Certified Landscape Professional Exam Study Series

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Certified Landscape Professional Exam Study Series

• Exterior Production Operations and Horticulture
  Module
• A managers perspective

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Landscape Specifications Include

• Drawings - scaled visual representation
• Written specifications
• Quantity takeoffs from drawings
• Develop a cost to carry out
• Large dollar tenders will often be drafted
  according to CCDC standards (Canadian
  Construction Documents Committee)
• www.ccdc.org/home/html

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Written Specifications

• A precise, formal, detailed description of the
  work to be done.
• Including the way the work is to be done,
  procedures, materials, and quality required.
• Describe how assemblies go together and the
  necessary quality and quantity of materials
  required to meet code.
• Written specs. take precedence over drawings in
  the eyes of the court

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Written Specifications

• Generally include 3 parts
• Should Reflect Industry Standards
• General specific administrative and procedural
  requirement unique to the project
• Products detailed description and quantity of
  products to be incorporated in the project
• Execution detailed description of preparations
  required and the who, what, where, when and how
  the products are to be incorporated into the
  project

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Specifications Terminology

• Open specifications - use a generic description
  of an item to be supplied. For example, a wooden
  patio table of a certain size and dimension
• Closed specifications use a specific
  description of the item. For example, the
  specification could call for a specific model
  from a specific manufacturer

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Carrying Out Basic Landscape Calculations

• Managers should be able to check landscape
  calculations and carry them out on their own

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Landscape Standards

• A good manager has good working knowledge of
  local industry standards and government landscape
  standards
• Operates business accordingly
• CNLA Landscape Ontario

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Landscape Standards in Canada

• Produced by Canadian Nursery Landscape
  Association (CNLA)
• Available at www.horttrades.com
• Not enforceable by law unless the standards are
  specifically referred to in the contract
  specifications

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Landscape Standards

• Standards are usually voluntary unless they are
  written directly into contract specifications
  however we should always maintain standards!
• If they are in the specifications, they form part
  of the legal contract

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Hardscape Installation

• Manager and / or other personnel in the company
  must have a good working knowledge and required
  expertise of hard landscape materials and
  processes of installation for their geographic
  areas

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Grading and Drainage - Codes and Regulations

• There are regulations/ codes for grading and
  drainage installations - commercial and
  residential sites
• Commercial projects specified in the contract
  and contract drawings - engineer/architect
• Residential projects often contractor does
  drawings must ensure grading and drainage meets
  codes
• Many municipalities require a sewer layer
  license or other special license to lay drain
  line of any type

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Drainage Systems

• Includes subsurface and surface drainage systems
  for interception, collection, conduction, and
  disposal of storm runoff and subsurface water
• Designed and sized to deal efficiently with
  projected precipitation, infiltration, and flow
  rates
• Large projects designed by engineer to meet
  local building code

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Drainage Systems

• Must ensure the safety of the property owner and
  the protection of dwellings, site elements, and
  properties from water damage, flooding, and
  erosion.
• If storm drain water flow accumulates - requires
  storm-water retention ponds to prevent erosion
  damage or flooding on the site or adjacent
  properties

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Drainage Systems - Installation

• Contractor must be aware of measurements and
  installations that have been made off-site and
  on-site as part of the hard construction to
  ensure that the work specified in the landscape
  contract can be properly carried out re site
  drainage.
• Contractor must take measures to prevent
  siltation of existing drainage systems and
  watercourses during all on-site work

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Subsurface Drainage

• Any drainage method installed below the soil
  surface to move water out of the soil
• A detailed subsurface drainage plan is prepared
  by engineers - not the landscape contractor
• Before installing on residential and commercial
  sites Contractor must consult prepared
  engineering drainage plan that should be
  supplied as part of the contract drawings

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Subsurface Drainage Plan Includes

• Drain outlet locations
• Location, size, depth, spacing, and slope or
  drains
• Location of any obstructions, such as trees,
  buildings, etc.
• Surface runoff from adjacent properties
• Back-filling requirements

