Sustainable ❂ 15

Landscape Design

L
andscape designs differ depending on how the
landscape will be used. Although the principles are
the same, a homeowner who wants an aesthetically
pleasing, low-maintenance landscape would create a design
❂ Topics in this chapter
very different than that of an avid gardener whose main ❂❂ Planning
purpose in life is to spend time in the garden. ❂❂ Parts of a landscape
This chapter is not meant to define the art of landscape
❂❂ Elements and principles of
design, but rather to help you take a realistic approach to
design
landscape planning. Your end design should meet your
needs and incorporate principles of sustainability into an ❂❂ Plant selection
evolving landscape. ❂❂ Drawing a landscape plan
Before beginning, consider what type of landscape fits ❂❂ Renovating an established
your life style, the surrounding environment and the style landscape
of your home. Landscapes can be formal, informal, natu- ❂❂ Sustainable Sites Initiative
ralistic, low-maintenance, water-wise or designed to attract ❂❂ Evaluating landscape sustain-
wildlife. Urban gardeners with small spaces may decide to ability
incorporate containers for flowers, vegetables and herbs. ❂❂ Landscape design planning
Sun and shade, as well as other growing factors such as questionnaire
rainfall, temperature and season length, will dictate which
plants can be utilized. Avid gardeners are often plant collec-
tors who consider where to put new plants as their garden
develops.
Merely planting trees and shrubs is not landscaping.
Designing a landscape gives you an opportunity to create
habitats for people, plants and wildlife.
As you try to preserve clean air, clean water and landfill
space, your challenge is to create a landscape that is both By Jan Powell McNeilan, Extension Agent,
aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sound. A sus- Portland Metro Counties; and Ann Marie
tainable landscape can thrive with minimal inputs of labor, VanDerZanden, Extension Master Gardener State
water, fertilizer and pesticides. Creating a sustainable land- Coordinator, Oregon State University.
scape means working toward a thoughtful balance between Adapted by Julie Riley, Extension Faculty,
resources used and results gained. By factoring in environ- Agriculture and Horticulture, Cooperative
mental considerations, you can create a pleasant place that Extension Service, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
 276 • Sustainable Landscape Design—Chapter 15

is part of an environmental solution rather duced plants must be well suited to existing
than an environmental problem. light, moisture and soil conditions.
Your site analysis also will help you make
the best use of available space in the most
Planning attractive way possible, while at the same
The smaller your house, grounds or time considering the environmental impact
budget, the greater the need for correct of your landscape plan. Make the most of
and complete planning. Every square foot the site’s natural features and advantages.
of space and every dollar must produce Be sure to include structures such as fences,
maximum results. Plan for the best use of walls, patios or decks to enhance the human
the site, the least environmental impact and environment and make the landscape more
minimum upkeep. enjoyable.
A master plan is essential to ensure that Finally, the site analysis will help you
all work done on the property will blend select plants that best fit your landscape’s
into the desired final outcome. Keep in design and purpose.
mind that landscape development can be a
long-term process within the framework of Factors influencing landscape design
your plan. There is no need to develop your Property characteristics
entire lot at once. Completing the landscape In laying out a design, preserve all of
over a 5-year period is a feasible approach. your site’s best natural features, such as
This time frame allows you to evaluate mature trees, streams, ponds, rock outcrop-
plants as they grow and mature and gener- pings, good soil, turf and interesting varia-
ally is more manageable financially than tions in terrain. These natural elements
doing everything at once. affect the ease of construction and enhance
Earthwork, such as grading, may be landscape possibilities.
See Chapter 11,
Woody Landscape
necessary for a new home site. If you must Carefully survey the area to determine
Plants. have grading work done, consider ways to whether site conditions are a problem or can
save topsoil and protect existing trees and be incorporated into your design. Examples
vegetation from construction damage and of problems are thin, overcrowded trees or
soil compaction. unstable slopes that may interfere with land-
scape construction. You also may have to
Site analysis contend with microclimates such as windy
For a new landscape, a thorough site anal- areas, low places with cold air pockets, or
ysis can help you develop a plan to enhance areas with poor soil and inadequate water
and maintain your property’s sustainability. drainage.
It’s also a useful first step in renovating and Changes in elevation can add interest and
changing an existing landscape. See the variety to home landscapes. The character
“Landscape Design Planning Questionnaire” of the land — its hills, slopes and trees
at the end of this chapter for ideas. — should determine the basic landscape
A site analysis will tell you what you pattern. A hilly, wooded lot lends itself to an
have to work with. A thorough understand- informal or natural design, with large areas
ing of your site is important, because in left in their natural state. In such a setting,
a sustainable landscape, native and intro- large trees can be retained. Protect native
plantings whenever possible.
 Chapter 15—Sustainable Landscape Design • 277

