LEARN SOUND LANDSCAPING TECHNIQUES
This course develops your knowledge of how to construct or build a landscape - as distinct from designing a landscape. Learn to construct or build a garden the "right" way. This course provides a good grounding for someone entering the landscape industry.
COURSE STRUCTURE
There are ten lessons as follows:
1. Tools and Machinery
- Manual Handling
- Materials used for Constructing Tools and Equipment; ferrous metals, non ferrous metals
- Safety with Electricity
- Engine Troubleshooting
- Machine Maintenance
- Types of Machines
- Chainsaws: safety, buying, using
- Brushcutters
- Earthmoving and Cultivating Equipment; rotary hoes, ploughs, cultivators, etc
- Workshop and Hand Tools; spanners, chisels, hacksaws etc
- Hand saws, Rakes, Spades, Shovels, Rollers, Wheelbarrows, Sprasyers, etc
2. Landscape Plans and Setting out a Construction Site
- Reading Landscape Plans, Scale, etc
- Understanding and Using Triangulation
- Slope, Contouring, Grid Systems
3. Drainage in Landscape Construction
- Introduction to Drainage
- Testing Drainage
- Improving Drainage
- Improving Soil Water Infiltration
- Improving Drainage after construction; sand slitting, aerating, sub soiling
- Sub Surface Drains; types, layout, outlet, gradients, pipe spacing, etc
- Surface Drainage
- Soil Testing; testing nutrients, pH, toxins
4. Earthworks
- Levelling terminology
- Levelling Procedure
- Levelling a Sloping Site
- Earthmoving
- Earthmoving Machinery; Bobcat, Backhoe, Dozer
- Use an Experienced Driver
- Topsoil Considerations
- Earth Forming: creating Mounds
- Building Raised Garden Beds
- Earth Quantity Calculation
- Soil Degradation
- Erosion; water erosion, wind erosion, controlling erosion
- Soil Acidification Management
- Managing Soil Compaction
- Managing Chemical Residues
5. Surfaces, Paths, Paving and Turf
- Introduction
- Surfaces for Play Areas
- Concrete; concrete, cement, mortar, variations in treatment and use
- Loose Surfacing Materials: advantages and disadvantages
- Bark Surfaces, Crushed tiles, pebbles, etc
- Paths; concrete, asphalt, etc
- Paving; laing pavers, setting out circular paving, curved paving, edges to paving
- Lawns and Turf; shape, design, establishment
- Garden Edges
- Playing Field Construction
- Sand Based Technology
- Constructing Steps
6. Construction of Garden Structures I
- Buildings in a Garden; gazebos, verandahs, storage buildings, cubbies, etc
- Where to build a building
- Floors and Foundations for Buildings
- Walls; brick construction, coping, expansion joints, etc
- Fencing
- Retaining Walls
- Wooden Walls
- Construction with Rock or Masonry; dry walls, wet walls
- Home Playgrounds
- Using Timber in the Garden
- Differences between Softwood and Hardwood
7. Construction of Garden Structures II
- Compost Bins
- Traditional Features: gazebos, statues, gates, arches, sundials, bird baths, urns, tubs, pergolas, pleached alleys, etc
- Wooden Decks
- Constructing a Deck
- Greenhouse and Shadehouse; types, construction, installation
- Water Features; Waterproofing, keeping water clean
- Landscaping a pond
- Tennis Courts
- Spas
- Rockery Construction
- Artificial Rock Formation
- Mulching Rockeries
- Garden Furniture
- Lighting in the Garden
8. Irrigation Systems
- Planning an Irrigation System
- Types of Systems: sprinkler, drip, automatic, etc
- Using and Maintaining an Irrigation System
9. Establishing Hedges and Other Plants
- Factors affecting successful plant establishment
- Physical Plant Protection Methods
- Hedges; site preparation, plant selection, spacing, planting, pruning, hedge maintenance
10. Workplace Safety and Management of Landscape Construction Work
- Risk Management on a Landscape Construction Site
- The Risks
- Keeping a Work Site Safe
- Duty of CareSignificance of Illness
- Protective Clothing
- Safety with Tools and Equipment
- Safety with electricity and different types of equipment
- Tool Maintenance
Duration: 100 hours
AIMS
- Manage equipment for landscape construction projects, including tools and machinery.
- Determine earthworks for a landscape development.
- Plan the construction of different landscape structures including buildings, fences, and walls.
- Manage the installation of a simple irrigation system in gardens.
- Determine construction techniques for different building or installing different garden features; including paving, water gardens, rockeries and furnishings.
- Determine techniques for creating soft landscaping.
- Manage work being undertaken on a landscape construction site.
WHAT YOU MAY DO IN THIS COURSE
- Compare the quality and cost of a range of different tools and machinery used in landscape construction.
- Identify tools and machinery used in everyday work by landscape constractors.
- Explain appropriate uses for different tools and machinery on a landscape construction site.
- Prepare landscape plans for a number of landscape sites
- Research and report on marking out boundaries in construction sites
- Describe how to locate contours
- Determine the fall of existing drains, and identify appropriate falls, spacing and depths of drains
- Observe and report on earth moving equipment in operation
- Survey a site and recommend earthworks necessary
- Examine surfacing materials for paths, gardens, etc and determine the appropriate landscaping function of each.
- Assess the construction of a range of different existing landscape features
- Describe preparation of foundations for a specified garden structure, for a specific site.
- Design a rockery.
- Contact a range of suppliers of landscape materials and compare the products available in your locality.
- Identify materials needed to install an irrigation system for a site selected by you.
