client while incorporating the designer’s knowledge replaced only to die and be replaced again. Or the and experience in gathering and organizing plant might survive for months in a poor condition information. The landscape design sequence cannot while secondary problems such as insects and begin until the Base Plan has been completed. diseases move in. The real cause of these problems is Inaccuracy in a Base Plan will be reflected on the poor drainage which should have been recognized completed landscape design and ultimately the during the site survey. Rushing to complete a installed landscape. Incorrect Base Plans frequently landscape by ignoring a Site Survey is never result in such issues as easements that are not conducive to developing a sustainable landscape. honored, incorrect property locations and improper Site Analysis – While the Site Survey is a collection plant material selection. Incorrect information can of information, the Site Analysis is an evaluation of drastically alter the accuracy of the completed the challenges and potential benefits included in that landscape. For this reason, it is extremely important information. A Site Analysis aids the landscape that the Base Plan information is totally correct and designer or architect in the thought process that leads current. 44-3 1106
Figure 1. An example of a Base Plan.
The Landscape Design Sequence dog kennels, RV and boat parking areas, and Four main steps define the Landscape Design firewood storage. Spaces can also define hard Sequence: Bubble Diagrams, Concept Plans, Draft features, specific plant groupings, view areas, or Designs, and the Completed Landscape Design. topographical features such as patios or decks, entry Each step is a prerequisite to the next step. The or patio gardens, and open areas to allow a view of a Completed Landscape Design, because of its pond or lake (Figure 2). complexity, is treated separately in the Completed Landscape Design section. At first bubble diagrams have many shapes and sizes. They roughly correspond to what will eventually be a The Landscape Design Sequence depends on the size real space in the landscape, but they are not specific and complexity of the landscape project. Large and are without detail. A designer may sketch many projects may require numerous drafts, while small different Bubble Diagrams before the best solution is projects may only require a visualization exercise to determined. Once a Bubble Diagram is chosen, it complete one or more of the steps. A visualization will continue to be refined, and the sizes and shapes exercise is where the landscape designer or architect will change. Some Bubble Diagrams may be divided just visualizes what an area would look like before into more than one while others will converge. Each the landscape process begins. space will receive specific attention during the remaining Landscape Design Sequence. Bubble Diagrams – Bubble Diagrams are used to define spaces within the landscape. These spaces are In a sustainable design, spaces are important to identified from the information on the Base Plan and separate areas that require different maintenance from the information obtained on the Landscape levels, such as a high maintenance lawn next to a low Design Questionnaire during the Landscape Design maintenance shrub bed, woods, or prairie; or mulched Interview. Spaces are frequently defined by the beds next to lawns or other groundcovers. Spaces function that will take place in them. Some spaces are also important because they impact specific that need to be located on Bubble Diagrams include environmental concerns. Narrow lawn areas next to 44-4 1106
Figure 2. An example of a Bubble Diagram.
streets and walks cause problems when grass within a landscape, but are not necessarily separated clippings and stray fertilizer are washed into the by specific plantings or bed lines. They divide street and ultimately into sewer systems. Also, trees spaces that are different from one another such a under power lines cause problems by growing into shaded lawn from full sun lawn, a high maintenance the lines, resulting in costly and unsightly pruning. area from a low maintenance area, or a bermed area from a flat area. These divisions do not require a real Concept Plans – When individual Bubble Diagrams line in the landscape, but they are important to begin to take on specific characteristics, the process visualize. enters the concept planning stage. As with many segments of the landscape design process, part of the Concept Plans and Concept Lines provide good clues process is a visualization exercise and part of it takes to the future sustainability of a landscape design. An place on paper. Concept Plans are more detailed than analysis of spaces created by them should trigger Bubble Diagrams as the bubble shapes merge to form consideration of function, maintenance, environment, borders with one another. These borders will also and cost effectiveness. The greater the definition become the separation points between spaces in the between spaces, the easier it is to build sustainability completed landscape. In a Concept Plan, these into the landscape. borders are called Concept Lines which are visible or invisible lines that define spaces or divide areas in the To provide effective spaces in a concept plan, landscape (Figure 3). There are an infinite number of develop the larger spaces first. This assures that spaces that Concept Lines can divide in a landscape. these spaces will be properly designed and makes the Some Concept Lines include things like edging or design of corresponding smaller spaces easier. For visible transitions between spaces such as cement to example, a common large space in residential and lawn, or mulch to ground cover. Landscape edging commercial landscapes is the lawn. Because of the that divides a mulched bed from a lawn is an example shapes created by the lawn, Concept Lines of a Concept Line that becomes a "real line" in the correspond to that of the bedlines. A pleasing lawn landscape. Imaginary Concept Lines define spaces shape on the Concept Plan will likewise lead to 44-5 1106
Figure 3. An Example of a Concept Plan.