Although natural slope variations are an covered with snow, ice or rain droplets.
asset, avoid creating too many artificially. Sun and shade patterns change depend-
Avoid excessive use of terraces or retaining ing on the time of day and season (Figure
walls. If these features are necessary to fa- 1). The sun is higher and shadows are
cilitate construction or control water drain- shorter in summer than in winter. North-
age, design them to blend into the natural ern exposures receive the least light and
terrain. therefore are coolest. But in Alaska, even
the north side of the house receives some
Neighborhood sights and sounds direct sunlight during the summer. East and
Keep good views open and screen out west exposures receive more light; western
those that are undesirable. Often, a well- exposures are warmer than eastern ones be-
placed shrub or two provides necessary cause they receive afternoon light. Southern
screening. Reducing sound from a busy exposures receive the most light and tend to
road may require creating a large berm or be warmest.
dense plantings to separate traffic noise The main rooms of a house should ben-
from your living space. efit from winter sun and summer breezes.
Climate You can control the amount of sunlight and
Climate includes sunlight, all forms of shade by the location of buildings, fences
precipitation, wind and temperature. In the and plants. You also can take advantage
case of a new home, these factors affect of shade created by structures or plants on
how the house is placed on the lot, how the your neighbors’ property.
land is used and what is planted. Don’t fight Trees have an especially strong effect
the climate; capitalize on its advantages. on sunlight. When locating trees in your
When positioning a deck, think of wind landscape design, consider keeping a sunny
patterns, where the sun will be when you’re area for a vegetable garden, and think about
most likely to use the deck and whether how much light you’d like coming into the
you’d like a tree to provide shade on warm house. Deciduous trees (those that shed
days. Plant so that the winter scene is en- their leaves) shade the house in summer and
joyed from the inside. For example, ever- admit sun in winter.
greens and hedges are picturesque when

House House House

Morning Noon Afternoon

Figure 1.—Daily light pattern. Speckled areas indicate shade. In many locations in Alaska, even the north
side of the house receives some direct light during the summer.
278 • Sustainable Landscape Design—Chapter 15

• Design raised flower beds for easy ac-

cess and to help control weeds.
• Use native plant materials.
• Install an underground irrigation sys-
tem if your area receives little summer
rainfall.
• Use small flower beds. Use flowering
Figure 2.—Tree planted at a 45° angle from the corner of a house.
trees and shrubs for additional color.
• Be selective when choosing plant ma-
terials. Compact varieties require less
Plant trees at a 45° angle away from pruning; insect- and disease-resistant
the corners of the house (Figure 2); when varieties require less spraying; and
mature they will accent the building. Trees drought-tolerant plants require less
should not block views from windows. water.
Remember that having too many trees shuts • Keep the design simple.
out sunlight and reduces air circulation. Notice that low-maintenance practices
When renovating an old landscape, consider often are sustainable landscape practices.
how light will change when plants or trees Family activities, growth and change
are removed. How your landscape will be used should
Maintenance requirements be a determining factor in its design. Ana-
During the early design phase, decide lyze your family activities and design a
how much time and energy you want to landscape that will mature with the family.
spend on maintenance. Some people enjoy Don’t plan a static landscape; it will no lon-
puttering about the yard and may desire a ger work as your family’s needs change.
high-maintenance design. Others, however,
want a landscape that requires minimal Parts of a landscape
maintenance. Generally, the simpler the
A landscape is made up of several parts.
landscape, the less there is to maintain.
A few of these — private use areas, chil-
A low-maintenance landscape is the goal
dren’s play areas, front yards, public areas
of most homeowners. The following strat-
and service and work areas — are discussed
egies will help you reduce maintenance
in this section.
requirements:
• Limit the size of the lawn.
Private use area
• Use groundcovers, shredded bark, bark
chips and other mulches for weed con- The private use area of a landscape is an
trol. important part of the American home. Few
• Use paving or gravel in heavily traveled yards are too small not to have a private
areas. Provide mowing strips of brick sitting area where family and guests can
or concrete for flower beds and shrub gather. Where possible, there should be easy
borders. access from the house to the outdoor area
• Use fences, walls or informal plantings (Figure 3).
(instead of clipped formal hedges) for When designing private areas, consider
screening. home security. Motion sensor lights can
 Chapter 15—Sustainable Landscape Design • 279

protect these areas at night, and

pruning shrubs for openness and

Service area
Service area

Service area
visibility can prevent them from
being used for concealment during Private area Private area Private area
the day. Choose defensive plants
that are thorny or difficult to
walk through for vulnerable entry
points to your property or home. House House House
Consider the following guide-
lines when planning outdoor
private living areas. Public area Public area Public area
Privacy
Enclose the area from pub-
Figure 3.—Use areas in a landscape.
lic view and nearby neighbors.
Properly grouped shrubs and trees can add the relaxing sound of running water
work well. For a small area, use a trellis, during summer and has the added benefit of
containers with vines or a fence. Screen the attracting wildlife.
area from work areas such as clotheslines,
woodpiles and garden sheds. Deck or patio
The center of activity in the yard is often
Year-round interest is a space with garden or patio furniture
Plants in the private use area should be and sometimes a grill or outdoor cooking
varied and provide interest throughout the area. It may be a porch, deck or patio next
year, especially if the area is visible from to the house. It may be decked, paved or in
the house. For winter interest, select shrubs turf. Flagstone, brick, concrete blocks and
and trees with colorful bark, evergreen foli- concrete with redwood dividers are com-
age or colorful fruit. The rest of the year, mon surfaces.
use annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees The size of this area depends on its
to create interest. Take a seasonal inven- expected use and the type and amount of
tory of your proposed plant list to make furniture desired. A area that is 10 feet by
sure it includes year-round interest. Pools, 10 feet holds four chairs and is about the
stone steps, paving, walls, bird feeders and minimum size for comfortably accommo-
baths, and other architectural features do dating four people. Increase the size if you
not change with the seasons, and they give want space for more chairs or a picnic table.
interest and meaning throughout the year.
Climate control Children’s play area
Evergreen trees provide year-round Consider your children’s ages and activi-
screening and shade, while deciduous trees ties to determine the size and surface of the
screen the area from hot summer sun but play area. For very young children, a small
allow maximum winter sun for solar heat. area enclosed by a fence near the kitchen or
Windbreaks reduce wind. An awning or living area is desirable. As children grow
trellis-type roof can protect against inclem- up, you’ll need to adjust the design to meet
ent weather. If space allows, a water feature changing recreational needs.
280 • Sustainable Landscape Design—Chapter 15

