EntrePinoys Atbp.

These places are often landscaped:

• Botanical gardens
• Memorial parks
• Playgrounds
• Parking areas
• Hotel gardens and surroundings
• Residential gardens
• Rooftops
• Resorts
• Public places where people congregate
• Golf courses

Steps in Planning a Landscaping Projects

1. Know the place to be landscaped.
   • Is it a wide area? Is it a golf course or is it a garden inside a building or an outdoor garden?
   • What is its size and shape? Is it flat or rolling?
   • Is the soil rocky, sandy or just right?
   • Are there trees, buildings or anything that must be removed or included in the design?
   • What is the climate or weather condition in the place? Hot, windy or cold?
2. Know the needs and wants of your client.
   • Explain important points to your clients. Explain the different kinds of design suitable for the place, the materials and plants to be used and the estimated expenses.
   • The client may have some suggestions and ideas on what designs and materials he wants to use. If this is the case, the client’s suggestions must be included in the plan. If suggestions cannot be included, give proper recommendations to your client to avoid any misunderstanding.
3. Prepare a temporary plan.
   • Consider all the information mentioned above in planning and designing a project.
   • Draw the design so your client may see the plan.
   • Give the estimated price and overall budget for the project.
4. Submit the plan to your client for approval.

Let the client approve the plan before implementing it. Your client may suggest some changes in the plan.

Different Kinds of Designs (click photo to enlarge)

Tropical

This design is based on the character of the surroundings of warm places. In tropical design, plants and materials commonly found in tropical or warm places like palms, coconut, bamboo, agave, etc. are used.

Shady

The shady design is cool and dense. It uses trees and lushly growing plants that provide protection from the heat and glare of the sun.

Oriental

Gardens from the East – such as Chinese or Japanese gardens – have unique styles. Even Filipinos have unique gardens. The oriental design possesses influences from the Japanese garden which has waterfalls, springs, fishponds, small rocks, bonsai and occasional plants.

Rustic

The rustic design is based on the characteristics of the countryside, plains, mountain. It has slightly dense plant growth, unlike the oriental and formal garden design, and usually retaining the plants found in the area being landscaped.

Desert

This design is patterned after the desert where plants are scarce and unique to the place. Desert designs use sand and rocks.

Special Features included in the Design

There are two kinds of special features included in the landscape design; the water, such as fishponds and waterfalls; and the solid features such as the gazebo, pergola, walls , fences, screen paths; and garden sets.

Also included in a design are important amenities like electricity, drainage system, and faucets as well as other civil works.

There are designs suitable for different land sizes ans shapes. If the area is narrow, a pocket garden is more suitable; for a wide area, a forest-like design is better.

Implementation

Steps in Implementing a Landscape Design

1. Arrange and clean the land or place to be landscaped
2. Place the water pipes, drainage, electric cables and outlets, water tanks, etc.
3. Do not use poisonous or thorny plants.
4. Level out or fill with soil according to the design.
5. Build or construct the civil works like swimming pool, water falls, pathways, gazebo, trellis, pergola, etc.
6. Put the garden soil and the plants.

Guidelines for Choosing the Plans for Landscaping

1. Choose plants that dry slowly, free from pests and diseases, and can withstand wind and heat.
2. Choose plants that are suitable for your purpose. For example, if the plants are to be used as centerpieces or the center of attention and interest, these plants should have beautiful flowers, leaves, fruits and of pleasing fragrance.
3. Select plants that fit the demands of the design. For example, if the design calls for shaded areas, use plants that are leafy and provide screen and shade.

Guidelines to be Followed in Planting

1. Plant big trees first. Follow small plants and climber or vines. The ground cover is placed last.
2. Keep the roots of planing materials away from direct sunlight.
3. Water plants immediately after replanting.

The kind of plants or trees to be used should be appropriate to the size of the land to be landscaped. Spacious areas will not present any problem, but narrow or small areas call for special trees or plants that will fit the size and space available for landscaping. For example, the Indian tree or the eucalyptus is suitable for small areas.

The Way to Plant a Tree

Determine what kind of tree will be best for the design. If the tree will be allowed to fully grow, provide a wide area around it. Make sure that there is enough distance between trees so that the branches can fully grow out and other nearby plants and walls will not be destroyed by its roots.

1. Dig a hole where the tree will be planted. Allow a 12 to 18 inch wide hole as allowance for the roots.
2. Remove the plant or seedling from its plastic bag. Do not remove the soil that cling to its roots. Put the plant in the hole. Gradually cover the roots with soil. Fill the dug hole with soil, preferably a planting medium or garden soil with fertilizer.
3. Prop the plant so it will not sag or bend.
4. If you are planting during summer, dig a canal around the newly planted sapling. This will trap water and maintain the moisture of the soil so the plant will survive the heat and grow well. Provide a shade or cover for the replanted seedlings or plants for the first few days until the transplanted plants have adjusted to the environment and the heat.
5. Remove the weeds around the plant so they will not compete for the soil nutrients.

The method of planting shrubs is just about the same as planting trees. The only difference is that shrubs do not need to be propped up. They can also be planted close together without too much space between the transplanted saplings.

Wall shrubs and climbers, like honeysuckle, are used to conceal a garden or beautify walls or buildings. Plant shrubs and climbers 25 cm from the wall for support and to protect them from wilting. Climbing plants may also be provided with a trellis.

Some plants can be placed in containers and arranged at the borders. A variety of plants can be placed together, while some may be arranged separately to highlight their beauty.

A landscape design must look nice from all angles., There are several ways to achieve a certain look, such as:

1. If the landscaped area is to be fully appreciated from the front view, place the big plants at the back and the small ones in front.
2. If the landscaped area is to be appreciated from the sides, put the big plants in the middle. The rest of the plants should be arranged according to size and height, placing the smallest plants at the edges. Do the same if the landscaped area is in the middle of a place where viewers will be milling around.
3. If trees are planted in pots, use pots or containers that are 30-40 cm wide. Shrubs should be planted in 18-20 cm pots.

Plants best suited for lagoons and ponds are called floating aquatics like the lotus and the water lily. To maintain the beauty of the garden, weeds and dry leaves must always be regularly removed. Pruning the plants, specially the shrubs will maintain their form and shape. Never forget to water plants.

The secret to a lush and beautiful garden is in the use of plants that are acclimatized to the weather conditions of the place where they will be planted.

Part 1 – Importance of Landscaping
Part 2 – Planning and Implementing a Landscaping Project
Part 3 – Landscaping in Houses and Buildings
Part 4 – Tropical and Oriental Garden Landscape
Part 5 – Designing Rustic and Indoor Garden

source: tlrc.gov.ph, photo from pics from hal-pc.org, voices.gardenweb.com, waterspirit.biz, homerenopeople.com, localwin.com, firedoglake.com, bellewood-gardens.com, tucsonhomeandgarden.com, architecture.mit.edu, lutze3611.stumbleupon.com, plantcreations.com