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Drain Outlet Locations

• 2 types of outlets for subsurface drains
• 1. Gravity most common for landscape purposes
  discharge water into storm sewers or open
  waterways
• 2. Pump

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Gravity Drain Outlet

• The next slide shows a typical gravity outlet
  that discharges into an open ditch. Its is
  critical when installing the outlet that the end
  of the pipe should not extend too for beyond the
  ditch bank, since the force of the falling water
  will cause erosion, creating the potential for
  serious environmental problems. The installation
  of riprap below the outlet to prevent erosion is
  a common procedure

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Gravity Drain Outlet
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Any questions/review regarding Subsurface
Drainage?
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French Drains

• Essentially a trench

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Surface Drainage

• Final grading must conform to grade elevations
  contours on approved plan
• Water flows away from all structures positive
  drainage
• Maximum settling of 30 mm or 1.25 inches

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Open Channel Drainage

• Ditches swales to direct water from a site
• Vegetated waterways are effective in erosion
  control
• Not to be used when water flow continuous or
  constant ground water sits
• Engineered drawings must be provided

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Important Soil Properties

• Important to understand the basic properties of
  soils that have a direct impact on the success of
  plant and turf establishment.

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Soil Compaction

• Leads to problems with drainage and plant
  establishment
• Compacted soils have very low filtration
  therefore can cause overland flow and erosion
  increases

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Soil Compaction Caused By

• Quality, foot traffic, heavy equipment, vehicular
  traffic, and landscape maintenance equipment

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Soil Compaction Management

• Good planning prior to construction can reduce
  some of the soil compaction that takes place
  during building and landscape construction by
  limiting the areas that construction equipment
  can drive on
• Topsoil can be removed prior to construction so
  that only the subsoils are being driven on
• After construction, the subsoil should be
  decompacted by ripping or subsoiling and the top
  soil should be replaced

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Soil Compaction Consequences

• Impaired root growth
• Poor aeration
• Reduced drainage
• Which causes..

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Soil Compaction Consequences

• Some indirect consequences of soil compaction
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Flooding
• Soil erosion
• Susceptibility to root rot

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Impact of Pressure Applied to Soils on Compaction

• When subsoils are compacted by heavy traffic,
  free drainage is impacted and saturation of the
  topsoil will occur
• Effects of compaction by wheeled vehicles -
  usually within the top 4 inches (10 cm) of the
  soil
• 80 of compaction will occur with the first wheel
  to travel over the soil
• Heavier equipment upper 6-8 inches (15-20cm)
  are seriously effected

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Impact of Pressure Applied to Soils on Compaction

• Rules of thumb
• Keep foot and vehicle traffic to a minimum
• Use the same path to confine compaction to a
  single area that can be repaired
• Keep wheeled traffic away from tree roots
• Schedule work when the soil is dry
• Use low ground pressure vehicles whenever
  possible
• Place a coarse mulch over heavily trafficked
  areas and remove it when project is done

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Soil Erosion

• Happens when particles are detached and
  transported by water or wind
• On landscape sites, largest problem is erosion by
  water initiated by the impact that raindrops
  have on bare soil
• Soil should be covered, mulched, or seeded with
  annual grasses if it is being exposed to the
  elements for significant amounts of time

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Soil Erosion

• Classified as gully, rill, and sheet erosion
• Gully erosion water concentrates in channels
  and deepen rapidly
• Rill erosion removal of soil on a side slope
  where small channels are formed
• Sheet erosion where there is little or no
  vegetation cover and the slopes are not steep
  soil is removed in a relatively even plane

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Gully Erosion
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Rill Erosion
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Sheet Erosion
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Erosion Control Measures

• Important to reduce environmental damage
• There are environmental regulations that specify
  the use of erosion control measures on
  construction sites
• Good planning prior to the commencement of
  construction

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Erosion Control Measures

• Planning Stage identify areas with high
  susceptibility to erosion - avoid disturbing
  these areas
• If areas with high erosion potential are
  disturbed, - ensure that they are will protected
  until vegetation re-established
• Establish vegetation as soon as possible
• Cover soil with mulches, annual grasses, or
  erosion control fabric