pleasing bed lines. The two lines then become one and functions. Some designers refer to these spaces and the result is visually appealing. Large spaces that as the outdoor rooms of the residence or business. should be considered first in a Concept Plan include lakes, woods, prairies, lawn, large ground cover Draft Designs become a Completed Landscape Plan areas, parking lots, and courtyards. Smaller spaces as specific plants and hardgoods are selected for each and shapes that are impacted by the large spaces location. It is at this point in the Landscape Design include decks, patios, walks, pools, planting beds and Sequence that the consideration of sustainability is border plantings. Concept Plans can provide very important. Spaces containing plants are where sustainability of a landscape through the proper the largest gains and losses to sustainability occur. placement of trees and shrubs outside an open, Plant spaces are usually identified by a specific irrigated turf area. A Concept Plan could also classification such as trees, shrubs and annual include front sidewalks, located away from flowers, or by their function such as screen planting, foundation plantings that provide adequate room for foundation planting, or patio garden. The location of an entry garden with proper plant spacing. the plant spaces on the Draft Design helps determine plant species or plant groupings. The order in which Draft Designs – The number of Draft Designs, specific plants and plant groupings are located on the sometimes called preliminary designs, depends on the Draft Design is also important. Plants with important size and complexity of the project. A rough draft is functions are usually located first. This will vary redeveloped until the designer is satisfied with the with the specifics of each individual project, but trees results and ready for the Completed Landscape are generally located first during the development of Design. Draft Designs continue to define what is Draft Designs. The following is a list of important happening in the Concept Plan. They consist of key plant types and plant groupings that need to be plants and plant groupings, as well as Concept Lines considered. and spaces. The Concept Lines and spaces created in the Concept Plan (Figure 4) now have specific forms Trees – Trees are very important for screening, 44-6 1106 outdoor living space. Patio Gardens screen and soften the architectural features of the deck, they frame views, and they can provide shade and protection from the wind.
Screen Plantings – Screen Plantings screen an area to provide privacy, block a poor view, or serve as a natural boundary or barrier.
Foundation Plantings – Foundation Plantings are located in beds surrounding the base of a structure. Foundation Plantings can be made to be continuous or segmented. They provide transitions to Patio and Entry Gardens. They frequently contain several key plants.
Border Plantings – Border Plantings are plants or plant groupings that divide spaces in a landscape. They can also provide divisions between adjacent properties.
Corner Plantings – Corner Plantings include any planting group that occupies a corner location, typically the corner of a property. Corner Plantings blend Border Plantings together.
Freestanding or Group Plantings – Freestanding or Group plantings are separate from structures or other plantings. They are sometimes called an island planting depending upon location.
Figure 4. Draft Design and Plant Selection Accent Plants – An Accent Plant is a plant of special Information. interest that is usually part of a larger planting. Accent Plants provide interest throughout the seasons through specific forms, textures and colors. framing and shade. They must be considered early in the landscape design process. Trees are usually Specimen Plants – Specimen Plants can be part of a placed before other plant material because of their larger planting, but usually stand alone in the major impact on selecting understory shrubs for the landscape. Specimen Plants provide seasonal landscape. interests or color through flowers, fruit or leaves.
Key Plants – Key plants are those placed in a highly Mass Plantings – Mass Plantings include many plants visible location. Key plants are frequently used of the same species and are used to fill an area. Mass individually or in groups of three. They are often Plantings are used as connections between other associated with the screening or softening of planting groups or as groundcovers. architectural features such as building corners, steps and fences. Annual Gardens – Annual Gardens need to be replanted each year because the plants are not cold Entry Gardens – An Entry Garden is a landscape area hardy. Annuals are frequently chosen for their near the entry of a building which calls attention to intense flowering and often become seasonal focal the entry area and to certain plants. points in the landscape.
