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

The Power Of Paper Reading and Interpreting a Landscape Plan

- 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

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

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

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

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 - 10 - 1inch = 10 feet 1/2 “ = 1 foot - 20 - 1 inch = 20 feet 1/4 “ = 1 foot - 30 - 1 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

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

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

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

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

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

- 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

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

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

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

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

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

Sample Site Field Sketch

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.

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

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

-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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Create a grading rubric for the final plan

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

Taking the design 3-D

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

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