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Erosion Control Measures

• Water erosion of soil direct result of overland
  flow, the higher the water velocity, the greater
  the erosion
• Important to keep runoff velocities as low as
  possible
• Install straw bales or silt fences to help
  prevent/reduce
• Retain on the site any sediment generated by
  construction of small retention ponds in
  strategic areas/ silt fences/ straw bales

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Irrigation Systems and Water Management Strategies

• The manager of a landscape company that sells
  installs irrigation systems must understand
  the following 5 strategies

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Strategy 1

• Legal licences/codes/permits/design
  requirements/restrictions/ insurance etc.
• Prevent contamination

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Strategy 2

• 2. Design basic concepts of match system to
  site use, precipitation rates/efficiency (water
  conservation), head design/spacing, topography,
  soil type, water distribution, local codes, plant
  requirements

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Strategy 3

• 3. Physics - basic physics of water flow (volume
  vs. pressure), electricity, pipe sizing, and low
  voltage limitations

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Strategy 4

• 4. Mechanics - of an effective irrigation system
  ( nuts bolts of system), including working
  knowledge types of backflow prevention and
  features, controllers, wiring, valves, pipe
  material, head types, and nozzles

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Strategy 5

• 5. Installation Methods and Techniques - working
  knowledge of methods used to install the system
  as per site ( soil conditions, landscape/site
  specific), connections qualifications required
  to design, install, and maintain the system

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Guarantee or Warranty

• Insure and guarantee complete balanced coverage
  of the specified areas on the drawings to be
  irrigated without excessive overthrow
• Satisfactory operation of entire system,
  workmanship, restoration of site for 1 yr.
  Period
• Includes start up and end season system shut down

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Submittals

• Scaled - as-built drawing provided to site
  owner -commercial or residential. All components
  of system indicated shown as to be installed,
  includes parts features

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Testing and Maintenance

• Upon install completion all components undergo
  final adjustment to optimize the operation
• Perform final inspection and testing for proper
  operation coverage
• System must be operated sequentially with the
  controller in presence of the owners
  representative

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Efficient Water Use

1. Deep, infrequent irrigation better than
   shallow, frequent irrigation root development
2. Never allow precipitation rate to exceed soil
   infiltration rate flood or waste may result
3. Allow minimum of one hour between irrigation
   cycles minimizes waste by complete absorption

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Lighting Systems

• Can include Design, supply, installing, and
  testing all lighting equipment /hardware
  restoring site to original condition
• usually identified in detailed specification
  document

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3 Goals for Landscape Lighting

1. Beauty
2. Safety
3. Security

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LightingTechniques

• Down Lighting from ht. in trees cast shadow
• Area Lighting lit paths, stairs, beds
• Up lighting from below object
• Front lighting, side lighting, and backlighting
• Shadow lighting (lighting a plant or object on a
  wall)
• Accent lighting
• Silhouetting

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Lighting Systems Cont

• Systems low voltage or regular voltage
• Low voltage systems easier to work with fewer
  government regulations governing installation

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Manager Ensures

• Electrical work and installation meets prevailing
  codes - all 120-volt connections electrical
  panel hookups performed by/ under direct
  supervision of licensed electrician
• Must meet CSA standards and must be suitable for
  outdoor installation
• Equipment specifications and installation
  procedures are followed according to drawings and
  contract specifications
• Installation crews are aware of utility locates

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Softscape Installation

• Installation of plants into the landscape
• Plant Selection appropriate to site
• Plants purchased must meet quality/size specified
• Shipped to the landscape site in good condition
• Handled and planted according to standards

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Plant Selection

• The manager should understand and employ
  architect/designer who
• 1. Match plants and mature sizes to site use
• 2. Site conditions
• 3. Climate / environment
• 4. Soil quality
• 5. Aesthetic goals
• 6. Post install maintenance levels

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Plant Packaging

• Container light weight, planting season longer
• BB hand dug, wrapped smaller calipre
• Tree Spade / Wire Basket heavy, larger
  specimens
• Bare Root no soil, field grown not common
  cheaper success rate?