Front yard Service and work areas

The area in front of homes traditionally An area screened from major views is
has been left more or less open so passersby needed for service and work areas. Examples
can view the home. On small lots, it has include space for garbage cans and access
become increasingly popular to screen the to utility meters, tool storage, wood storage,
front yard with fencing, shrubs or vertical compost piles, propagating structures, small
plantings. Privacy may be desirable when greenhouses, kennels or clotheslines.
a picture window faces the street or when
the front yard is used for outdoor sitting.
Where space is limited, a tall, attractive Elements and principles of
fence can provide privacy and a background design
for shrubs and smaller plants. Make sure to There are no hard and fast rules for land-
check subdivision covenants and city or- scape design, because each landscape is a
dinances before erecting fences, sheds and unique creation. However, certain design
home greenhouses. principles will help you create an aestheti-
Again, consider home security when cally pleasing and useful landscape. These
designing your landscape. It may be appro- principles are:
priate to use fencing that provides a sense • Simplicity
of privacy but can be seen through. Re- • Rhythm and line
member, a solid fence will cast shade. Plant • Balance
materials that can be pruned for visibility • Proportion
are another option. • Focal point
Public area Simplicity
This is the area the public sees from the Simplicity is achieved when different
street. The landscape in this area should cre- parts of the design are grouped or arranged
ate a sense of spaciousness. If you want the to appear as a single unit. For example, you
front yard to be part of the public area, keep can group plants of similar colors or tex-
the lawn open and place shrubs to the sides tures, or mass three or more plants of the
of the house and in foundation plantings. same species together.
When selecting shrubs to frame the front
door, consider their texture, color, size and Rhythm and line
shape so they enhance the total effect but
Continuity within the landscape and
do not block doors or windows. Placing tall
integration of different elements into the
trees in the backyard and medium-size ones
design affect rhythm and line. Effective use
on the sides and in front is effective. Con-
of repetition can direct the eye or a person
sider the mature size of trees before mak-
through the landscape and create a sense of
ing your selection. Large trees can easily
unity among different landscape spaces.
overpower a small house. The house should
be the focal point of the view. Balance
The two common types of balance in
landscapes are symmetrical and asymmetri-
 Chapter 15—Sustainable Landscape Design • 281

cal. Symmetrical balance is most com-

mon in formal landscapes. It has an axis, Plant selection
and everything on one side is duplicated This section discusses some of the fac-
or mirrored on the other side (Figure 4a). tors involved in choosing the right plants
for your landscape. For specifics on plant See Chapter 10,
Asymmetrical balance uses different objects Annual and
on each side of the axis, but the end result selection and care, see Chapter 10, An- Perennial Flowers,
still is a similar visual mass on either side nual and Perennial Flowers; Chapter 11, Chapter 11,
Woody Landscape
(Figure 4b). Woody Landscape Plants; and Chapter 14, Plants,
Lawns. Well-chosen plantings are necessary and Chapter 14,
Proportion to achieve your desired landscape effect. Lawns.

This principle refers to the relationship Thousands of varieties of trees, shrubs,

between different elements within the land- vines and perennials are available, but
scape. The relationships to consider are: remember: plants are not merely ornamental
• Plants to buildings accessories. Their masses define space in
• Plants to other plants the yard and, consequently, the silhouettes
• Plants to people that produce garden design. Therefore,
when selecting plants, consider both their
To achieve correct proportion, always
cultural needs and aesthetic value.
create designs based on the mature height of
The best advice in plant selection is to
plants. If your house has a tall set of steps
find the right plant for the right place. The
leading up to the front door, place appro-
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
priately-sized plants along the stairway to
plant hardiness zones are a starting point
make the house feel “grounded.”
since they are based on winter temperatures.
In determining where a plant will survive,
Focal point
however, you need to consider other factors
Focal points give the eye a place to rest as well, including frost occurrence, seasonal
when viewing the landscape as a whole. A rainfall distribution, soil characteristics,
focal point may be a plant specimen, garden water availability and duration and inten-
accessory or water feature. The front door sity of light. Every plant tolerates a range
often is the focal point of the public use of conditions for each of these factors. The
area; if so, design the landscape to enhance combined effects of all of them determine
it. Visitors should be able to tell how to ap- true plant adaptability.
proach the front entrance.

(a) Symmetrical balance (b) Asymmetrical balance

Figure 4.—Symmetrical balance (a) and asymmetrical balance (b).