Patio Garden – Patio Gardens surround a patio or Perennial Gardens – Herbaceous Perennial Gardens deck and are used to create a more comfortable can tolerate the cold and will grow back from the 44-7 1106 ground each spring. Perennial Gardens provide philosophy of how they create Unity within a seasonal interest for a longer period of time than landscape design. Annual Gardens and can serve as focal points in the landscape for many years. By definition, some Principles of Design are almost the same, some are contradictory, and some may be As the Draft Design evolves, more specifics may be appropriate in one design, but not in another design. added. Hard features may now have precise Most importantly, there are countless examples of dimensions, but may still be lacking texture, color or how a design principle can be expressed. All could specific material selection. Plant beds and borders be correct depending on the circumstances, therefore, may now be composed of Mass Plantings, Accent there can be more than one correct answer to a Plants, Trees and Specimen Plants. landscape design problem. For this reason, applying Principles of Design to the creation of a final design The Completed Landscape Design is very difficult for an inexperienced designer. It is When the Landscape Design Sequence has been much easier to learn how to apply the Principles of completed through the Draft Design stage, the Design through observation and experience if the designer is ready to begin development of a final or designer or architect is knowledgeable of the Completed Design. To complete a landscape design, Principles of Design. Therefore, the Principles of specific hardgoods and plant materials must be Design and their definitions are provided below to selected. These selections are made through the use provide a standard educational base of understanding. of Principles of Design and Elements of Design. This process is completed with the development of a Simplicity – Simplicity means understanding what is, Plan View Drawing that represents the final or and is not, important in a landscape design. Details Completed Landscape Design. A Completed that will not have a major impact on the landscape Landscape Design has all the information necessary are omitted to keep it uncluttered. to install the landscape. Variety – Variety requires mixing up the form, Principles of Design texture, and color combination in a landscape to If several professional landscape designers or create extra interest without sacrificing the simplicity. architects were given the same design problem for a residence, commercial building, or public grounds, Balance – Balance refers to the relationships among with the same Base Plan, Site Survey, Site Analysis, elements in the landscape. Balance can be formal or Interview data and the same budget, they would each informal. Formal balance would usually mean that develop a different solution to the problem. While one side of the landscape is a mirror image of the one design might have more appeal to the client than other while informal balance is when plant sizes and the others, all could be excellent solutions to the numbers are only relatively similar on both sides. design problem and ultimately create excellent sustainable landscapes. These different landscape Emphasis – Emphasis addresses the importance of designs would have one thing in common: each plants or plant groupings in the landscape. Emphasis designer would have applied appropriate Principles is created by using a Specimen or Accent Plant of Design in the development of their design (Figure 5). solutions. Elements of Design The Principles of Design include a process that Unity is achieved in a landscape design through defines and ties all individual components together to appropriate application of the Principles of Design to create Unity within a design and to create one the lawn, large ground cover areas, parking lots and landscape. These principles include Simplicity, all hard features. Principles of Design are Variety, Balance, Emphasis, Sequence, and Scale. demonstrated in the way plants are selected and All aspects of the landscape should complement one organized in the landscape design. This process another rather than compete for attention. Unity actually begins in the Draft Design phase and impacts how the design looks in plan view and in the continues throughout the process of finalizing the installed landscape. Designers differ in the number Completed Landscape Plan. of design principles they feel are important. The number and specific definitions of these design The criteria used in the selection and organization of principles are not as important as the overall specific plants in the landscape are known as
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Figure 5. This plan shows the principle of Emphases.
Elements of Design. The number of design elements location. If plants are selected without considering and the order in which they are considered will Height and Width, they are often improperly spaced change with the specifics of a particular plan. and will cause problems in the future of the landscape However, some are more important and should be (Figure 6). considered first: these are called the Primary Elements of Design and are described below: Texture – Texture refers to the coarseness or fineness of a plant. It should be one of the first design Plant Type – Plant Type defines the growth habit of elements considered when placing plants in a the plant such as a tree, shrub, vine or groundcover. landscape. Texture can also be created by rough or smooth looking surfaces, thin or thick leaf structure, Height and Width – Height and Width pertain to the or by darkness or lightness. As a rule, plants with estimated mature sizes that a plant will reach in fine textures should be used in greater numbers, and upright and outward directions. These two elements plants with coarse textures should be used in fewer are very important in plant selection and plant numbers.
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Figure 6. Height and width are critical elements of proper sustainable design.
