Home Improvement

In the first millennium, a wealthy Roman family would most likely have had a garden surrounding their home. In it, you might find an open-air palazzo, pergola-style structures dripping with vines and blooming flowers, a dining area with couches for relaxation, water features such as an outdoor water fountain or wall fountain, and walkways that led out into the garden proper, perhaps to a prized rosebush or into an olive grove. These are some of the elements characterizing what is now called classical landscape design, also known as traditional landscape design.

Classical landscape design is a subset of formal landscape design that uses linear, clean lines to develop an uncluttered look. These lines can be drawn with rows of trees and well-trimmed hedges, perfect plantings for the classical landscape design. Or perhaps a seat wall made of regimented terra cotta tiles can do double-duty. Here and there, vines, such as ivy or wisteria, can soften any harshness. In this regard, this style is similar to the Mediterranean landscape design with its Roman and Greek influences.

The History of Classical Landscape Design

Borrowing influences from previous civilizations, classical landscape design solidified in Rome and the surrounding countryside. Villas were built with comfortable courtyards, sparkling with the sound of water, shaded by large trees, fragrant with rosemary and citrus fruits. It was from this setting that we got the term “pleasure garden.”

In England of the late 1700s, property owners started looking backwards, past the Baroque period and the Renaissance, to the beginnings of western civilization. There, they found classical landscapes making use of woods, water, indigenous plants and small temples. These elements were incorporated into the gardens of that day, further defining the principles of traditional landscape design.

By the way, when Rome fell to the barbarians, the gardens had become so exquisite that the barbarians chose not to ransack them. Instead they kept them up and learned from them. This development is one of the early examples of how we, as humans, learned that beauty can change the world: it can stop violence. This principle is now being used to excellent effect in gardens started as rehabilitation projects in prisons, inner cities and ghettos.

Choices in Classical Landscape Design

As with all landscape design, the architecture of the house needs to be considered when using a traditional landscape design. For this style, the home and landscape can be tied together through the subtle placement of a hardscape feature, such as the use of tumbled travertine for the courtyard flooring.

Because of the formal principles inherent in this style, you want to strike a balance when choosing materials between dull blandness and baroque lavishness. Reckon instead in terms of fascinating variety. For instance, well-contained decorative gravel can provide color and texture. Courtyards, pool decking and patios should use materials that are symmetrical, in keeping with the formal style. Stone, terra cotta tiles and flagstone are appropriate choices. Granite benches, concrete grottoes and marble urns add sturdiness and reference antiquities.

Your preference for classical landscape design can also be demonstrated in the plants you choose. Your residential garden will be enhanced by fruit trees and other dwarf trees-or perhaps a stand of cypress, mulberry or fig trees. The cheery colors of marigolds, hyacinths and roses are well suited for the classical landscape design. Herbs planted in terra cotta pots scent the air and provide fresh flavor in your outdoor kitchen cooking.

Hardscapes in Classical Landscape Design

Color, form, line, scale, and texture are your means of expressing classical landscape design preferences just as they are with modern landscape design.

Hardscapes to include:
• Outdoor rooms for outdoor living. These living areas, in effect, make your home larger. They also serve to make transition areas that connect the indoor and outdoor spaces. Plus, they further the notion that a garden is a place of rejuvenation. In particular, outdoor kitchens are vital to the traditional landscape design.

• Outdoor water fountains. If you remember your ancient world history classes, you know that the Romans perfected the aqueduct. So water is prized within classical landscape design and nothing showcases it like a picture-perfect outdoor water fountain. Look for fountains in formal, Romanesque, Italianate, Mediterranean and rustic styles. Those made of tile, cast stone, cast iron and concrete work particularly well with this style.

• Swimming pools. When placed within a classical landscape design, the shape of your swimming pool should tend towards basic geometric shapes like rectangles and ovals. Thus, the shape of the pool frames the water and turns it into a classical design element of the landscape. It is often efficient to combine the pool with an outdoor water fountain to eliminate some maintenance redundancies.

• Landscape lighting. Landscape lighting is another vital element of traditional landscape design as it makes ambiance and lets you delight in the outdoors, night and day.

