Landscape Work Process

landscapes are categorized into Hardscape and Softscape, each playing a crucial role in outdoor landscapes design:

• Hardscape: Refers to the man-made, non-living elements in a landscape that alter the earth’s surface. These include materials like stone, concrete, brick, or wood. Hardscape features typically cover the ground permanently, replacing the natural surface. Examples are walkways, driveways, patios, pathways, retaining walls, and other structures that provide function, order, and form to the landscape.
• Softscape: Consists of the living, organic elements of the landscape. This part includes greenery, such as grass, plants, shrubs, trees, and flowers, as well as natural water bodies like ponds or streams. Softscape adds a dynamic, ever-changing aspect to the landscape, providing visual interest, seasonal variation, and ecological benefits.

Both hardscape and softscape work together to create a balanced and functional landscape design. Hardscape provides structure and utility, while softscape offers beauty, tranquility, and a connection to nature.

The landscape work process involves several steps, starting with soil preparation and ending with planting and maintaining greenery. Here’s an elaboration of the process:

1. Soil Preparation

• Assessing Soil Quality: The soil present on most sites is often not suitable for planting directly. It lacks the necessary nutrients and structure for healthy plant growth. To improve its quality, a soil bed mixture is prepared.
• Soil Mixture: This mixture typically includes organic materials like the leftovers of sugarcane, which help aerate the soil and improve its nutrient content. Sugarcane residue adds organic matter, improving the soil’s texture, making it breathable, and enhancing water retention capacity.
• Watering and Conditioning: After mixing in the organic matter, the soil is watered regularly for a few days. This process helps the nutrients break down and integrate into the soil, making it more fertile and ready for planting.

2. Tree Transport and Replanting

• Tree Removal with Root Ball: Trees are typically sourced from nurseries and transported to the site. To ensure the tree survives the move, it is dug up with a root ball, which is a mass of soil that encases the tree’s roots. This root ball helps retain moisture and provides protection to the roots during transport.
• Protecting the Root Ball: During transportation, the root ball is carefully wrapped, often using burlap or plastic sheeting, to prevent it from falling apart or drying out.
• Replanting: Upon arrival at the site, the protective wrapping is removed, and the tree is placed into a pre-dug hole. The tree is gently replanted, ensuring that its roots are well-placed in the soil. Replanting can be a shock to the tree, as it must adapt to its new environment, which may affect its growth initially.
• Shock Recovery: After transplanting, the tree goes through a recovery period, commonly referred to as transplant shock. During this time, the tree may exhibit slowed growth, wilting, or leaf drop. With proper care (watering, mulching, etc.), the tree will eventually recover and begin to thrive in its new location.

3. Grass Installation

• Carpet Grass Rolls: Grass is typically laid out in carpet rolls. These pre-grown grass rolls are rolled up for transportation and unrolled at the site for quick and easy installation.
• Laying the Grass: Once on-site, the grass rolls are carefully unfolded and laid flat on the prepared soil surface. Proper alignment is essential to ensure an even, seamless grass cover. Gaps between the rolls are minimized for a uniform appearance.
• Initial Stress and Recovery: After installation, the grass may appear yellow or stressed due to the disturbance during transportation and laying. However, with consistent watering, the grass typically recovers within 7–10 days, turning green as it establishes itself and begins to grow in its new environment.

4. Post-Installation Care

• After all elements—trees, plants, and grass—are in place, post-installation care is critical to ensure successful growth. This includes:
  • Regular Watering: Newly planted trees and grass require frequent watering to help establish strong root systems.
  • Fertilization: Nutrients may be added to boost plant health, especially during the initial phase.
  • Mulching: Mulch is often spread around trees and plants to retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and reduce weeds.
  • Monitoring for Shock and Stress: Plants, especially transplanted ones, are closely monitored for signs of stress, and corrective measures are taken to help them recover.

This process is vital to creating a healthy, thriving landscape that not only looks beautiful but also supports the long-term growth of plants and trees.