Title: Certified Landscape Professional Exam Study Series
1Certified Landscape Professional Exam Study Series
- Exterior Production Operations and Horticulture
Module - A managers perspective
2Landscape 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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5Written 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
6Written 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
7Specifications 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
8Carrying Out Basic Landscape Calculations
- Managers should be able to check landscape
calculations and carry them out on their own
9Landscape Standards
- A good manager has good working knowledge of
local industry standards and government landscape
standards - Operates business accordingly
- CNLA Landscape Ontario
10Landscape 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
11Landscape 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
12Hardscape 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
13Grading 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
14Drainage 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
15Drainage 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
16Drainage 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
17Subsurface 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
18Subsurface 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
19Drain 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
20Gravity 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
21Gravity Drain Outlet
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23Any questions/review regarding Subsurface
Drainage?
24French Drains
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27Surface 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
28Open 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
29Important Soil Properties
- Important to understand the basic properties of
soils that have a direct impact on the success of
plant and turf establishment.
30Soil Compaction
- Leads to problems with drainage and plant
establishment - Compacted soils have very low filtration
therefore can cause overland flow and erosion
increases
31Soil Compaction Caused By
- Quality, foot traffic, heavy equipment, vehicular
traffic, and landscape maintenance equipment
32Soil 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
33Soil Compaction Consequences
- Impaired root growth
- Poor aeration
- Reduced drainage
- Which causes..
34Soil Compaction Consequences
- Some indirect consequences of soil compaction
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Flooding
- Soil erosion
- Susceptibility to root rot
35Impact 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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37Impact 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
38Soil 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
39Soil 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
40Gully Erosion
41Rill Erosion
42Sheet Erosion
43Erosion 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
44Erosion 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
45Erosion 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
46Irrigation Systems and Water Management Strategies
- The manager of a landscape company that sells
installs irrigation systems must understand
the following 5 strategies
47Strategy 1
- Legal licences/codes/permits/design
requirements/restrictions/ insurance etc. - Prevent contamination
48Strategy 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
49Strategy 3
- 3. Physics - basic physics of water flow (volume
vs. pressure), electricity, pipe sizing, and low
voltage limitations
50Strategy 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
51Strategy 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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53Guarantee 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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55Submittals
- 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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57Testing 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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59Efficient Water Use
- Deep, infrequent irrigation better than
shallow, frequent irrigation root development - Never allow precipitation rate to exceed soil
infiltration rate flood or waste may result - Allow minimum of one hour between irrigation
cycles minimizes waste by complete absorption
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61Lighting 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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633 Goals for Landscape Lighting
- Beauty
- Safety
- Security
64LightingTechniques
- 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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68Lighting Systems Cont
- Systems low voltage or regular voltage
- Low voltage systems easier to work with fewer
government regulations governing installation
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70Manager 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
71Softscape 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
72Plant 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
73Plant 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?
74Container Plants
75Balled and Burlapped
76Wire Basket
77Bare Root
78Quality 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
79Quality 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
80Long 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
81Plant 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
82Tree 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
83Plant 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
84Plant 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
85On-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
86Turfgrass 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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88Seed 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
89Seed 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
90Seed 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
91Grass 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
92Seed 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
93Established 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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95Soil 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
96Soil 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
97Soil 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)
98Water 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
99Appropriate 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
100Categories 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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102Categories 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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104Categories 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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106Other 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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108Other 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
109Other Turf Equipment
- Seeders
- Used to apply grass seed
- Drop seeders
- Rotary seeders
- Drill seeders
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111Integrated 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
112Integrated 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
113Integrated 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
114Integrated 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
115IPM 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
116IPM 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
117Constructing 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
118Licensing 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)
119Licensing 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
120Management 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
121Management 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
122Project 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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124Management 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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126Management 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
127Management 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
128Management 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
129Types of Landscape Contracts
- Services that are likely to be covered by
contracts - Design
- Supply
- Installation
- Maintenance
130Types 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
131Types of Landscape Contracts
- For projects under 100,000 an informal letter
agreement, as opposed to a formal contract, works
best.
132Landscape 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
133Landscape 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
134Landscape 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
135So go out and do it, do it professionally, and
do yourselves and the exterior landscape
industry proud!