Classical Landscape Design: A Houston Setting

”We implemented a classical landscape design for one of our Houston clients, whose home was French Country. For the garden, we chose a design that closely resembles a well-known garden in Florence,” says Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds. “The landscape design makes excellent use of gravel and limestone, which looks very natural in a Houston garden. And we planted boxwoods, which we trim and shape regularly as part of a well-thought-out residential landscape maintenance plot. It is a lovely and relaxing space.”

Integrity. Professionalism. Fiscal stability. Operating efficiencies. Ethical standards. These concepts are key traits of all top commercial real estate management companies. Not surprisingly, they describe top commercial landscape maintenance companies, as well.

As a commercial property manager or owner, you want to find a commercial landscape maintenance company who will partner with you in reaching your long- and small-term goals. With your daily priorities of meeting the needs and demands of tenants, establishing property security and controlling budgets, time management is critical. Therefore, it will make your job simpler to work with a provider who honors your time. Finally, every property is unique, and so you want to work with a landscape service company who will maintain your property so that its strengths are maximized and, just as vital, its weaknesses minimized.

Components of a Commercial Landscape Maintenance Program

First, the benefits. A quality maintenance program provides these four advantages:

• Presents a positive image to your customers or tenants and their customers
• Protects your investment
• Extends and retains tenants by maintaining gorgeous grounds
• Helps conserve and enhance property value

The basic components of a commercial landscape maintenance program involve:

Landscape design services and installation-

1. Design and installation. In the landscape design phase, a landscape service provider will work with you on the program elements, permitting issues, design approach-including your likes and dislikes-and aesthetics. The next phase may include landscape layout, planting plans and cost studies. In providing landscape services, a right professional should work diligently and patiently to help you define the scope of your project, determine the scheduling, coordinate vendors, help in the selection of materials, and develop a final budget.

2. Landscape lighting. A well-designed landscape lighting system gives a commercial property 24/7 visibility. Since lighting is a huge deterrent of crime, one of the most vital services that it delivers is safety, thereby providing an invaluable service to establishments that conduct business at night, such as hotels, country clubs, social clubs, colleges, schools, museums, and restaurants. Ultimately, though, the main propose of landscape lighting is to make a gorgeous nighttime vista of the landscape.

3. Irrigation systems. Money savings and convenience are the two main descriptors of an irrigation system. It supplies the appropriate amount of water to the appropriate plant material. It separates the lawn, beds and color areas into different zones that require different watering conditions due to the various plant types and sunlight conditions. Finally, it utilizes controller box technologies, such as timers, time delays and rain sensors, that let you set an automatic schedule based on your landscape needs while, at the same time, allowing you to switch to manual for unplanned events.

4. Drainage systems. With Houston’s heavy soils, low-lying areas and torrential rains, a proper landscape drainage system is essential for three reasons: a) to protect your property from flooding b) to protect the foundation of the building(s) from cracking and uneven shrinkage or swelling c) to properly drain roofs and landscaped areas to avoid standing water that can cause slippery surfaces, breeding grounds for mosquitoes or drowned landscaping. A landscape drainage system should be viewed as a whole to ensure that its appropriate functions and fixtures work together properly.

Regular maintenance-

1. Turf maintenance. One of the most basic features of a commercial landscape maintenance program, turf maintenance is more than just cutting the grass. It is edging, feeding and treating-all activities that promote healthy growth. And it is meticulous clean-up so that your tenants can quickly return to enjoying the grounds once the crew leaves.

2. Trimming hedges and ground covers. As part of a thorough commercial landscape maintenance program, hedges, shrubs and bushes should be trimmed regularly to the desired contours. Ground cover and vines should be edged to maintain a clean appearance. The intention is to ensure that all elements conform to the overall plot of the landscape design.

3. Tree care. A top-notch commercial landscape maintenance company will attend to trees, which are valuable assets. Houston summers can be very stressful for trees, so deep-root fertilization is vital because it promotes healthy trees. Aeration also encourages root growth. Trees should be inspected regularly for any insect infestations. Insects, such as pine bark beetles and dull insects, can be tree killers, sometimes striking very quickly, especially when Houston’s weather turns hot or if trees are suffering due to construction duress.