Form – Form refers to the outline a plant creates plus Soil Adaptability – Some plants thrive well in a wide the three-dimensional features it produces such as range of soils. Some plants may require a moist, columnar, round, vase, weeping or oval. Form loamy soil and others may tolerate a droughty sandy should be considered early in the design process. soil. Plants should be selected that will thrive rather than just survive at each site. Soil factors to consider Seasonal Interest and Color – Seasonal Interest is in plant selection include water holding capacity, soil simply the time of the year when a plant provides type, pH, compaction, soluble salts and fertility. special characteristics such as flowers, fall color and fruits. Color is the element that is often first noticed Full Sun or Shade Tolerance – Many plants tolerate about a plant, which includes leaf color during the full sun, and most flowering trees and shrubs will not growing season and in fall, plus the color of flowers flower well if they don't receive most of the day's and fruits. Color is often used in a landscape to available sunlight. Other plants must be planted in provide interest throughout the entire growing the shade to thrive and remain healthy in the season. landscape.
Other characteristics, which can be almost limitless Moisture Tolerance – It is extremely important to in number, are called Secondary Elements of Design. select plants that will thrive rather than just survive in Secondary Elements of Design are used when dry, or more importantly, wet locations. narrowing down the types of plants used. They are also very important to the sustainability of a design as Determining the Elements of Design to be used in the they include not only positive traits, but also any selection of plants not only makes plant selection problems a plant may have including diseases, easier, it also allows plant and plant groupings to be insects, soil characteristics and environmental factors. more specifically outlined in the Draft Design. A Sometimes a Secondary Element of Design becomes great deal of flexibility is created in this process as more important than a Primary Element. The many plants will satisfy the same set of Design Secondary Elements of Design are described below. Elements. Instead of considering only one plant for a specific "spot" in the landscape, any number of plant Drought Tolerance – Growing in the same set of species possessing those Design Elements can fit that conditions and with the same water availability, some "spot”. This process is extremely important to the plants perform better than others. Plants that grow sustainability of a landscape. Designers and well in restricted water environments are drought architects must consider and utilize many different tolerant. plants to find the proper plant for each particular situation. Insect and Disease Resistance – Some plants can be insect or disease magnets, especially when planted in The process of selecting specific plants that will the wrong location. Select plants that are least prone make up each space begins with the understanding to, or most resistant to, diseases and insects in each that each hard feature, plant, and plant grouping is a specific site or micro climate. separate entity. Individual plants and groupings are 44-10 1106 pieces of the landscape design puzzle. It is necessary objection should be acknowledged and resolved to study each piece carefully to know where and how, during the presentation to better prepare for closing it will fit into the puzzle. This allows the designer to the sale. focus on the functionality, maintainability, environmental impact, cost effectiveness and Cost Estimates and Contracts aesthetics of each space in the landscape. Once the Procedures for preparing and presenting cost selection of each individual or each grouping is estimates and contracts vary from one company to completed, they can be blended together through the another. All estimates and contracts, along with use of appropriate Design Principles, bringing Unity company procedures and policies, should be to the overall design. thoroughly explained to the complete satisfaction of the customer to avoid potential misunderstandings at Selecting plants begins with a visualization process. a later date. Designers must see in their mind what a particular grouping, or piece of the puzzle, will look like in an installed landscape. Once this is done, this idea can be transferred to paper in the form of a sketch for review and continued refinement. These sketches are not fancy and may not be to scale, but they aid the designer in the process of using Elements of Design to select plants. After a designer has determined the necessary Elements of Design, specific plants can be selected to fit the requirements of that particular plant or plant grouping.
The Completed Landscape Design is accomplished when the designer or architect has selected all the plants and all the hard features to fill all the spaces in the design (Figure 7). A large project can be very detailed and may require several design sheets to convey all the information including a Plant Key as shown in Table 1. A variety of detailed drawings, elevations and perspectives, are often included to show the specifics of soil manipulation and hard- feature construction. In drawing the Completed Landscape Design, graphics and symbols, rather than words, are used to show many of the various components of the plan. Different graphics are used to indicate different types of plants, such as evergreens, deciduous trees, or groundcovers. Hardscape materials, such as brick, flagstone, and decking are also shown with different graphics. There are an endless number of different graphics that can be used to depict plants and hardscapes.
Plan Presentation Verbal, graphic, and written communications are important tools during the Plan Presentation. While some customers will understand the landscape plan completely, some may have difficulty understanding every detail on the plan. A plan should be presented so that it is easily comprehended, describing each area completely before discussing another section. Jumping from area to area is confusing. Ask questions during the presentation to determine if the customer understands the plan. Any question or 44-11 1106
.
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Figure 7. The Completed Landscape Design.
44-12 1106 Table 1. A Plant Key for the Completed Landscape Design.
