 Is
the execution of the planting plan and
installation of hardscape features.
 Hardscaping- describes installing non-plant
landscape features, such as fences, patios,
walks, pools, and walls.
 Is
a plan that shows exact location for plant
materials, includes a plant materials list, and
shows the location for any hardscape
features. Contours and spot elevation may
also be on the plan
 Contour Lines- Show how the terrain
changes elevation (the vertical rise and fall
of the land).
 Nurseries- Grow many different varieties of
trees, shrubs, and bedding plants used by the
landscape contractor.
 The
landscape site is rarely flat.
 Terrain- describes the rise and fall of the
land (hills and valleys.)
 Topography- is a record of an area’s terrain.
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

Topography map shows the property’s features.
Slope- is a percent relating the vertical rise of
the land to the flat horizontal surface.
Example:
Landscape
Component
Ideal Slope Percent
Maximum Slope
Percent
Decks and Patios
½ to 1
3
Lawns
2 to 10
30
Walks
1 to 4
8
Driveways
1 to 10
11
Slopes with plants
20 to 30
50
Wheelchair Ramps
3 to 5
8
Steps
33 to 50
66
 Utility
locating service should be called
before starting a landscape job.
 Marking paint and flag colors indicate:





Red- Electric
Yellow- Gas, steam, oil
Orange- Telephone, communication, cable TV
Blue- Water
Green- Sewer
 Grading-
Involves the moving of soil and the
reshaping of the land.
 Fill- adding soil to the landscape.
 Cut- removing soil from the site.
 All grading should be done when soil is dry.
 Soil structure can be destroyed when
equipment is put on wet soil. Soil structure
allows soil to dry, sustain life, and to be
useable.
 Rough
Grade- is the approximate grade or
slope of the terrain.
 The rough grade should closely parallel the
proposed final , or finish, grade but is usually
3 to 6 inches below final grade.
 Drainage patterns during the rough grade
process should be the number one priority.
 Surface water should drain away from
buildings BUT cannot be diverted onto
neighboring properties.
 Rough
grade can be done with a skid steer
loader.
 Final Grade- is the elevation of the soil
surface after completing all grading
operations.
 Use a rototiller to break up the soil clumps
into marble-sized particles and remove all
rock and debris before smoothing the
surface.
 Small areas can be hand raked, large areas a
tractor with a landscape rake or box scraper.
 Berm-
a mound of soil.
 Berms give a flat landscape an added
dimension of height and change the ordinary
into the unusual.
 Soil-
is the outerpart of the earth’s crust in
which plant root systems grow.
 Soil supplies mineral elements, water, and a
means of support for plants throughout the
world.
 Pore Space- holes in the soil
 Plant roots need not only water but also air
for good growth. The best soil for plants is
half water and half air.
 Infiltration-
is the process of the water
soaking into the soil.
 A soil with good texture and structure will
absorb a great deal of rainfall.
 Percolation- is the downward movement of
water through the soil.
 In heavy rainfall, the pore spaces of soil fill
up more quickly than water can drain
through the soil.
 When
this occurs and all pore spaces are
filled with water, the soil is considered
saturated.
 Permeable- the soils ability to allow water
movement by infiltration and percolation.
 Water
found in soil falls into one of three
categories: gravitational, capillary, and
hygroscopic.
 Gravitational water- water that is pulled
down through the soil by gravity.
 It flows quickly through sandy soils. This
water often ends up in ground water.
 As gravitational water goes through the soil it
brings dissolved minerals, chemicals, and
salts with it, this is known as leaching.
 Capillary
Water- is the water held between
soil particles against the force of gravity.
 It is the most desirable water for the plants
to use.
 Hygroscopic Water- is water that forms a thin
film around the individual soil particles.
 Plants are unable to absorb this type of
water.
 Silt,
sand, clay, and organic matter combine
in a soil to form larger particles and shapes.
 Soil Structure- is the way in which soil
aggregates (comes together).
 There are 8 categories of soil structure:

Blocky, columnar, crumb, granular, platy,
prismatic, single grain, and massive.
 Soil
structure affects water and air
movement in a soil, nutrient availability for
plants, root growth, and microorganism
activity.
 Soil structure can be destroyed. A major
cause of damage is driving heavy equipment
over wet soil. Damage can also be caused
when working soil that is too wet or too dry.
 Damaged soil is very compacted and is very
hard when dry.
 Soil structure can be improved when organic
matter is added
 Soil
Texture- Is the proportion of sand, silt,
and clay particles.
 Clay- the smallest soil particle
 Sand- the largest soil particle
 Silt- the medium sized soil particle
Soil Property
Sand
Silt Loam
Clay
Aeration
Excellent
Good
Poor
Cation
Exchange
Low
Medium
High
Drainage
Excellent
Good
Poor
Erodability
Easy
Moderate
Difficult
Permeability
Fast
Moderate
Slow
Temperature
Warms fast
Warms
moderately
Warms slowly
Tillage
Easy
Moderate
Difficult
Water Holding
capacity
Low
Moderate
High
Resistance to
compaction
excellence
good
Poor
 Planting
Bed- describes the area in the
landscape where the shrubs and flowers are
planted.
 Soil Amendments- are materials added to the
soil to improve drainage, moisture holding
ability, and aeration.
 Nutrients-
are chemical substances that
support the life processes.
 Plants require 17 elements for good growth.
 Plants use large quantities of nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium (Primary
nutrients)
 Plants need smaller amounts of the three
secondary nutrients: Calcium, Magnesium,
and Sulfur.
 The other needed nutrients are minor- since
they are needed in a small amount.
 Minor
nutrients- Iron, Manganese, Copper,
Boron, Zinc, Chlorine, Molybdenum, and
Nickel.
 Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen are also
required and obtained from air and water.
 All the other nutrients are obtained from the
soil.
 Soil testing allows you to see which nutrients
are in the soil and which ones are lacking in
presence.