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Container Plants


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Balled and Burlapped
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Wire Basket
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Bare Root
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Quality and Performance of Trees

• Selection driven by availability, cost, size and
  personal preference
• The larger the tree is at planting, the longer it
  will take to establish itself so may be smaller
  than expected

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Quality and Performance of Trees Cont

• Post-planting irrigation critical
• If irrigation supply is limited container
  -grown plants more likely to experience post
  planting water stress

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Long Term Quality Success

• Branch pattern tree size at planting have
  little influence on long-term growth
• Levels of vigor, laterals on the trunk, and
  height-caliper ratios will greatly influence the
  effort required to optimize performance
• Shoot and root quality will have a long-term
  effect on performance and may impact the plants
  survival

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Plant Buying Criteria

• Inspect
• 1. Roots
• 2. Evaluate trunks/stems branching/ canopy for
  balance, durability, vigor, pests, diseases,
  injury
• 3. Reject anything not up to standard

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Tree Caliper

• Trees sized and sold by caliper
• Measurement of trunk shall be taken 6 inches
  (15cm) above ground level for trees up to and
  including 4 inches (100mm) in size
• Larger trees should be measured 12 inches (30 cm)
  above ground level
• In Canada caliper is quoted in millimeters
• Caliper only relates to the size of the tree

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Plant Shipping and Handling

• Protect during delivery to prevent damage to
  plants and roots
• Space between trees so that trunks are not
  scarred or branches broken
• Use trunk protectors / adequate trunk protection
• Transport in enclosed trucks or cover with
  tarpaulin- reduces wind burn/dessication
• Trees should be wrapped to prevent damage

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Plant Shipping and Handling

• Material should never be handled by the
  trunk/stem
• Material should be handled by the ball or
  container with support from the plant top when
  needed

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On-Site Plant Handling

• Place plants in the shade whenever possible (soil
  can reach 120F/49C on a hot day will kill leaf
  tips)
• Prevent wilt by following a frequent watering
  program
• Place plants close together to reduce injury from
  excessive movement of the tops and to keep them
  from falling over/tie down

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Turfgrass Management

• Requires a knowledge of
• 1. Local site conditions and intended use
• 2. Understanding of grass species and grass seed
  and turf specifications

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Seed or Turf Selection

• In Canada, grass seed should meet requirements of
  the Seeds Act and Regulations for Canada
  Certified No.1, Canada Common No.1, and Canada
  Common No.2
• Have a minimum germination rate of 85 and a
  minimum purity of 97

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Seed Packaging Standards

• Name of seed or seed mixture
• Seed grade
• Lot number
• Name of supplier
• Germination percent
• Purity analysis of seed mixture ( or pure seed,
  variety, and weed)
• Year of production
• Net weight (mass)
• Date and location of bagging

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Seed Mixtures Must Be

• suited to the climate, soil conditions and type
  of soil, use, orientation, sun exposure,
  terrain, establishment, and maintenance
  conditions under which they are to be grown

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Grass Types and Varieties

• Perennial ryegrass will not grow well in very
  hot, dry conditions.
• Kentucky bluegrass should not be grown in costal
  areas, where acidic soil and wet winters are
  prevalent
• Fine fescues will normally perform much better
  than Kentucky bluegrass in the shade

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Seed Bed Soil Criteria

• Successful turf management good root management
• Match grass type to the soil conditions
• Soil test quality, texture, pH, nutrient level
  - guides action plan
• Rectify any problems before installation to suit
  blend/use

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Established Turf Assessment

• When dealing with established turf areas, carry
  out a site assessment quality, pests/ disease,
  site use, maintenance levels/issues
• form a plan of action for renovation /
  rejeuvenation based on use, goals of client,
  future maintenance levels, budgets

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Soil Fertility and Fertilizer

• Soil fertility soils ability to supply and
  sustain nutrients for healthy plant growth
• Fertile soil contains a balanced supply of
  nutrients macro (NPK) micro (Ca,Mg,S,I etc)
• Soil tests undertaken periodically to determine
  the quantity and type of fertilizer required to
  replace lost nutrients

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Soil Fertility and Fertilizer