4. Fertilizations. Critical to plant health, regular fertilization is a form of insurance for your plants. Commercial landscape maintenance providers should have a methodical feeding program that insures the health of tropical, acidic and seasonal color plants. The feeding program may also include spring and fall aeration of lawn areas with the application of fall rye grass.

5. Herbicide and insecticide treatments. These programs are also critical to plant health. Continual observation and diagnosis of plant pests and diseases are the last part of a complete and proactive commercial landscape maintenance program.

Seasonal Color-

1. Seasonal plantings are an vital part of presenting a positive image for any commercial property. You will want to work with a commercial landscape maintenance company whose extensive knowledge of plant material, color, and texture makes eye-catching designs.

Preventive Maintenance

Preventive maintenance can be your best defense against potential landscape and property hurt-or something going incorrect just when you need it to go right. In the long run, preventive maintenance saves money.

As a precaution, a professional commercial landscape maintenance company will make periodic surveys of your property to ensure that everything is in excellent order. Items on the checklist include:

• Tree inspection. Watch for branches touching the building or overhead wires. Dead limbs need to be trimmed to promote vigorous growth. Trees should be regularly checked for disease, decay or wounds and swift action taken as needed.

• Irrigation inspection. It is critical to have irrigation systems working smoothly as proper maintenance minimizes large amounts water pouring out of broken lines and heads. Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds says, “This service is so vital for commercial properties. For some of our clients, it has meant savings of as much as ,000 to ,000 per month.”

We will go into the purpose behind taking up and completing apprenticeship in landscape gardening in this article. We will also detail the requirements for taking up landscaping professionally.

What to expect after completing apprenticeship in landscape gardening?

If you look around, you will find many amateur landscapers that take up small time commercial or residential landscaping projects. They are also professionals in their own capacity, but, are not considered as qualified landscape architects.

One needs to undergo an extensive degree program to specialize in landscaping, and post-completion he/she is considered a certified landscape architect qualified to take up any huge commercial or public project. One can also opt for apprenticeship in landscape gardening to qualify for professional certification.

No Easy Task

Please be aware that finishing an apprenticeship in landscape gardening is no easy affair. The landscape apprentice is always a working landscaper and is usually assigned most dirtiest and hard tasks involved in landscaping. This is to help the apprentice learn about the art from all the perspectives from start till the end.

It is quite normal for an apprentice to be seen digging holes, lifting heavy equipments, indulging in severe physical labor irrespective of weather conditions and handling all types of chemicals on the field. There is no better way for a landscaper to improve his art than getting down to the nitty-gritty of each manual task. He/she must also be efficient in mathematical calculations and possess excellent eyesight necessary to operate the landscaping machines.

Details

1. The apprenticeship in landscape gardening covers various terrains to gain in depth experience and knowledge.

2. Apprentices are taught the essential distinguishing factors between the commercial, residential and public landscaping.

3. The apprenticeship also covers interior and exterior garden designing and plotting.

4. Apprentices are taught the importance and usage of various landscaping equipments and their appropriate application in specific projects.

5. Apprentices are taught in detail about various soil types.

6. They also learn the science behind the plants and trees growth, texture and sizes.

7. They are also acquainted with different methods of pruning, thinning and the varieties of sods.

8. Apprentices are also taught about the legal, environmental and licensing aspects.

9. Apprentices who are preparing to turn landscape architects are taught about the site analysis and surveys.

10. They are also taught about different landscaping software and their application in drawing effective plans. The same is taught with hand too.

11. Apprentices hone their artistic skills by learning how to present the plants in a landscape in a gorgeous way.

12. Different view perspectives are also taught to the apprentices.

The Program

Completing an apprenticeship in landscape gardening is a four-year affair and there are several schools all over the world offering such degree programs. Please know that the qualified landscape architects are considered most professionally able people in their field and work on mega projects like designing public gardens, zoos and theme parks. They are often employed by corporate sector also to handle huge commercial landscaping projects.

