Landscape gardeners help with the design, installation, and maintenance of gardens and outdoor areas. They are skilled at using hand tools and equipment like mowers for tasks such as lawn care and weed removal. Check out landscapers ipswich for more information.
“Landscape gardening, it is claimed, has a superior claim to beauty over the ancient and geometric style of laying out grounds.” -M. Parmentier, Horticulture, Volume 3, page 324.
Design
The best landscape gardeners understand that successful landscaping is a process of planning and design. They use a variety of plant types and colors, hardscape and masonry materials, and construction techniques to create gardens that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Landscape gardeners also have a strong understanding of how plants grow in specific conditions and how to manipulate those conditions for optimal performance. They may also be familiar with specific types of construction and maintenance techniques, such as grading and drainage, or how to use heavy equipment.
When designing a garden, the landscape gardener often starts with a theme to guide the plant selection and layout of the yard. They may look to gardening magazines and books for ideas, but they must also take into consideration the site’s unique climatic conditions and local vegetation that could impact the overall look of the garden. For example, a garden that is located in the mountains might call for plants that can tolerate harsh weather conditions, while a coastal garden may require salt- and drought-tolerant plants.
Planting
Landscape gardeners plant and arrange plants in their outdoor spaces. This can include creating vertical and horizontal layers and a repeating pattern of plants throughout different beds to create visual continuity in the garden.
They also create a watering schedule to ensure that all plants are properly watered without over-watering or damaging the soil. In addition, they keep an eye out for pests and use herbicides or other pest control products as necessary.
Landscape gardeners can work with non-living elements in the landscape as well, such as retaining walls, walkways, pavement, fences and gardens sculptures. They can also incorporate features like hot tub installations and BBQ areas into the landscape. Landscapers often recommend laying everything out in one go rather than doing bits and pieces over time, as this can help with the budgeting process. Moreover, it can make the final result look more polished. They can also provide advice on what plants are best suited for a specific climate.
Maintenance
Whether your garden is full of lush green lawns, flower beds, a water feature, or trees, regular landscaping maintenance will ensure they stay looking their best. This includes tasks like pruning and weed control, mulching, fertilization, and pest management.
One of the first things a landscape gardener should do is get a soil test done. These can be done fairly inexpensively through your state university extension, and will give a clearer picture of what kinds of plants thrive in the conditions you have available.
Landscapers can also perform hard landscaping, creating structures and performing work that redefines your garden and outdoor spaces. This may include paving, retaining walls, patios, garden sculptures, and more. Having this type of expertise can help your garden look its best year-round, ensuring it is always healthy and attractive. This is particularly important in climates where weather can be changeable and unpredictable.
Pest Control
Many pest problems can be prevented by keeping yards and plantings free of debris, avoiding mulches with a high percentage of wood, and cleaning up weeds and leaves. Regular mowing, weeding, raking, and removing standing water can also deter pests.
Landscapers can help clients avoid severe insect infestations by scouting for pests while mowing, weeding, pruning or doing other gardening chores. If a pest population is building toward damaging levels, the landscaper should treat right away.
Many pests have natural enemies that limit their population size through predation, parasitism or disease. Landscape gardeners can use naturally occurring biological control to manage insect, weed and disease pests in three key ways: conservation biological control, augmentation, and classical or importation biological control. Conserving natural enemies through changes in landscape management practices is the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to reduce pest populations. It’s the basis of organic pest control. Other approaches include nematodes to control rootworms, rodenticides to kill mice and rats, and fungicides to control diseases like rusts, mildews and molds.