282 • Sustainable Landscape Design—Chapter 15

Before selecting plants, consider your site ple, you can control soil fertility and water
and determine what, if any, environmental availability to some extent. Windbreaks can
conditions exist that might cause problems. provide protection from cold winter winds.
Carefully completing a site analysis will Raised beds allow soil to warm earlier in
help. What elements will plants be exposed the spring.
to (full sun, shade, wind, reflected heat)? Factors such as temperature are largely
What are soil conditions (pH, depth, drain- beyond your control but do have predict-
age)? Based on this evaluation, choose able yearly averages. Frost dates, length
plants that are adapted to your specific of growing season and minimum winter
growing environment. temperatures are among the least readily
Some plants, such as rhododendrons and controlled of the major factors that govern
azaleas, prefer acid soils (low pH). Most plant adaptability.
other woody plants grow well across a wide
range of soil pH, from acid to alkaline. If Frost
your soil is alkaline (high pH), you many Average first and last frost dates for your
need to amend it to lower the pH, depend- area may be found on the Internet. The
ing on what plants you want to grow. Alaska Agricultural Statistics Service keeps
weather data for the major crop growing
Insect and disease resistance regions of the state. These dates give an
indication of when to expect the first frost
When selecting plants, look for variet-
of fall as well as the last frost of winter or
ies that are insect and disease resistant in
spring.
order to eliminate unnecessary applications
However, air temperature and movement
of insecticides and fungicides. Your local
are important factors in frost occurrence
Cooperative Extension Service can provide
and may create microclimates within your
you with information.
garden. Because warm air rises and cold air
sinks, cool air tends to accumulate in low
Understanding plant survival
spots and in areas with minimal air move-
Plant hardiness zones ment, thereby creating frost pockets. Spe-
A plant species that flourishes in a USDA cies that are marginally hardy in a given
plant hardiness zone is likely to be adapt- zone should not be planted in frost pockets.
able to zones that are warmer. Some gar-
deners question a zone rating when a plant Rainfall
fails to survive its first winter. A single test, Total average rainfall has a significant ef-
however, rarely is reliable. A small, young fect on plant growth and development, and
plant may be tender, but may become quite the distribution of that rainfall is equally
hardy as it grows older. Other conditions important. Some areas receive substantial
also may affect the degree of hardiness. No rainfall. Where summers are dry, plants may
single winter is quite average; each differs need supplemental water in order to sur-
in suddenness and severity of freezing, mid- vive. In Southcentral Alaska, May and June
winter thaw cycles and wind. can be extremely dry and trees and shrubs
There are many ways to develop micro- benefit from deep watering during this
climates to allow a tender plant to grow in time. Even Southeast Alaska, which usually
an otherwise inhospitable zone. For exam- receives more than adequate precipitation,
 Chapter 15—Sustainable Landscape Design • 283

can go through lengthy dry periods which Aesthetic considerations

can damage susceptible plants.
Texture, seasonal foliage color, flow-
Soil and moisture conditions ers, fruit and bark can provide touches of
Good soil and proper moisture beauty. You even can select plants to relate
conditions are crucial to plants’ to the exterior house colors.
survival. Nursery-grown plants See Chapter 3, Try to have some color in the yard year-
are not inexpensive, so provide Soils and round. Flowering trees provide pastels
the best growing conditions Fertilizers.
in spring; beds of perennials and annuals
possible for each species. Group furnish vivid hues in summer; trees and
plants of like growing requirements togeth- shrubs whose leaves turn yellow, orange
er to conserve water. and crimson brighten gray autumn days; the
Soil characteristics are a major factor bark and fruit of some species is attractive
in determining which plants will thrive in in winter. Strongly contrasting textures also
your garden. The ideal garden soil is loam. can create interesting year-round effects.
It is a light, crumbly mixture with approxi- Select plants with more than one feature
mately equal amounts of sand, silt and clay during the seasons. For example, choose a
particles. Good garden soil includes at least tree with blossoms in spring and beautiful
4 percent organic matter. Organic matter summer or fall color. Amur chokecherry
is important because it holds water, nutri- (Prunus mackeii) is often selected for win-
ents and air, and is loose enough for roots ter interest because of its golden, exfoliating
to penetrate. Garden soils can be altered; bark.
however, it is important to complete a soil
test first to determine what improvements Plant size
your soil needs. Consider the mature size of plants you
select for your landscape. A common mis-
Degree of sun or shade take is to select plants that soon become too
The angle of the sun in relation to the large for their location. The drastic pruning
earth varies from summer to winter. The that then becomes necessary adds to the
sun’s angle not only affects day length but cost of maintenance and may reduce the
also the shadows in a garden. These shad- grace and beauty of the specimen. Over-
ows determine the amount of sun plants re- grown plants that are left unpruned alter the
ceive and thus may have a significant effect balance and accent of a design. In addition,
on their growth. they may partially hide, or even damage,
Slopes that face south or southwest get the house instead of complementing it.
more heat during the day than those that
face north or northeast. Southern exposure Plant form
slopes dry out more quickly and often re- Some common forms of shrubs and trees
quire supplemental water. Taking advantage are shown in Figure 5.
of different exposures in the landscape may Shrubs are woody plants that grow to a See Chapter 11,
extend your growing season or even deter- height of 3 to 12 feet. They may have one Woody Landscape
Plants.
mine whether you can successfully grow or several stems with foliage extending
certain crops such as fruit trees or warm nearly to the ground. Common forms are:
season vegetables.
284 • Sustainable Landscape Design—Chapter 15

Irregular Prostrate Mound or spreading Oval Pendulous

Pyramidal Round Columnar Rounded Vase

Figure 5.—Plant forms.