In most instances, a professional landscaper would have completed his apprenticeship in landscape gardening. In case you are plotting to use a professional landscaper, you must make sure that he is professionally certified and skilled to deliver the desired results. Considering the extensive training that a professional landscaper receives during his/her apprenticeship, he/she will be worth every penny spent.

Landscape contractors are licensed professionals who are trained in performing techniques and designs onto a piece of land. This is whether it is a small or a large scale project. Landscape design comprises mainly of landscape management, landscape plotting, landscape detailing, landscape assessment, landscape urbanism and garden design innovations. The skills of a landscape contractor, together with their certifications and experiences, has varying factors that can affect you selection and criteria of who is the best these days.

Landscape contractors are licensed professionals who are trained in performing techniques and designs onto a piece of land. This is whether it is a small or a large scale project. Landscape design comprises mainly of landscape management, landscape plotting, landscape detailing, landscape assessment, landscape urbanism and garden design innovations.

People behind these, would be contractors that are also regarded as landscape designers. They are also the ones who convert a simple yard into fantastic outdoor scenery, using renovation and decorative processes. Aside from this, they are also equipped in managing landscape renovations such as:

1. Disposing existing:

• Pests
• Plants, and
• Unused things

2. Building new infrastructure features

3. Installing drainage and irrigation systems

4. Sculpting:

• Themes
• Designs, and
• Walkways

5. Installing:

• Gazebos
• Fences, and
• Patios

6. Assuring the flowering of garden plants.

Hence, landscapers will present and even plot advisable themes but they also follow your chosen design. They can arrange maintenance services and provide follow ups, for future care. Contractors or design firms are also rest assured that their people had undergone training and expertise. This is with regards to landscaping at its best.

Moreover, many firms delight in the market’s growth, especially in the landscaping industry nowadays. There was an increase both abroad and domestically. With this, top designing firms and contractors in US have reached billions of revenues. Reaping the subsidy, design firms became strong, particularly in the design market of the U.S.

Thus, changes and challenges in the industry such as new client demands, work loads, additional staffs and new design models has been a long standing problem because of the strong market.

According to the 2007 Electronic Edition of the ENR Top 500 Design Firms, they surveyed and published the top firms according to their revenues. The top 5 from the top 100 pure designers are as follows:

Type of Firm 2006 Revenue

1. AECOM TECHNOLOGY CORP. EA ,831.9

Los Angeles, California

2. THE LOUIS BERGER GROUP EA 5.5

East orange, New Jersey

3. CDI BUSINESS SOLUTIONS EC 0.6

Philadelphia

4. PBS&J EA 6.1

Tampa, Florida

5. MUSTANG ENGINEERING EC 0.0

Houston, Texas

These top 5 rankings were judged according to their award winning plans, strategies, applications and extensive experience. Furthermore, here is the Top 5 for the Best Architectural Firms, which focused on landscaping:

1. FRCH Design Worldwide

Cincinnati, Ohio
Web Address: http://www.frch.com

FRCH Design Worldwide is a design and architectural firm that serves hospitality markets, restaurant, offices, entertainment and retail markets internationally. The firm got this slot in the year 2006. In fact, it is the first place winner of ZweigWhite’s national for the “Best Firms to Work for Award”. Thus, FRCH offers new strategies for architecture designs, promoting customer satisfaction.

2. Small Diversified Architectural Consulting

Headquarters:

• Charlotte, NC
• Dallas, TX
• Irvine, CA
• Detroit, MI
• Orlando, FL
• Washington D.C
• Irvine, CA
• Los Angeles, CA, and
• Research Triangle Park, NC

This firm was formerly Small & Associates Architects. Hence, this firm specializes in:

• Universities and Colleges
• Interiors
• Facilities Management
• Offices
• Civic
• Retail industries, and
• Financial industries

Thus, this company comes in an array of architectural consulting services such as:

• Land Development Services
• Space Management Consulting, and
• Architecture

3. BSB Design

Headquarters:
• Costa Mesa
• Denver
• Atlanta
• Chicago
• Dallas
• Las Vegas
• Sacramento
• Boston
• Jacksonville
• Chicago Loop
• Phoenix
• Tampa
• Orlando, and
• Fresno

BSB was founded in the year 1966. They specialize in architecture for residential areas. Where in, they have even expanded to commercial architecture such as:

• Community land plotting
• Hospitality, and
• Resorts

Thus, BSB Designs offers unique design solutions, along with award winning plans. This firm is a veteran for 40 years, having 300 architects, staffs and designers.

