Does Landscape Gardening Involve More Than Just Planting Things.?
Posted on 27. Feb, 2010 by admin in Gardening Articles
Do you have to draw plans and grafts.
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Posted on 27. Feb, 2010 by admin in Gardening Articles
Do you have to draw plans and grafts.
There is a lot involved in landscaping a yard. You have to determine your soil type, amount of sun, how you are going to use your yard, how you plan to water everything (irrigation, drip system, etc) how much work you are willing to put in to maintaining your yard (will you have help, hire a yard service, etc). You have to plant the right plants for your zone/your specific conditions. Do you want edging for beds? Rock, a water feature? How much do you want to spend?
In other words, don’t just run out and buy some plants, dig a hole to plant them and hope for the best. There are lots of good guides around: The Western Garden Book (if you live in the western US, The Southern Living Garden Book for the south) Those books are very specific about what will grow in your area, under what conditions, maintenance, etc. Educate youself, do your research, give it some thought, make a plan and then go for it! It’s very enjoyable and can be downright addictive.
Yeah. lots more. You probably need to draw plans. You need to be able to write up and use a budget.
You need to know about fertilizers. How much of what kind to put where at what time.
Planting things is complex. You need to know the plants, and what they require. Which ones grow in what soil, how much light they need.
You need to know the equipment. How to use and fix all those tools.
You need to understand soil and how it grows. Differences between clay and sand, and organic amendments.
Yes, it does involve math and communicating with people.
And the sun moves thru the sky at different angles at different times.
OH, and I’m forgetting to mention irrigation. Pipes, fittings, spray rates.
Yep, those pests also. The ones that eat the plants and dig holes.
Or you could just plant things until you get it right.
There is alot that goes into planning a landscape. One major thing that some people dont pay attention to around here is sunlight. A full sun plant can get away with about 5 hours of snlight a day. Any less and it wont perform as well.
Anything that has invasive roots shouldnt be planted near the foundation. In my lanscape class we are taught to “balance” things. Don’t plant anything large in front of your door or windows. You could frame your house and plant a tree off the corner of your house but you have to think about the mature size of the tree. you don’t want a tree that will dwarf your house.
Layering flower beds is also good. Like planting a short spring flowering perennial in front then something spring to summer flowering that grows a couple inches higher behind that and you could even step it back once more.
So no, you don’t have to draw things out. But it might be a good idea.
You have to know what to plant and where to plant it. That means knowing what looks good in the customer’s garden, if the plant is sun/shade, hardy, perennial, annual looks good in the landscape and so much more. Often you will have to draw a sketch. Only landscape architects draw plans.
Yes, it is a very involved undertaking.
You don’t have to draw out plans or graphs, but preliminary sketches will help you win the sell. Know the plants of your area. Don’t bring in plants that may or may not make it in your climate.
Landscaping also involves terracing, revamping a yard from weedy non-grass areas to an appealling view, laying in walks, and can go as far as installing fencing, trellises, ponds, etc.
You can become a specialized landscaper and have your own gimmick. I work specifically with scented flowering plants that attract hummingbirds, but I do know a great deal more than that.
oh heck yes….watch HGTV and see how they do it. Plus you need to be able to spell.
For foundation planting you do not want anything that is going to grow too tall and block your windows.
Azalea’s and Rhododendrons are good chloice and give a great dfisplay when they flower
I agree with all the answers above. Another thing to consider is drainage. Without proper grading you can develop pool around plants, then when they die you will get angry customers demanding that you replace them.
Landscaping involves much more than just planting things. It takes some *planning* as well. Of course, drawn plans or plots may be helpful, they’re not totally necessary.
An experienced landscaper will take a step back and visualize the entire yard before even beginning. One should notice the lay of the land, any special features, slopes, trees, etc. that may require special attention. A certain amount of design goes into landscaping, too. Of course, you want plantings that are pleasing to the eye, but you must also choose the correct plant for the conditions in a certain part of the garden. Is it extremely shady? In full sun? Is it a rocky area? Many, many factors go into a good landscaping job, not just planting things.