• Low, spreading (e.g., juniper species) ing new residential subdivisions. Real estate
• Round or upright (e.g., forsythia) developers should appreciate the value of
• Vase (e.g., bridal wreath spirea) trees and attempt to save them when land is
• Pyramidal (e.g., upright junipers and graded before house construction. However,
dwarf spruce) trees that are old and diseased or improperly
• Columnar (e.g., arborvitae) located should be removed and replaced
Trees are woody plants that typically with more suitable specimens.
grow more than 12 feet tall. They usu- Groundcovers such as turf, low-spreading
ally have only one main stem or trunk, but shrubs and creeping plants are essential
multi-stemmed specimens of birch are often landscaping materials. Many designs no
planted. The canopy, or leafy portion of the longer include turf. Groundcovers are
tree, develops a typical form such as: grown on banks that are too rough or steep
• Round or oval (e.g., maple and pine) to mow and under trees where grass does
• Vase not grow satisfactorily; however, ground-
• Pendulous (e.g., weeping birch) cover choices for Alaska are limited.
• Pyramidal (e.g., spruce, fir and young
hemlock) Plant texture
• Columnar (e.g., columnar poplar culti- A plant’s texture depends on the size
vars) and arrangement of its foliage. Plants with
Mature shrubs and trees usually are more large, widely spaced leaves have coarse
open and spreading than young plants. texture. Plants with small, closely spaced
Trees are long-lived and relatively inexpen- leaves have fine texture. Texture can vary
sive in terms of initial cost and maintenance by season, depending on whether a plant
when compared to lawns, flower beds, is deciduous or evergreen. Some variation
hedges and many other landscape features. in texture is needed to make a landscape
In the past, many builders committed costly interesting.
errors by destroying trees when establish-
 Chapter 15—Sustainable Landscape Design • 285

• Children’s play area

Drawing a landscape plan • Front yard
If you want the fun and satisfaction of • Public area
preparing your own landscape plan, this sec- • Service and work area (e.g.,wood pile)
tion will help you draw a plan that embodies • Fruit and vegetable garden
the elements of good design. These steps • Flower beds
will enable you to develop a final plan that • Walks and driveways
can be implemented over several years as • Water feature
time and money permit. The “Landscape Choose those that are appropriate for
Design Planning Questionnaire” at the end your design and add others if needed. (Refer
of this chapter is a good place to start. It will to the “Landscape Design Planning Ques-
help you assess your site and your needs. tionnaire” for additional items to consider
including.)
Step 1: Prepare a map
Prepare a scale map of your property
(Figure 6). Use graph paper and let one Property line
square equal a certain number of feet. You
can also use an as-built drawing of your
property or draw it to scale using a ruler or
engineer’s scale. Neighbor’s
Neighbor’s View of woods undeveloped
The map should include: vegetable garden yard
• Property lines
• North arrow
• Scale used Existing
tree
• Contour of the land (Use an arrow to Low, needs fill
show direction of surface water flow.)
P
• Existing landscape features: house,
garage, other buildings, trees, walks and DR
driveways K
LR
• Septic tank, sewer lines and under- G Drainage
ground power lines S H
Neighbor’s
• Views (Point arrows in the direction of Neighbor’s
house
house Drainage
each good view.)
• Doors, windows, porches and rooms
Property line
• Undesirable features of your own or Sewer line
adjoining property N
• Easements and right-of-ways

Step 2: Identify use areas and place

them on the map Sidewalk
Existing Existing
The following use areas are common in Planting strip
tree tree
residential landscapes: Road
• Private use area (may include cooking
and eating area) Figure 6.—Property map.
286 • Sustainable Landscape Design—Chapter 15

Step 3: Develop the landscape plan

In this step, your landscape plan begins
to take shape. Select the most appropriate
Vegetables landscape from those you developed in Step
Living 2. Use landscape symbols to indicate trees
and shrubs (Figure 8). Draw the symbols to
scale so they represent the actual amount of
space involved (Figure 9). For example, a
Existing
tree mature white spruce has a spread of ap-
proximately 15 feet, so make the symbol
Children’s play
represent 15 feet.
P On your map, indicate driveways, walks,
DR plants and other structures. Indicate where
K
Private plant masses are needed to separate ar-
LR side yard
Laundry G eas, screen undesirable views and provide
S H shade, windbreaks and beauty. At this point,
do not attempt to name trees and shrubs.
Rather, think in terms of plant masses that
will serve a particular purpose and tie areas
together into a unified design. Keep in mind
the design elements discussed in this chap-
Driveway Public N ter.
To confirm that your proposed scheme is
practical, make sure you can answer the fol-
lowing questions satisfactorily:
Sidewalk • Is the driveway design pleasing, useful
Existing Existing
Planting strip
tree
and safe? Is the entrance easily acces-
tree
Road sible? Is there a turnaround? Guest
parking? Do you have adequate snow
Figure 7.—Placing use areas on a map. removal options?
• Are walkways convenient? Are guests
directed to the front door?
Place the use areas on the map (Figure • Will the landscape be attractive from
7). Fit them together considering traffic the living room? kitchen? porch? dining
flow and how the space will be used. How room? Will it be attractive all year?
will people move from one area to another • Is there a private outdoor area? Is it
or from the house to outside areas? Will screened from neighbors? from the ser-
outdoor areas be functional in relation to vice area? from other buildings?
the house? Will you make use of existing • Is the clothesline near the laundry?
features such as views or changes in the ter- • Is the gas meter, power meter or oil
rain? Try different combinations in relation tank easily accessible and, if necessary,
to rooms of the house, surrounding areas screened from public view?
and potential views.
 Chapter 15—Sustainable Landscape Design • 287

