This working manual provides complete information on the technical aspects of designing, building, and maintaining waterwise landscapes in the Mountain West. Written particularly for professionals, including landscape designers, architects, contractors, and maintenance and irrigation specialists, it has an attractive, well-illustrated, user-friendly format that will make it useful as well to DIY homeowners and to educators, plant retailers, extension agents, and many others.
The manual is organized according to landscape principles that are adapted to the climate of the intermountain region. Beginning with planning and design, the topical principles proceed through soil preparation, appropriate plant selection, practicalities of turfgrass, use of mulch, and irrigation planning, winding up with landscape maintenance. Designed for onsite, handy use, the book is illustrated with color images of landscapes, plants, and materials. Tables, charts, diagrams, landscape plans, plant lists, checklists, and other graphic resources are scattered throughout the manual, which is written in an accessible but information-rich style. Water-Efficient Landscaping in the Intermountain West answers, more comprehensively than any other single book, the need for professional information that addresses both growing awareness of the necessity for water conservation and the desire for beautiful, healthy yards and properties.
Water-Efficient Landscaping in the Intermountain West
A Professional and Do-It-Yourself GuideUtah State University Press
Copyright © 2011 Utah State University Press
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-0-87421-789-6Contents
Foreword................................................................................................viiPreface.................................................................................................ixPrinciple 1: Planning and Design Anne Spranger and William A. Varga....................................1Principle 2: Soil Preparation Grant E. Cardon, Ron Patterson, and Rick Heflebower......................30Principle 3: Appropriate Plant Selection Amy Croft and Heidi A. Kratsch................................39Principle 4: Practical Turfgrass Areas Kelly Kopp and JayDee Gunnell...................................58Principle 5: Use of Mulch Heidi A. Kratsch and Margaret Shao...........................................71Principle 6: Irrigation Planning Graham Hunter, Molly Waters, and Heidi A. Kratsch.....................77Principle 7: Landscape Maintenance Amy Croft, Larry A. Rupp, and Heidi A. Kratsch......................99References and Additional Resources.....................................................................109Index...................................................................................................111
Chapter One
Principle 1 Planning and Design Anne Spranger and William A. Varga
The design of a landscape is critical to achieving water sustainability. Landscapes must be designed to match the regional climate and soil conditions. These factors determine the amount of supplemental water that will be needed at a site. Ideally, the landscape should be designed so that the right plants are planned for the right spots, and plants with similar needs are grouped together so the need for supplemental water is minimized.
The first step in achieving this goal is to have a well-thought-out plan.
Program Development
Program development is an important first step in designing a successful water-efficient landscape. This step involves meeting with the client and discussing their landscape needs. This may include both the aesthetics and functional requirements for the landscape. This is a written exercise. Talk to the client and make a list of landscape goals and objectives. Determine activities, use areas, circulation elements, and related facilities that are desired in the final landscape. The available budget and desired water savings should be included in this discussion. The following are topics for consideration during a client interview:
? ACTIVITIES AND USE AREAS: What activities are planned for this landscape? Activity areas for a residential homeowner might include space for outdoor dining and barbecuing, children's play, vegetables and herbs, specialty gardens, a fruit/ nut tree grove, pets, storage, and composting. ? CIRCULATION: How will the flow of traffic through this landscape be controlled? Circulation elements define the flow of traffic through a landscape. They should be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Evaluate existing conditions and future needs for automobile access and parking, front entry walk design, and all secondary or tertiary paths. ? HARDSCAPE: Evaluate existing conditions and future needs for hardscape elements such as patios, decks, courtyards, and shade structures. How do hardscapes in this landscape connect with planted areas? ? IRRIGATION: Does the client want an automatic irrigation system? If so, how much of the budget can be allotted to this? Is the client interested in water harvesting: roof collection systems, rain barrels, or underground water-collecting cisterns? These systems allow a homeowner to collect precipitation water and either divert it to a planted area or store it for later use on the landscape. They conserve water by preventing evaporation or runoff from the site. (Check with your local county planning office to ask about zoning ordinances for water rights issues.) ? PLANT SELECTION: Does the client have favorite plants, favorite colors, plant allergies? Does the client desire a lawn? Determine planned use for a lawn and how big it needs to be. Limit turfgrass to areas where it provides a functional benefit. ? SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: Does the client have unique needs that need to be considered? Talk to the client about various topics such as desired maintenance levels, landscape lighting, ADA compliance, and ages of family members.
There are many other subjects that can be discussed with the client (see the Client Questionnaire Checklist at the end of this chapter). When the designer understands the client's needs, the resulting water-efficient landscape will be more successful.
Landscape Styles
A water-efficient landscape can be any style. It can be formal or informal, historic or modern, native or non-native; it can even have a theme if desired, such as a children's garden, a fragrance garden, or a pollinator garden. In general, landscape style should be influenced by the region and climate of the site, the architecture of the buildings, and of course, the client's preference. A combination of landscape styles may also be used if one style does not suit the site or client.
Formal and Informal Landscapes
A formal water-efficient landscape may have the appearance of a formal conventional landscape, which suggests a control of nature through its orderly, symmetrically balanced grouping of elements. Plants are often used to reflect the geometry of building architecture or the lines of streets and walkways. Planting areas and circulation elements are often straight and rigid. Plants are generally chosen for their formal, stiff, or manicured appearance. For example, formal landscapes may have edged lawns and neatly hedged shrubs. Keep in mind that formal landscapes often require a higher maintenance level than do informal landscapes. Clients should be advised about this; if they are unwilling or unable to perform these more demanding maintenance tasks, they should consider whether hiring labor for landscape maintenance is within their budget.
On the other hand, an informal water-efficient landscape is less geometric and uses asymmetrical balance. Planting areas and circulation elements tend to be free-flowing, incorporating curvilinear or irregular shapes and lines. Plants in an informal landscape may be maintained to accentuate their natural form.
Naturalistic Water-Efficient Landscapes
A naturalistic water-efficient landscape is designed using a very different approach from that of a formal or informal design. While form, color, and texture are still important for plant selection, the plants in a naturalistic design are generally native plants, and are grouped according to their natural associations or plant communities. Creating a sense of place and a sustainable landscape are of primary importance. A water-efficient naturalistic design for the Intermountain West could mimic natural plant communities in the region such as foothills, mountains, prairies, valleys, or deserts.
Maintenance for a naturalistic landscape is very different than it is for a formal or informal water-efficient landscape. Perfectly manicured lawns and sheared hedges are not found in the natural landscape, and are therefore not encouraged in a naturalistic design...
