Under Preparation
We will revisit this module from time to time. Your skill as a designer will develop as you move through this diploma. We will start with some simple principles:
Time and spaces
As a landscape designer, you need to recognise that you are designing in a 3-D environment. The spaces you deal with not only have depth and breadth, but also height. You will borrow landscapes from adjoining properties and these may contain tall trees - these borrowed landscapes and sense of verical scale are important. Just as importantly, time is of the sessence! A garden changes over time within the seasons and over the years. the fisrt specimens planted may appear insignificant and out of scale, but the grow rapidly to add their own character to the constructed landscape.
We will encouage you to adopt a structured approach to designing spaces. We will play with simple shapes and organise these in a well composed way in 3-D space.
The work of various artists and in particular, sculputers will be studies to give insight into how others use 3-D space.
We will introduce some of the concepts behind:
- Garden rooms
- Connecting spaces
- Covered structures
- The elements of design
- The importance of considering tone and colour
- A design philosophy - building sustainable landscapes, the plants come first.
Your first step - some research
Please read this paper: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/botanicgardens/pdfs/sustainable_design.pdf
Design for local conditions
Good design considers the characteristics of a site. A well-designed garden makes the best use of space to suit lifestyle and taste, and works in harmony with the natural environment.
The local conditions of any site include:
• Climate: natural rainfall patterns, sunlight, shade, wind and frost. A sustainable garden is designed to suit the climate of the local area.
• Soil: soils vary naturally and may be modified in the building process. Many plants will only thrive in the soils that suit them. Poor soil can be improved with organic mulch and compost and it is more sustainable to work with the natural soil than to replace it.
• Drainage: drainage varies with soil type, gradient, proximity to low lying areas and to the water table. Plan to make the best use of naturally dry and damp areas, and to capture and re-use excess water or run-off.
Design may also consider fire risk, energy efficiency in the home, adjacent heat-reflecting surfaces, and how to minimize supplementary water and non-renewable energy requirements.
Careful consideration of local environmental conditions when creating a park or garden design will enable efficient management of soil, water and energy and lead to a healthy and resilient landscape.
Plant selection - water use
Plants from places with similar climates and conditions, such as Mediterranean climate zones, are generally more suited to our environment. If you select plants that require approximately the natural rainfall of your area, you will rarely need to water them once they are established. If you select plants that require more than your natural rainfall you will need to water them, especially in dry weather. However the many non-permeable surfaces in our towns and cities, along with the urban heat island effect, mean that even low-water use plants may need some extra water.
A sustainable garden is carefully designed to use available water effectively and does not need frequent supplementary water.
Plant selection - weed potential
Plants that grow naturally in your local area are unlikely to become weeds, but any plants that are introduced from other parts of Australia or from other countries have the potential to become weeds. Australia-wide the impact of weed plants costs our economy billions of dollars each year. It is important to select plants that are not considered to be invasive in your area, and to ensure that plants do not escape from gardens and spread into waterways, reserves, farmland, coastal dunes and other natural areas.
Water conservation measures
Water can be conserved in various ways:
• Mulch: mulch garden beds to conserve soil moisture and provide coolness for plant roots (allow leaf litter to
accumulate or use coarse mulch 6-10cm deep).
• Hydro zone: design the garden so that plants with similar water needs are grouped together.
• Irrigation: use irrigation systems that provide water efficiently with minimum water loss through evaporation or run-off. Under-mulch drip irrigation usually provides the most efficient water delivery. Check regularly for leaks.
• Monitor: only apply water when necessary. Check plants for signs of moisture stress and check soil for dryness. Observe weather reports as they indicate predicted rainfall, temperature and wind that impact soil moisture.
• Water supply: tanks and recycling systems can provide excellent sources of supplementary water. Bores are not a sustainable option where they deplete groundwater supplies and alter natural hydrological systems.
• Lawns: keep lawn area to a minimum, use drought tolerant grasses, water in the early morning rather than during the day, keep grass long in summer, allow lawns to lose some of their lushness in summer.
• Permeable surfaces: minimise hard surfaces such as concrete; mulch or porous pavers allow water to penetrate
the soil and reduce run-off.
• Planting season: in our climate, the best planting time is often autumn or early winter. This gives plants time to become established before the heat of summer. Spring planting can lead to a greater need for supplementary water over summer.