Shrubs
Flowers
Deciduous Evergreen Flowers
Combination border Vegetables
tree tree

Clipped hedge
Single shrub
Living area
Unclipped hedge

Fence and gate Existing

Sandbox tree

Group of three trees Stepping-stone walk

P
Figure 8.—Landscape symbols.
DR

K
LR
Laundry G
• Has home security been considered? S H
• Will the septic tank, sewer lines or
drainage fields interfere with planting
shade trees?
• Do all parts of the landscape fit together
into a unified plan? Lawn
N
• Do maintenance requirements match
your available maintenance resources?

Step 4: Create a final plan with

planting key Sidewalk
Existing Existing
There are many ways to select specific tree
Planting strip
tree
plants for your landscape design. For exam- Road
ple, you can begin by determining specifica- Figure 9.—Sample landscape plan.
tions for each tree or shrub mass. Examples
are shown in Table 1.
Next, select a plant or group of plants to
meet your specifications. Consult garden Table 1.—Example specifications for a tree or shrub mass.
books and nursery catalogs, or visit a local Purpose Shade, background, hedge, screen or
accent
nursery. Become familiar with plant materi- Height Low, medium or tall
als and discuss the plan with nursery grow- Form Spreading, upright, arching or globe
ers. Visit your neighbors gardens, notice Seasonal interest Fruit, flowers, foliage
what you do and don’t like for your own Type Needleleaf evergreen, broadleaf
evergreen or deciduous
garden. Try not to get too bogged down Cultural needs Shade, sunlight and moisture require-
in this process! Review the section below ments
on “Evaluating landscape sustainability” Maintenance Pruning and insect- or disease-control
before making final plant selections. requirements
288 • Sustainable Landscape Design—Chapter 15

Finally, on your map, designate specific

plantings and develop the planting key Renovating an established
(Figure 10). By following the guidelines landscape
in this chapter, you will create a pleasing Making major changes or just renovat-
landscape. Remember, however, that plans ing a mature landscape can be a challenge.
are made to be changed, and a landscape is If you move to a home with a mature
a work in progress. landscape, it’s a good idea to live with the
design for a full year before deciding which
shrubs and trees to keep and which ones to
remove or transplant. When making these
judgments, keep the previously described
design principles in mind.
Vegetables
The following questions may help you
decide how to renovate an overgrown, ma-
ture landscape:
• Has a site analysis been done?
• What is important in the landscape and
what is expendable?
• If the landscape has ample shade, could
more shade-loving plants be incorpo-
P
rated?
DR
• Does the landscape have seasonal color
K LR and interest?
Laundry G • Have trees and shrubs become so over-
S H
grown they block light from desirable
plants that need sun?
• Are your houseplants getting as much
light as they used to? Are mature out-
door trees or shrubs blocking their light?
• Do shrubs crowd each other? Do they
block views from windows? Should
they be pruned or removed? Do the spe-
cies involved respond well to renewal
Sidewalk pruning?
Planting strip • Have use areas changed? Could old play
Road areas be incorporated into the landscape
differently?
Planting key
1. American cranberry 7. Ostrich fern 14. Eastern ninebark • Could raised beds be incorporated to
bush viburnum 8. Subalpine fir 15. Currants, black make gardening easier?
2. Potentilla 9. Ussurian pear 16. Alaska wild iris
3. Dwarf mugo pine 10. Siberian larch 17. Weeping birch • Has a security check been made? Are
4. Gooseberry 11. Canadian lilac 18. Red-leaf rose mature plants concealing doors and
5. Spirea ‘Gold Flame’ 12. Currants, red 19. Mountain ash
6. Cotoneaster 13. Dwarf dogwood windows? Have plants been thinned to
create visibility?
Figure 10.—Landscape plan with planting key.
 Chapter 15—Sustainable Landscape Design • 289