4. Sasaki Associates, Inc.

Offices:

• Watertown, MA
• Boston
• San Francisco

Founded by Hideo Sasaki in 1953, Sasaki Associates became a respected international landscape firm. With 270 professionals, interdisciplinary measures are being implemented in their offices.

5. EDSA

Address: Fort Lauderdale

Offices:

• Florida
• California
• China
• Maryland
• Orlando
• Los Angeles, and
• Baltimore

EDSA was established in the year 1960. They really guarantee an extensive experience in:

• Cultural and campus plotting
• Environmental and community plotting
• Hotels and resorts
• Ecotourism
• Entertainment and urban design

With over 220 employees, EDSA is a landscape architectural, plotting, graphic and urban design specialist. Lastly, it is an internationally renowned firm.

Thus, with the vast number of landscaping firms and contractors, how can one find the best should you choose to build your own area, into an outdoor paradise? Here are the some tips:

• A huge ad is not vital, what is vital is taking time to present and match your own designs to the landscaper. A excellent contractor really listens to his clients.
• Visiting stores that offer listings of firms. With this list, you can do some research about the entire company profile and the designer itself.
• Get estimates from the contractor and other prospects as well.
• Don’t rush things. A excellent contractor lays down the design plot and its features before signing up.
• Seek for a firm that has a superior service and facilitates brilliant customer care. They should be able to value their client’s opinions.

There are many brilliant landscaping contractors and landscape designers nowadays. A vast progress of the landscaping industry inherits these contractors to upgrade their specialization with other competent companies.

Local landscapers can arrange special maintenance services in lieu with their customer satisfaction rate and performance. This may help in bringing them to become one amongst the top contractors and firms in the U.S. today.

Now that new computer design software is in demand, it has become an added variety of service for one firm to possess. Due to the advent of computer generated landscaping designs, more professionals must be trained and knowledgeable enough to implement this kind of progress.

Prospects in choosing contractors and firms to be on the top list must follow certain researches and surveys to the best of their services.

Landscaping projects are quite hard and complex and it requires trained and qualified professionals to complete the task efficiently and timely. An experienced and talented landscape contractor can make a huge difference to the value of your home. Landscape contractors are specialized in different forms of landscaping; mostly they specialize in commercial and residential landscape design, landscape construction, and grading, loaming, seeding, planting and commercial maintenance. According to a recent poll landscaping can add from 7% to 15% value to one’s home signifying 100% to 200% return on landscape investments.

The fact that gorgeous landscape increases the worth of the house, has given much serious thought to this profession. People are spending their time and money in making gorgeous landscape that has also made landscape contracting a highly competitive field. Landscape contractors are licensed professionals who hold expertise in applying techniques for making gorgeous designs onto a piece of land. A landscape project comprises mainly of landscape management, landscape plotting, landscape detailing, landscape assessment, landscape urbanism and innovative garden designs. Skill and experience of landscape contractor make a huge difference on the creation of landscapes.

Landscape contractor are also known as landscape designer, who convert simple piece of land into fantastic outdoor scenery by renovating and decorating that piece of land. They start their work by disposing unwanted things like pests, plants and unused things. Then they install irrigation and drainage systems so that water can be effectively used and drained out. After this they work according to the design of the landscape and making walkways and then installing fences and patios. At last they plant garden flowers and assure their flowering. Landscape contractors provide with many attractive garden designs but they can also work according to their clients design. Apart from making the landscape they also took maintenance service of the landscapes.

With the use of latest software on landscape project, a lot of variety has been added to the landscape service and more and more professionals are gaining knowledge and training to excel in this field. This has further added more attraction in this field and generated people interest in creation of the landscapes. Landscape contractors help one to make and maintain gorgeous and stress free landscapes. They work mainly for the beautification of the property but they have complete knowledge from plotting of the landscapes to the choosing and designing of right plants.