Landscape Design: A Practical Approach

The motivating factor during the initial writing of this book resulted from my frustration while attempting to identify a suitable text for a landscape design class I instructed for the Department of Horticulture at Kansas State University. None of the books I evaluated gave information on all of the subjects I felt the students needed. Landscape Design: A Practical Approach was, and remains, principally a text for horticultural students and a reference book for those practicing landscape design for a vocation. I have also been pleased to receive much positive response from landscape architects, both those who teach and those who practice. Because of the positive responses, and virtually no negative feedback, I have not made changes simply for the sake of change.

It is my hope that the material presented here will make students curious enough to pursue reading those books that are listed in the appendices. The goal of this book is to provide a good, basic understanding of the landscape design process, including design analysis, study of land forms and planning of land form manipulation, area creation and circulation, environmental adjustments, the aesthetics of good design, appropriate materials selection, and the proper use of enriching materials in the landscape. In addition, materials are presented that are of great importance to would-be designers/salespeople in the areas of specification reading and writing, bidding and estimating, and sales.

Contemporary landscape-oriented businesses commonly combine the design and sales functions under one umbrella heading of "salesman." I have altered that title to read "salesperson" in this book out of a desire for fair play, since I found my classes to be fairly equally divided between young men and women from the standpoints of both numbers and abilities. These young people are excited about careers in landscape design and sales, as well they should be. It is a wonderfully creative and ever-changing field, full of challenges and rewards. The products of a landscape salesperson's efforts are good-for people, both physically and psychologically, and financial rewards are plentiful for those who are well-trained and diligent.

This book should also serve as a good guidebook for those already in the design/sales field, as it offers tables of useful information for estimating and plant selection and a good review of principles. It is my hope that at least portions of the book will also serve the landscape architectural student and the practicing landscape architect, if only by offering some different perspectives on familiar subject materials. Some original materials concerning the landscaping of business and rental properties should prove interesting for all readers, while providing many landscape selling points.

Because this book is oriented toward presenting the maximum coverage of the landscape design process in a short amount of space, it may appear, in places, to take a formulaic approach. That is not my intention; however, because horticulture students have such a brief exposure to the subject, an approach of this type is often necessary to ensure that factors will be considered without fail. As experiences are broadened, much of the design sequence becomes committed to the designer's memory, so simultaneous and in-depth design considerations come more naturally.

I would like to acknowledge the help and support of a number of individuals and companies during the writing of this text. Dr. Gustaaf A. van der Hoeven, Extension Specialist in Landscape and Environmental Horticulture at Kansas State University, gave generously of his time and expertise to review the manuscript and make valuable suggestions. I would also like to thank the other reviewers, Kathryn Johnson, Gateway Technical College; Shawn Banks, Johnston Community College; and Michael Toscano, San Joaquin Delta College.

My appreciation also goes to Mr. William K. Doerler, the National Landscape Association, and American Nurseryman magazine for allowing me to reprint the excerpt that appears on page 2 in this text, and to the National Association of Homebuilders for their permission to reprint an excerpt from Cost Effective Site Planning. The Westinghouse Electric Corporation supplied several of the night-lighting photographs.

New Image Industries, Inc., generously supplied information and photographs, as did LaSICO, and Eagle Point, Inc. Design Specialties, Inc., supplied some of their rubber plant stamps as well as illustrations of others.

Finally, I must recognize the support and encouragement of my wife, Linda, and my children, Ty, Tanya, Tara, and Todd.

Leroy G. Hannebaum