How do you solve common landscape construction problems?

Natural materials such as bark or woodchips are the best. It has been observed that geotextiles prevent the roots from getting enough oxygen, while retaining too much moisture. This might contribute to rot and poor growth, as well as decreased soil condition.

Using Curlex erosion control blankets is a great way to provide a solution for erosion. Curlex can also be used in a wide variety of other applications

There are some unconventional soil erosion prevention via landscape like: Rain gardens, hugelkultur mounds, bioengineering with live plants, artificial reefs, rock gabions, permeable paving, green roofs, windbreaks, keyline design - tailored approaches to address specific erosion challenges.

There is such a pletiitude of employment options in the architecture | landscape | interiors | construction | real estate space that those who possess the same degrees can work in any variety of roles. We nine-to-five Americans work such long days as we run ourselves into the ground, saved by the weekend. Obviously it's not always possible to run into your dream job or that perfect black dress at first shop. But you need to earn your keep and pay your rent so sometimes you settle, but you'll likely learn a thing or two. BUT always stay hungry for that perfect black dress.. I mean, workplace environment/ career niche. In my experience, an unfulfilled career is like an ill-fitted suit. if it doesn't fit today, it will probably never.

The one I found the most on sites were cases of sloped soil exposed without any cover, and got washed away by rainwater resulting the adjacent area to be stained thus blocking the hardscape drainage systems. Sloped soils should not be exposed to direct rainwater and must be shielded either with grass, shrubs, mulch, or any other materials to prevent direct impact by water originated from rain or irrigation systems. In addition, the slope of the soil should also be considered. The common standard I use is a max of 15° (about 25%) slope for such situations. If a case require more than 15° slope, consider using sub-surface soil reinforcement.

Drainage issues, are and will be a major problem now and in the future (look what is happening in Greece at the moment), nothing is prepared for a cathastrophic disaster like that. Every little thing helps yes, but to tackle the flooding problems we should look on higher levels, bigger scales rather than project by project.

French drains the Romans heads been building them since Roman times we’ve been improvised, simply, with a geotextile barrier and corrugated perforated pipe

In construction sites, for me the most common way of solving the drainage issues, ultimately in hardscape areas, is by sloping the area or the channel by a minimum of 1% slope, that is 1 cm drop per 100 cm run (less than 1% would be very hard to handle), and make sure there are catchment area at the end of the slope, either its a basin, a pond, a street inlet, a drainage pipe, a level drop, or anything as long as it can catch the run-off water. For softscape areas, mostly on grass or shrubs, make sure there are no closed/isolated recessions at any area, or if there a need for one, create an inlet at the base to flow the excess water to the drainage system.

Clay soil should be avoided and soil mix shall consists of certain proportion of sand to improve infiltration rate. In modern landscape architecture, perforated HDPE subsoil drain pipe and geotextile have been widely used in planters. It could worked for many years efficiently but in some cases, e.g. lawn of football field, French drain design in herringbone layout would be much more efficient in long term as it avoids pores on geotextile from clogging. Also, sandy substrate would help as well. Nevertheless, French drain requires more complicated workmanship and thicker drainage layer. For on-slab planters, which available soil depth is limited, perforated subsoil drain pipe drainage system is still a wise choice.

My 1st Rule in plant selection: ask the owner what plant they want to have in the project. This could be a very big chance to solve half of the plant selection problems. Most of my works were in tropical areas thus it make most of the plants can live without complicated problems. The most issues I found is that the volume of the soil would affect the plant growth, related to its size. Bigger plant equal more soil and water, vice versa. This mostly apply to medium-high rise development. In selecting a tree for tropical area, consider the shade it will provide, and the pest that it invite. For shrubs and groundcovers, flowery and stemmed/woody shrubs are higher maintenance than succulents. Pick plants and trees from trusted nurseries.