- Prepare plans of irrigation systems
- Research which species of plants are suitable for hedging in your locality
- Outline how to effectively transplant an existing tree
- Prepare a detailed risk assessment for a landscape construction site
- Identify safe working practices for a landscape construction site
- Determine a list of work tasks to be undertaken on a landscape construction site. Develop a time frame for completion of the entire project
TIPS FOR EARTH MOVING
Small earth moving jobs in easy to dig soils can be readily done with a wheelbarrow and shovel. Most small jobs though, will benefit from additional rotary hoeing to loosen the soil (especially clay soils). It will then be easier to work the soil with a shovel.
Larger jobs however, require larger equipment.
A Rotary Hoe
These are used to turn over soil, cultivating it using a series of rotating blades. They can range in size from small tillers for regular domestic use, to larger self propelled machines for larger work such as the initial cultivation at a new house site, to tractor driven models for heavier, deeper work, and for larger areas. The larger self propelled units can often be hired for a reasonable cost and generally don’t require a licence to operate. A solid day’s work with one can save you a great deal of work later on by hand, in both digging and weed control.
Medium to large jobs (anything requiring movement of more than a couple of cubic metres of soil) will benefit from the use of some type of earthmoving machinery. These include:
A Cat
A small machine with rubber tyres and a tractor bucket on the front. The bucket can lift and carry loose soil, rocks, sand, etc. It can dig in soil to some extent, but not as much as some other machines. It is more likely to get bogged in wet or loose soil than a backhoe or dozer. Being the smallest, and often the cheapest to hire, a cat is most appropriate in confined spaces around a house on a small block (often it is the only machine small enough to gain access to the backyard).
A Backhoe
Larger than a Cat - with a bucket on the front and a digging scoop on a moveable arm at the back; It can do everything that a cat can do, and more. It is better at digging, it can dig trenches for pipes or foundations and can place rocks easier and more precisely than a cat or dozer. It has rubber tyres like a cat and can easily get bogged particularly in wet soil, but can use its digging arm to pull itself out.
A Dozer
Moves on "tracks" (like an army tank) rather than rubber wheels; it is not prone to getting bogged like a backhoe or cat; is able to work on steeper slopes than wheeled machines. Has a bucket or blade on the front. Good for digging and shaping the ground, but not always for moving materials or for trenching. It is not suitable for small areas, although in recent years a range of mini-dozers, have become available, which are more suitable for small areas.
AN EXPERIENCED OPERATOR MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE!
When you hire a machine, hire it with a driver who is experienced. A good driver will do three times as much work in the same period of time. Generally half a day should get most of the earthmoving and other heavy work done in an average new home garden. This might involve:
- Some cut and fill work to terrace a part of the garden.
- Establishing the basic levels for the lawn areas.
- Bringing soil and mulch from where it was delivered at the front and dumping it in different parts of the garden where it will later be used.
- Placing large boulders in position where they might be later used.
Earth Moving Jobs may include:
• Bringing in topsoil to sow a lawn
• Bringing in soil to build raised garden beds
• Bringing in fill to raise a flood-prone area
• Removing earth to lower an area to the desired height
• Cutting and filling
• Creating terraces for garden beds
• Creating swales for water management (to direct water onto plants or away from wet areas)
• Creating dams and ponds
• Making cuts on sloping blocks for buildings
• Removing unwanted or contaminated soil
Moving Existing Earth
When you move soil you disturb both the vegetation cover and the topsoil. This can make it more difficult to grow plants – especially if you move topsoil away and attempt to grow plants on subsoil. The exposed ground is also more prone to erosion.
When moving existing soil take into account:
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Any potentially unstable soil in the area
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The stability of any exposed cutting/embankments – is the angle of the excavation too steep?
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The effects of wind and rain – will they scour the exposed surface? Will they deposit silt or sand?
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What maintenance is required to protect the exposed soil surface?
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Will the excavation impact on the appearance and amenity of the site?
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Are there any underground power lines, gas mains, water or drainage pipes?
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Are there any easements on the property?
REFERENCE BOOKS
ACS operates a student bookshop that supplies a range of horticulture texts to supplement our courses.
Many are written by the principal (well known gardening author John Mason), or other staff. All have been reviewed and approved by our academic experts (to be accurate and relevant to students studying our horticulture courses).
- Student discounts are available to anyone studying with ACS Distance Education.
- Both printed books and ebooks (as downloads) available
GARDEN DESIGN Part I by John Mason (publisher ACS) EBook
GARDEN DESIGN Part 2 by John Mason (publisher ACS) EBook
GROWING TREES and SHRUBS for SMALL GARDENS by John Mason
TROPICAL and WARM CLIMATE GARDENING by John Mason (publisher Bay Books) Printed Book
ORCHIDS: A BEGINNERS GUIDE by John Mason (publisher: Highland House) Printed Book
GROWING CONIFERS by John Mason (publisher: Kangaroo Press) Printed book
GROWING FERNS by John Mason (publisher: Kangaroo Press) Printed book
NURSERY MANAGEMENT 2nd Edition by John Mason (publisher :andlinks Press) Printed Book
GROWING AUSTRALIAN NATIVES 2nd edition Printed Book
COMMERCIAL HYDROPONICS 3rd Edition by John Mason (publisher: ACS) Ebook
- Click on above link for info
- Sample pages available to download for all ebook
- E Books can be purchased online for immediate download (Can be read on a computer, ipad, iphone, lap top, most book readers or similar devices).
- GO TO www.acsbookshop.com for more titles