• Is there enough time and help to accom- The initiative’s rating system gives cred-
plish a major renovation? its for the sustainable use of water, conser-
• How long will the renovation take? vation of soils, wise choice of plant materi-
What should be done first? als and designs that support human health
and well-being. The Case for Sustainable
Landscapes, a companion document to
The Sustainable Sites Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks
Initiative 2009, explains in further detail the sci-
The Sustainable Sites Initiative, an in- ence behind the performance criteria in the
terdisciplinary partnership of the American guidelines and includes some of the case
Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady studies the initiative used in developing its
Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the criteria. Citings for both documents can be
United States Botanic Garden, has spent found in the references below.
several years developing guidelines for sus-
tainable land practices that embrace the def- Evaluating landscape
inition of sustainability as first put forward
by the United Nations World Commission sustainability
on Environment and Development in 1987 In order to create a truly sustainable
(now known as the Brundtland Report). garden, you may need to change your ex-
These guidelines are called the Sustainable pectation of what a landscape ought to look
Sites Initiative: Guidelines and Performance like. Perfect lawns, plants and fruits are See Chapter 7,
Your Yard and
Benchmarks 2009. all desirable. However, by adjusting your Water Quality.
Sustainable development, as defined by expectations slightly, you can reduce the
the United Nations World Commission labor and chemical inputs needed in your
report, “is development that meets the needs landscape. The following checklist gives
of the present without compromising the guidelines for determining how sustainable
ability of future generations to meet their your landscape is:
own needs.” This idea of sustainability • What are the environmental benefits of
has been embraced by a growing number the landscape?
of citizens throughout our country and the • Were plants selected properly to reduce
world. pruning, spraying and fertilizing?Are
The motivation for the Sustainable Sites plants placed in ideal growing condi-
Initiative was the existing national stan- tions (e.g., correct light and drainage)?
dards for “green” building design. These • Were plants properly sited so that, when
standards are defined by the LEED® Green mature, they complement rather than
Building Rating System™ of the U.S. stress each other?
Green Building Council. (LEED stands for • Have drainage problems been cor-
Leadership in Energy and Environmental rected?
Design.) The goal of the Sustainable Sites • Was the landscape planned to help pre-
Initiative was to create standards and a vent erosion?
rating system that could be applied to the • Has water runoff been handled prop-
landscape. erly?
290 • Sustainable Landscape Design—Chapter 15

• Has the landscape been developed to

reduce the need for high-nitrogen fertil- For more information
izers?
• Does plant selection take into consider- UAF Cooperative Extension
ation the effect of sunlight on summer publications
cooling and winter heat? Landscape Plants for Alaska, HGA-00035.
• Has the landscape created a better envi- Managing Your Trees and Shrubs in Alaska:
ronment for people? Determining Your Goals and Assessing
• Does the landscape attract beneficial Your Forest, FWM-00114.
wildlife? Tree Maintenance and Pesticides, HGA-
• Will protection from moose, bear, deer 00436.
or porcupine be necessary? Transplanting Trees Successfully, HGA-
• Do broadleaved evergreens need to be 00335.
wrapped?
Creating landscapes that are both envi- UAF School of Natural Resources and
ronmentally sound and aesthetically pleas- Agricultural Sciences
ing can be difficult. However, there are Accessible Planting Boxes. 2002. George-
many steps you can take to achieve both son Botanical Garden Note No. 31.
beauty and environmental enhancement. Build Your Own Block Planter. 2001.
The following design strategies all lead to a Georgeson Botanical Garden Note
sustainable landscape: No. 33.
• Take advantage of existing terrain. Garden Bench. 2001. Georgeson Botanical
• Capitalize on microclimates. Garden Note No. 32.
• Select plants that are appropriate for Holloway, Patricia and Ouina C. Rutledge.
your growing environment. Wildflower Meadow for Interior Alaska.
• Select plants with disease and insect Georgeson Botanical Garden Note
resistance. No. 30.
• Incorporate mulches to suppress weed Rutledge, Ouina C. and Patricia Holloway.
growth, retain moisture and support tree Tips for Establishing an Alaska Wild-
health. flower Meadow Garden. Georgeson
As human populations grow, there is Botanical Garden Note No. 23a.
more stress on our natural resources. Incor-
porating the principles of sustainability into WSU Cooperative Extension
new or existing landscapes will enhance publications
the environment for humans, plants and Homescaping Kit, WY/IRP4.
wildlife. Sustainable landscapes ultimately Planting Landscape Plants, EB1505.
may be part of the solution to some of our
environmental concerns. OSU Cooperative Extension
publications
Plant Materials for Landscaping: A List of
Plants for the Pacific Northwest, PNW
500.
 Chapter 15—Sustainable Landscape Design • 291

Selecting, Planting, and Caring for a New

Tree, EC 1438.
Southwest Oregon Tree Selection Guide, EC
1505.

Internet Resources
Mulching Trees and Shrubs in Alaskan
Landscapes, Alaska Department of
Natural Resources, Division of Forestry,
Community Forestry Program. http://
forestry.alaska.gov/pdfs/mulching.pdf
Protect Your Home from Wildfire: Fire
Resistant Vegetation and Landscaping,
Alaska Department of Natural Resourc-
es, Division of Forestry, Community
Forestry Program. http://forestry.alaska.
gov/pdfs/05FireResistVeg.pdf
Plant a Tree: An Alaskan Guide to Tree
Selection, Planting and Care. Alaska
Department of Natural Resources, Divi-
sion of Forestry, Community Forestry
Program. Order a brochure from http://
forestry.alaska.gov/community/publica-
tions.htm
The Sustainable Sites Initiative: Guidelines
and Performance Benchmarks. 2009.
Sustainable Sites Initiative. http://www.
sustainablesites.org/report
The Case for Sustainable Landscapes,
2009. Sustainable Sites Initiative. http://
www.sustainablesites.org/report
292 • Sustainable Landscape Design—Chapter 15

Landscape design planning questionnaire

This questionnaire will help you organize your thoughts when designing or renovating your
landscape. It may bring to mind topics you have not considered and will give you a better idea of
how to design a landscape to meet your needs.