I find that an often cause of client disappointment is the initial appearance of planting. This is especially the case on schemes delivered for grand openings of hospitality projects or similar that heavy rely on the initial impression. Many landscape professionals stick too rigidly to densities which are intended to fill out the space ‘in time’. This is often a misguided approach which leads to a severely underwhelming final result. Speak to the end user well in advance about their expectations about what they will actually receive on the day and ensure that this informs your density specifications

In my experience, while selecting plants: 1. Try to take the geographical aspects of that particular place and encourage native plants. Plants that are a native of a particular environment will survive longer with respect to climatic conditions and can be easily maintained when compared to the plants species that migrate from another region. So it will be advisable to look look into the factors that determine the flora of any given location. 2. While selecting plants for residential projects, have an understanding of the health of people living in that space, because some people have allergies to certain plants. People with respiratory or breathing issues tend to be allergic to pollen grains.

In regions where water conservation is a concern, prioritize plants that are well-adapted to local rainfall patterns and soil conditions. Drought-tolerant and native species often require less irrigation, contributing to water efficiency and sustainability. This consideration is particularly important in the context of climate change and increasing water scarcity.

Be mindful of the environmental impact of plant choices. Avoid invasive species that may disrupt local ecosystems and prioritize plants that are known for their resilience and adaptability to the specific site conditions. Responsible plant selection contributes to the overall health of the landscape and surrounding natural areas.

There are a lot of general considerations listed in this section. Agreed with @Prayudha that there needs to be hierarchy. In my humble experience, the top 3: 1) Health: Ensuring products are free of red-listed chemicals, at a minimum. This is the tip of the spear. When products are 'toxic' no one wants to recycle or biodegrade them, they become waste and need to be remanufactured, raising carbon emissions. They negatively impact biodiversity and human health. When the chemistry is wrong, everything else is compromised. 2) Circularity: Ensuring materials are from renewable sources and can be further renewed, so as to eliminate waste, reduce carbon emissions and protect ecosystems. 3) Embodied carbon per longevity of use (durability).

The 1st rule is any material does not come from environmentally destructive ingredients or methods (such as asbestos, ocean reef, and illegal loggings). In my budget POV, they're not necessarily the cheapest, but most preferable are those with long market availability, easily replaceable, and acceptable visual aspects. What's next are durability, performance, and price. I also consider most of my projects are built to last 20-30 years, 50 yrs max. Therefore I always consider using materials which still be available in that timeline. The last issue is workmanship. It's half of the project. Good materials + poor workmanship = low quality. Bad materials + good workmanship = probably acceptable. Other than that.. well, you know the answers.

This is the toughest one to tackle. It needed the creativity one level above all others, sometimes even if compared to the design. Within a set budget, make sure no items left unchecked, minimize any deviations, set clear specs and choose trusted partners. Local resources are preferred than imported ones. Buy in bulk, not only for one but multiple projects if possible. Prepare for future changes and additions. Use substitutes of equal quality if possible. Set priorities of the most important items, what needs to be tight and what to set loose. If budget change is unavoidable, prepare complete data, ask for the authorized party to sign, and progress immediately.

It is critical! Many landscaping companies are prone to cut corners, using low quality plants and other materials. It is essential to visit the site during construction and afterwards, to make sure that all the information has been passed on and the standards have been adhered to.

Poor irrigation system proper irrigation practices are essential to conserve water, promote plant health, and maintain a sustainable landscape. Regular monitoring, maintenance, and adapting to changing needs are key to ensuring an efficient and effective irrigation system. To solve a poor irrigation system in landscape construction, consider the following steps: Evaluate the Existing System, Repair or replace faulty components including pipes and sprinklers, Adjust Water Distribution, Drip Irrigation System Integration, Consider Water Conservation Techniques and Professional Assistance: If the irrigation system issues are complex or beyond your expertise, consult with a professional landscape contractor or irrigation specialist.

Collaboration is the key! Working together with other stakeholders, such as the client, the architect and the constructor, is likely to yield the best results. If everyone is prepared to listen to one another, there is a chance that novel and inventive solutions will be found.

A key consideration to support the design, build, and lifespan of greenspace is having a robust financial plan for maintenance staff. Working outdoors in all conditions is labor intensive and physically hazardous. All workers should be well-paid, with comprehensive healthcare and benefits. Due to unsafe working conditions, lack of pay or raises, minimal benefits, and no employee growth structure, the conception of many landscape projects is unsustainable from the start. A revolving door of employees contributes to poor record keeping, inconsistent planting, fertilizing, weeding, and pest management, as well as lower quality programming. Creating large staff budgets from the start will result in well maintained spaces.