LANDSCAPING PROJECT
February 6, 2023
A landscaping project involves much more than proposing which plant species should compose a garden. Behind this mistaken vision we have an entire market of activities in constant expansion.
Understanding what a landscaping project is, what a landscape designer does and why landscaping is different from gardening is the first step for anyone wishing to develop landscaping projects.
Interested in landscaping projects but don't know where to begin? Calm down, this post will go through this universe and will try to answer all your doubts! Check it out!
Landscaping is a concept that revolves around working on the physical environment and the perception that people have of space. This involves natural and physical resources and other elements of a landscape.
We can define landscaping as a process of designing, creating and maintaining a landscape, integrating natural elements such as plants, wildlife and man-made elements.
In this scenario, the confusion between landscaping and gardening is very common, since both activities involve working with plants. So let's clarify the difference between the two of them.
Landscaping and gardening involve the creation and maintenance of spaces that deal with the harmonization between vegetation and architectural elements, whether in a small backyard or even in entire parks.
Despite being in the same field of action, landscaping and gardening have some characteristics that make them different from each other. Let's meet them.
A landscape designer designs spaces creating micro and macro landscapes, using vegetation, natural elements and other materials in a functional and harmonious way.
The work of a landscaper involves the design of the space, considering a series of technical information such as: solar chart, morphology and anatomy of the vegetation (family, species, etc.), size (large, medium, small, bedding, shrub, tree, etc. ) among other various characteristics and peculiarities of the space.
This proposal must be in harmony with other architectural elements such as sidewalks, decks, pergolas, fountains, lakes, among other structures.
Other aspects that the landscaper takes care of are the mixture of colors and artificial lighting, allowing the contemplation of the space indoors or in periods without natural light.
The role of a gardener consists of planting and maintaining gardens, employing techniques that involve identifying the Ph of the soil, combating pests, handling appropriate tools, transplanting species, among other attributes.
Gardening is an ongoing activity as gardens require specialized care which includes soil ecology, climates, plant physiology, water drainage and the correct fight against pest infestations.
Even though it is an ongoing activity, the gardener usually performs temporary work; they attend weekly, fortnightly or monthly to cut grass, carry out pruning, remove weeds and other activities.
It is very common for the client not to think that the development of a landscaping project is important; the belief that only a sketch is enough for its execution in order to reduce costs and save time is a common misconception.
However, we have a series of precautions that must be taken to ensure the success of the landscaping of the space, such as: soil characteristics, topography, prevailing climate and even the presence of animals.
Let's understand what advantages a landscaping project can bring:
If you want to work in the development of landscaping projects it is very important to have a correct understanding of the various duties of a landscaper.
Much more than just designing gardens, a landscape designer does all the planning of green spaces, transforming both outdoor and indoor spaces, using space composition techniques and processes.
Let's get to know 10 things a landscaper does!
Unlike what many people think, the choice of plant species for a landscaping project is not limited to aesthetic factors, such as colors and beauty.
The choice of vegetation must take into account a series of factors such as: geographic location, incidence of natural light, wind speed, leaf fall, fertilization, frequency of watering and even toxicity.
Another very important factor is root growth, which basically consists of root growth. Depending on the species, there may be problems with breaking sidewalks, clogging up pipes or even compromising foundations.
Vertical gardens are a trend that is here to stay, as they allow the presence of a garden in spaces with little or no soil, such as apartments.
Much more than a row of vases fixed to the wall, the implementation of a vertical garden needs to take into account factors such as: incidence of rain, incidence of light, vegetation growth, root development and other details.
Vertical gardens demand differentiated maintenance, such as correct pruning, fertilization, irrigation or even care with excess humidity, not only for the plants, but for the wall.
A landscaping project has not only vegetation, but also spaces for socializing, contemplation or recreation, which are not limited to squares and parks, but also to residential gardens.
For these spaces it is necessary to have appropriate furniture, which are resistant to the elements of the weather, such as wind, rain and sun.
It is the landscaper's role to choose and specify this type of furniture correctly, which not only should enhance the space, but also offer durability and safety of use.
In addition to the furniture, a landscaping project can count on different structures that, in addition to harmonizing with the space, offer shelter and shade, such as pergolas and gazebos.
The pergola is a wooden structure with exposed beams arranged in parallel, offering a light control, where the presence of vines or suspended vases is common.
Gazebos, on the other hand, are roofs supported by columns, without walls, which provide a shady space.
Defining the paths of a landscaping project that leads the visitor through the space is another attribution of the landscape designer. They help in the contemplation and even in the preservation of vegetation, preventing the visitor from stepping on more delicate plants.
Poorly designed paths can induce visitors to take trails to shorten the route, damaging the plants.
Another important aspect is the materials used, which must ensure safety, preventing accidents such as tripping or slipping.
A highly valued element in any landscaping project is the presence of water, which in addition to making the environment more refreshing, the sound of its movement is relaxing and reassuring.
The landscaper can indicate the best solution for the space where we have a series of options such as fountains, waterfalls, fountains and showers, which are the most popular.
Even in limited spaces, today there are vertical solutions such as small waterfalls or “bridal veil” type panels.
When we talk about landscaping and color options, green is obviously the first one that comes to mind, but there are, in addition to the different shades, a wide range of colored species, allowing the creation of different proposals for the space.
A landscaper uses colors to create different atmospheres for a garden, taking into account the flowering period so that the correct color combination occurs at the same time of year.
In a landscaping project, the professional takes into account that we are talking about a living environment, which not only changes over time, but that also hosts species that are sensitive to some types of light sources.
Recessed luminaires, projectors, beacons, poles and several other types of light sources can be part of the composition in a landscaping project; enhancing the projected space even more.
Natural stones offer the possibility of creating different patterns and aesthetics in a landscaping project, requiring the landscaper to have knowledge of the different types, costs and applications.
The use of natural stones includes steps such as laying the stones, preparing the soil, choosing different types of stones and applying them, decorating paths and trails or even shaping a flower bed.
Originated in countries with low temperatures, which took the plants to environments protected from wind and weather, thus allowing you to enjoy the beauty of the vegetation even in harsh winters.
This technique enables the creation of gardens for the building's internal spaces, which, in addition to the contact with nature, are solutions for underutilized spaces such as stairwells.
However, one can't apply this technique to any place and it isn't possible either to cultivate any plant in a winter garden. It is when making this sorts of decisions that a landscaper can guide on how to set up the place, how to choose the species and how to maintain the vegetation.
Understanding what a landscaping project is and being aware of the landscaper's attributions is the first step for anyone wishing to enter this area, which is constantly expanding.
The landscaping project goes far beyond choosing the species and composition of the space, it involves furniture, lighting, materials and the perfect harmony with the surroundings.
Another indispensable item for your project is to have a good collection of templates on hand so get ahead by using Blocks Revit's family library, which has a huge catalog with weekly updates!
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