Site information
First, gather information about your existing yard to see how it will affect your plan.
Color of house:_ ________________________________________________________________
Architectural style:______________________________________________________________
Desirable views:_________________________________________________________________
Undesirable views:_ _____________________________________________________________
Overhead/underground utilities:___________________________________________________
Unique features:_ _______________________________________________________________
Soil: ❑ Clay ❑ Sandy ❑ Gravel ❑ Rock
Direction of winds: Summer _________ Winter___________
Are wind screens needed? ❑ Yes ❑ No Where?___________________________________
Are sound buffers needed? ? ❑ Yes ❑ No Where?_________________________________
Are there elevation differences? ❑ Minimal ❑ Moderate ❑ Severe slopes
Are retaining walls needed? ❑ Yes ❑ No Where?_________________________________
Are there soggy areas (high water table)? ❑ Yes ❑ No Where?_ ____________________
Where will water drain? _________________________________________________________
Is a drain required? ❑ Yes ❑ No
Sun exposure:_ _________________________________________________________________
Are there locations where your yard is too hot in the summer?__________________________
Existing trees, shrubs and surface roots: ____________________________________________
Existing site features and structures: _______________________________________________
Existing walks: ❑ Brick ❑ Cement ❑ Gravel ❑ Stone ❑ Bark
Where does snow get piled? _ _____________________________________________________
Is there a parking strip? ❑ Yes ❑ No Where?____________________________________
Preferred level of maintenance: ❑ High ❑ Medium ❑ Low
 Chapter 15—Sustainable Landscape Design • 293

Landscape design planning questionnaire (continued)

Design considerations
Now, consider how the landscape will be used.
Who will use your yard? ❑ Adults ❑ Children ❑ Elderly ❑ Pets
Preferred style: ❑ Formal ❑ Semiformal ❑ Informal
❑ Theme (e.g., English, Oriental, or natural)______________________________________
Preferred shapes (for lawns, walks, decks): ❑ Rectangular ❑ 45° angles ❑ Circles
❑ Straight lines ❑ Curving/free-form ❑ Combination
Type of front entryway: ❑ Straight to the door ❑ Meandering ❑ Private courtyard
Outdoor structures/features: ❑ Patio roof ❑ Raised planters ❑ Children’s play area_
❑ Satellite dish ❑ Dog pen/run ❑ Storage shed ❑ BBQ area ❑ Gazebo
❑ Deck ❑ Fence ❑ Spa/hot tub ❑ Sculpture
❑ Boulders ❑ Dry creek ❑ Mounds/berms ❑ Pond ❑ Bench ❑ Fountain
❑ Waterfall and stream ❑ Greenhouse ❑ Other_______________________________
What size patio/deck do you need? ❑ 2–4 people ❑ 4–8 people
❑ 8–12 people ❑ 12+ people
Do you want walkways connecting parts of your yard? ❑ Yes ❑ No
Do you want outdoor lighting? ❑ Landscape ❑ Security
What items need storage space? ❑ Garden equipment ❑ Garbage cans
❑ Other _ _________________________________________________________________
Do you need off-street parking? ❑ Guests ❑ Boats ❑ Cars ❑ RVs
❑ Other___________________________________________________________________
How will you water? ❑ Garden hose ❑ Sprinkler system ❑ Drip irrigation
Do you have photographs of your yard? ❑ Yes ❑ No
(Photos can help you visualize what you want.)
Other comments:
294 • Sustainable Landscape Design—Chapter 15

Landscape design planning questionnaire (continued)

Plants
Finally, think about the types of plants that will meet your needs.
What type of plants do you like?
Evergreens trees and shrubs: ❑ Needled ❑ Broadleaf
Deciduous trees and shrubs: ❑ Flowering ❑ Nonflowering
❑ Fruit trees ❑ Shade trees ❑ Junipers ❑ Vines ❑ Hardy roses
❑ Annual flowers ❑ Perennial flowers ❑ Vegetables ❑ Herbs
❑ Other___________________________________________________________________
Do you like fragrant plants? ❑ Yes ❑ No
Favorite colors:_______________________________________________________________
Least favorite colors:_ _________________________________________________________
How much lawn do you want? ❑ None ❑ Small ❑ Average ❑ Large
Where will the lawn be?________________________________________________________
Is anyone in your family allergic to specific plants? ❑ Yes ❑ No
Is anyone in your family allergic to bees? ❑ Yes ❑ No
Are moose or deer a problem? ❑ Yes ❑ No
What special garden areas do you want? ❑ Vegetables ❑ Annuals ❑ Tender roses
❑ Perennials ❑ Herbs ❑ Wildlife ❑ Orchard ❑ Shade
❑ Rock garden ❑ Cut flowers ❑ Fragrance ❑ Wheelchair-accessible
❑ Other _ _________________________________________________________________
Other comments: