Lesson Structure: Planning Layout & Construction Of Ornamental Gardens BHT242

There are 10 lessons:

1  Site Appraisal, Interpretation and Risk Assessment

• Introduction: Prior Site Use, Tree Data Required, Influence of Trees on Buildings, Influence of Trees on Atmosphere, Species Suitability, Planning Considerations, Tree Root Protection, Consider Roots and Construction, Building/Construction Data to Collect
• Child-Proofing a Garden: Designing a Safe Garden Environment for Children
• Slippery Slime Control: Solutions for Slippery Surfaces, Temporary Solutions
• Risk Assessment of a Landscape Construction Site: The Area(s) and People That May Be At Risk, The Risks, The Consequences of an Event Happening, The Adequacy of Existing Controls, A Rating of the Consequence, Likelihood and Level of Risk
• Keeping a Work Site Safe

2  Preparing Site Plans and Specifications

• Base Plan: Scale, Topographic Plan
• Design Drawing: Drafting Brushes, How Much Detail in a Plan?
• Completed Designs/Plans: Examples

3  Influence of Site Characteristics

• Introduction: Examples, High Impact Changes
• The Environment of Balconies and Verandahs
• User-Friendly Gardens: Seating, Shelters
• Providing Shade: The Sun’s Path and Its Affect on Shade, Determining Shadow Length, How to Make the Backyard Warmer
• Paths
• Garden Features: Entries, Exits and Gateways, Fragrant Trees and Shrubs, Potager and Picking Gardens, Gardens with a Sense of Mystery
• Focal Point Ideas
• Gardens for Children
• Dry Gardens: Dry Garden Design, Where Do We Have Dry Garden Areas? Desert Landscapes, Xeriscapes, Cacti and/or Succulents, Australian Bush Garden, Minimalist Landscapes
• Extending the Garden Potential: Bringing the Garden Inside

4  The Use of Hard Landscape Features

• Hard Surfacing: Laying Pavers, Concrete
• Concrete Mixes
• How Long Does Concrete Take to Set?
• Pebble Gardens
• Fencing: The choices, Inexpensive Fences, Tips for Building a Timber Fence, Deciding on the Style of Fence
• Stone Walls
• Rockeries: Rockery Ideas, Artificial Rocks
• Planning for Children’s Play: Features, Protecting the Garden from Children, Designing the Garden for Children, Plants to Avoid, Play Equipment for Different Ages, Recommended Play Surfaces, Sand pits, Cubbies/playhouses, Surfaces for Play Equipment

5  Setting out a Site to Scale Plans and Drawings

• Introduction: Rules of Planning
• Surveying Techniques: Triangulation, Slope, Direct Contouring, The Grid System
• Levelling Terms: Levelling Procedure

6  Soil Handling and Storage

• Introduction
• Type of Earth
• Ease With Which It Is Handled
• Slope Stability
• Angle of Repose
• Optimum Gradient
• Soil Types and Foundations: Watch the Water Table, Try to Maintain Vegetation Cover Where Possible
• Developing a Grading Plan
• Required Grading Drawings, Grading Operations
• Filling
• Doing the Earthworks
• Earth Moving Machinery
• Use of Experienced Operators
• Cost of Earthworks

7  Land Drainage Systems

• Drainage: How Much Drainage is Needed? Typical Permeability Rates, Solving Drainage Problems
• Creating a Drain Pit
• Drainage Design: Draining Lawns (Including Sports Grounds), Springs and Under-ground Water Courses, What a Landscaper Should Know about Drainage
• Sun Surface Drainage: Layout of Drains, Outlet, Gradients, Distance between Drain Pipes, Depth of Drains
• Types of Drains: Laying the Drain
• Rain Water Harvesting and Storage
• Bore Water
• Grey Water
• Diverting Storm Water: Water Quality

8  Ground Preparation Techniques

• Working Soil: Why is Some Soil Hard?
• Choosing Cultivation Equipment: Manual Equipment, Mechanical Equipment
• Making Garden Beds – The Variables: Raised Beds, Sunken Gardens, No Dig Garden Beds – One Method
• Earthmoving: Moving Existing Earth, Importing Soil, Buying Soils
• Shaping Sloping Ground

9  Construction of Paths and Patios

• Paths: Build a Solid Foundation, Soft and Hard Paths, Load Bearing Capacity
• Paving: The Effect of Paving Designs, Paving a Slope
• Paving Maintenance: Reviving Old Paving, Slippery Surfaces, Cleaning Paving
• The Veranda: Roofing, Container Plants on the Veranda
• Building a Timber Deck: Foundations, Support
• Decking Materials: Handrails/Balustrades, Steps
• Decking Around Pools
• Paints, Stains and Preservatives: Painting and Staining the Deck, Preservatives, Clear Finishes, Paints and Stains, Tips, Preparation, Application Tips, Safety
• Heavy Work (Safety Techniques): Manual Lifting, How to Lift, Other Ways to Lift, Using Machines to do the Heavy Work

10 Construction of Steps, Ramps, Dwarf Walls and Fences

• Changing Levels – Step By Step: Types of Steps, Part of a Step, Designing the Steps, Materials
• Ramps
• Railings
• Retaining Walls: Construction Materials
• Types of Retaining Walls: Brick, How to Build a Brick Wall, Drainage, Timber, Concrete, Stone, Clay, Recycled Rubber
• How to Render a Wall: Render Mixes, Wet Walls
• Fencing: Solid Fence, Open Fence
• Fencing Materials: Timber, Lattice, Stone, Brick, Wire, Steel or Aluminium Sheets, Star Pickets and Wire Mesh/Strand, Cast-Iron Lattice, Clear Perspex

Learning Goals: Planning Layout & Construction Of Ornamental Gardens BHT242

• Explain how to conduct a site appraisal and interpret the results. Conduct risk assessments associated with planning layout and construction of ornamental gardens
• Produce and interpret site plans and specifications using basic survey measurements.
• Explain how site characteristics may influence choice of garden design style
• Evaluate and explain the contribution made by hard landscape features to design and function
• Describe the practical procedures for setting out a site to scale plans and drawings
• Describe and explain the reasons for correct soil moving and storage during construction works
• Explain the factors which determine the design and specification of land drainage systems and describe procedures for setting out and installing land drainage
• Explain requirements for a range of ground preparation techniques for different landscape features
• Specify a range of materials and outline procedures for construction of paths and patios
• Specify a range of materials and outline procedures for construction of Steps, Ramps, Dwarf Walls and Fences

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