• N controls growth rate of turf
• Too little nitrogen can slow growth rate turf
  weakness so vulnerable to diseases such as rust
  or dollar spot
• Excess N lush growth, weak cell membranes,
  susceptibility to stress, poor rooting,
  vulnerable to diseases

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Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Cont

• Slow release fertilizers provides stable,
  long-term feeding that prevents the tremendous
  peaks and valleys of growth seen when using
  quick-release formulas
• Slow-release products fewer applications less
  chance of root burn
• Mulching mowers can reduce the annual need for
  nitrogen applications( can return 6 from
  clippings)

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Water Requirements

• Warm weather and cool weather grasses grow and go
  dormant at different times of the year
  different irrigation needs
• Soil type and quality/ plant needs/climate
  dictates program

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Appropriate Equipment

• Mowers
• Mowing main cultural practice of turf
  management
• Mowing causes significant stress on turf
• Need quality well-maintained equipment
• Cutting height for the variety/use of
  grass/climate
• Appropriate mowing schedule
• Depth of the root system is related to the height
  of the grass

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Categories of Mowers

• 1. Reel Mower - rotating blades on reel- shears
  grass against a stationary bedknife
• Good cut when used and maintained properly - can
  be costly and maintenance intensive

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Categories of Mowers

• 2. Rotary Mowers 1 or multiple blades rotate
  horizontally at high speeds
• not best quality cut uses a lot of power
• versatile and are relatively low maintenance
• Most common type of mower

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Categories of Mowers

• 3. Flail Mowers - series of heavy duty rotating
  blades on a horizontal shaft
• Give a poor quality cut and are used on utility
  or very low-maintenance turf

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Other Turf Equipment

• Core Aerators
• Hollow ties or spoons to extract cores
• Improved air exchange, improved infiltration of
  water and fertilizer to the root zone

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Other Turf Equipment Cont

• Vertical Mowers - knives
• Dethatchers
• Used to break up cores left by aerators
• Aid in thatch removal
• Cultivate the soil
• Often in conjunction with overseeding

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Other Turf Equipment

• Seeders
• Used to apply grass seed
• Drop seeders
• Rotary seeders
• Drill seeders

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Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• holistic plant health care (PHC) management
  programs
• IPM is a decision making approach that uses a
  combination of pest management techniques in an
  organized program to suppress pest populations in
  effective, economical, and environmentally
  sound/responsible ways

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Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• regular monitoring to determine if, and when,
  treatments are needed and employs physical,
  mechanical, cultural, biological, and educational
  methods to keep pest numbers low enough to
  prevent intolerable damage or annoyance.
  Least-toxic chemicals are used as a last resort

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Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• When we refer to pests, we are referring to any
  living organism that causes an undesirable effect
  in a landscape
• Ranges from plants (weeds) to animals, from
  single-celled bacterial to insects, and to the
  neighbors dog or cat
• Perception about what is undesirable varies
  greatly

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Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• Since the reduction of pesticide use is the main
  goal, non-chemical methods are used wherever
  possible, leaving pesticides to be used only when
  absolutely necessary
• Prevention is a key element of an IPM program
• By monitoring the situation, action is taken only
  when necessary
• A much more knowledge-intensive approach and
  places a premium on knowledge, planning, and
  marketing skills

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IPM Advantages

• Risk to people, animals, and the environment in
  general is reduced
• Costs and liability that arise from pesticide
  application are reduced
• Reduced pesticide use reduces the likelihood of
  new pesticide-resistant pests developing
  therefore, pesticides will remain effective for a
  longer time
• It is the best long-term solution to pest
  problems and can reduce long-term pest control
  costs

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IPM Requires

• Prevention key element. Puts a premium on
  knowledge of landscape horticulture
• Work with a solid landscape design that
  incorporates plant diversity / native plants
• Use the right plant in the right place
• Know and use pest-resistant plants and varieties
• Use good cultural practices that will result in
  healthy plants
• Use good plant health care practices