No. Common Name Scientific Name H x W Seasonal Interest Comments 1 Patmore Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica 50’ x 30’ Canopy tree; disease ‘Patmore” and drought tolerant.
2 Neon Flash Spirea Spiraea japonica 3.5’ x 5’ Rose/pink flowers in Shrub mass; tolerates ‘Neon Flash’ June and July. snow damage.
3 PJM Compact Rhododendron ‘PJM’ 4’ x 4’ Lavender flowers in Shrub mass; shade Rhododendron early spring. tolerant.
4 Service berry Amelanchier canadensis 20’ x 14’ White flowers in early Accent plant; edible spring; red/purple fruit; fruit. yellow/red fall foliage.
5 Broadmore Juniper Juniperus horizontalis 4’ x 1’ Evergreen. Shrub mass. ‘Broadmore’
6 Siberian Iris/Stargazer Iris Siberica/ 2.5’ x 2’ Early and late summer Low maintenance Oriental Lily Lilium ‘Stargazer’ flowers. perennial bed.
7 Yellow Daylily Hermerocallis ‘Hyperion’ 3’ x 3’ Light yellow flowers Low maintenance in summer. perennial bed.
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Landscape Design Questionnaire
Client Name: ______Home Phone: ______
Address: ______Work Phone: ______
City, State, Zip: ______
Name and age of family members: ______
Outdoor hobbies or sports that take place in the yard: ______
______
Pets: ____Yes ____No If yes, what kind? ______
Style of home? (Victorian, Cottage, etc.)______
______
Age of Home: ______
Do you have plot plans or architectural plans for the house or lot? ____Yes ____No
Approximate budget for the design and installation of the landscape? ______
Please comment if necessary ______
______
Who will maintain the landscape? ____Owner; ____Contractor: ____Other:______
Who will install the landscape? ____Owner: ____Contractor: ____Other:______
Soil/Drainage Information: Please check all that apply.
____Poor Drainage; ____Compacted Soil; ____Poor Water Holding Capacity;
____Steep Slopes; ____Excessive Runoff; ____Other Grade Problems: ______
Utilities:
Above ground utilities: ______
Below ground utilities : ______
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Light Conditions:
Please provide information on the amount of sun the landscape receives. Be specific.
______
______
Special Considerations: Please check all that apply.
____Privacy Screens; ____Traffic Noise; ____Windbreaks; ____Drifting Snow;
____Shade Needed; ____Too Much Shade; ____Fence Needed; ____ Poor Driveway;
____Turn-around Needed; ____Poor Walks; ____Not Enough Lawn; ____Paths On Turf;
____Too Much Lawn; ____ Existing plants Issues: ______
Others, please specify: ______
Plant Selection:
Plants Preferred: ______
______
______
Plants Not Preferred: ______
______
______
What type of foundation planting do you prefer?
____Deciduous Shrubs; ____Evergreen Shrubs; ____Combinations
Service Areas:
____Cloths Line; ____Compost Bin; ____Dog Kennel; ____Boat/Trailer Storage;
____Grill/Fire Pit; ____Vegetable Garden, approx. size: ______
____Others:______
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Recreational/Entertainment Areas:
Would you like recreational areas? ____Yes ____No
If yes, please indicate what the areas will be used for. ______
______
Would you like a deck or patio? ____Yes ____No
If yes, please indicate the average number of people you will entertain. ______
Please check all items that you would like incorporated into the landscape design:
____Annual Flowers; ____Perennial Flowers; ____Landscape Grasses; ____Prairie Garden;
____Water Garden; ____Butterfly Garden; ____Vegetable Garden; ____Trees; ____Shrubs;
____Entry Garden; ____Driveway/Car Turn-around; ____Patio Garden; ____Walks/Paths;
____Deck; ____Stairs; ____Retaining Walls (Timber, Block, Rock); ____Outdoor Lighting;
____Swimming Pool; ____Foundation Plantings; ____Children's Play Area; ____Irrigation;
____Lawn; ____Shrub Bed Borders; ____Fencing; ____Mail Box; ____Dog Kennel;
____Large Lawn For Recreation; ____Wildlife Garden; ____Large Shade Trees;
____Other:______
Would you prefer that planting beds be mulched? ____Yes ____No
If yes, would you prefer: ____Wood Chips; ____Colored Wood Chips: Color: ______;
____Shredded Bark; ____Compost; ____Decorative Rock; ____Other:______
Please provide any other information that you feel will be useful in the development of your landscape design. Please be as specific as possible.
______
______
______
______
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