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Constructing an IPM Program

• 5 Steps
• Pest identification
• Monitoring pop. increases, climate, beneficials
• Action decisions damage threshold, appearance
• Treatments (Controls biological vs. chemical)-
  most effective for longest term / cost effective,
  least environmental impact
• Evaluation assess records re-direct as needed

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Licensing and Environmental Protection

• Pollution and environmental responsibility are
  foremost
• Manager responsible to be aware of the laws and
  requirements in region and to assure compliance
  with the local authority
• Proficiency and continuing education is required
  in Labeling and Safety (proper use of PPE
  Personal Protective Equipment)

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Licensing and Environmental Protection

• The proper precautions taken to alert the public
  of potential danger
• The proper protection to prevent entry to the
  treated area to protect public
• Proper documentation in case of emergency
• Precautions taken to prevent drift
• Cleanup of equipment and PPE

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Management and Logistics

• Project An undertaking requiring concerted
  effort, defined beginning and end, uses resources
  specifically allocated to it, produces a unique
  outcome
• Project management proper planning,
  implementation, and follow-up of projects
  critical to success
• Good project management practices maximizes time
  and resources

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Management and Logistics

• 5 processes in project management
• Initiating agreement by a client for whom the
  work is being done
• Planning scope of the project identified,
  sequenced budgets and schedules are obtained.
• Executing resources applied, leadership
  provided, special talent is obtained,
  stakeholders informed
• Controlling monitoring progress, corrective
  action if needed, rescheduling, adding resources,
  problem solving
• 5. Closing final completion tasks, getting
  acceptance of completion

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Project Management and Logistics

• General rules
• Must have consensus on the expected results
• Should build the best team they do the work
• Must have comprehensive and viable plan that is
  kept up-to-date all informed
• Must be accurate in the resources needed to
  complete the project
• Realistic Scheduling
• Solid leadership

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Management and Logistics Cont

• Help keep everything on track use charts
• Gantt Chart (aka project timeline)
• Shows main tasks dates
• A line on the chart shows the date each task
  starts and ends
• Many tasks cannot be started until another one is
  completed
• Aids in coordination of multiple projects

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Management and Logistics Cont

• For large projects/complex tasks - a critical
  path must be determined sequence of tasks that
  forms the longest durations of the project
• 1 task delay on path then the whole project may
  be delayed

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Management and Logistics Large Projects

• The critical path will be different for different
  projects
• Necessary to clearly show and communicate each
  plan to the staff that will be involved in
  completing the project
• Process called PERT (Program Evaluation and
  Review Technique) tool / plan schedule
  designed for large projects
• Max. efficiency

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Management and Logistics Cont

• A line representing actual progress against
  planned progress will visually show everyone
  involved what is happening and what are the
  consequences of not getting tasks done on time
• Helps to keep the clients up-to-date as well
• For creating charts a program equivalent to
  Microsoft Excel may be sufficient

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Types of Landscape Contracts

• Services that are likely to be covered by
  contracts
• Design
• Supply
• Installation
• Maintenance

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Types of Landscape Contracts

• Design, supply and installation cover short-term
  projects - completed in short time frame,
• Maintenance can be longer period of time
• Some contracts cover two or all three services
• In a formal or informal manner, they must
  identify who, agrees to do what, when and
  indicate the provisions that apply to both parties

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Types of Landscape Contracts

• For projects under 100,000 an informal letter
  agreement, as opposed to a formal contract, works
  best.

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Landscape Contracts

• The letter of agreement can take the form of an
  offer, which is accepted, for example, by the
  homeowners when they sign and return a copy of
  the letter
• Signatures from all parties should be obtained
  makes all responsible for payment
• Offer should include an expiration date

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Landscape Contracts Include

• A reference to established product/service
  standards clearly fixes the level or expectations
  and is beneficial if legal problems arise, term,
  payment schedule
• Dates and amounts of payments can be incorporated
  as can a provision that any changes to the work
  must be agreed on in writing
• Any other details to be agreed on in writing

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Landscape Contracts Include

• The right of termination by either party must be
  included and can be specified to take place at
  the end of any calendar year with three months
  notice

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So go out and do it, do it professionally, and
do yourselves and the exterior landscape
industry proud!